Destination: Athens
What To See
Athens
Athens
  + Athens
  Sights
* Agía Aikateríni (Church of St Catherine)
* Agía Sotira (Church of St Sotira)
* Ágioi ApóstoloI (Church of the Holy Apostles)
* Ágios Nikodímos (Church of St Nikodimos)
* Ágios Nikólaos Ragavás (Church of St Nicholas Ragavas)
* Ágios Pávlos (Church of St Paul)
* Anafiótika
* Áreios Págos (Areopagos)
* Ebraïkó Mouseío tis Elláthos (Jewish Museum of Greece)
* Elliniko Paithíko Mouseío (Hellenic Children's Museum)
* Ethnikí Pinakothíki (National Gallery)
* Ethnikós Kípos (National Gardens)
* Exárcheia (Exarchia)
* Filopáppou (Philopappou)
* Gennádios Vivliothíki (American School of Classical Studies)
* Hephaisteion (Temple of Hephaistos)
* Istorikó Mouseío (National Historical Museum)
* Kapnikaréa
* Kentrikí Agorá (Central Market)
* Kéntro Ellinikis Paradosis (Centre for Hellenic Tradition)
* Kéntro Laikis Téchnis Kai Paradosis (Centre for Popular Arts and Traditions)
* Kéntro Meletis Ikoy Theatroy (Greek Theatre Museum)
* Keramikí Syllogí Apo to Mouseío Elliníkis Laografías (Ceramic Collection of the Museum of Greek Folk Art)
* Kerameikós (Keramikos Cemetery)
* Kolonáki
* Mitrópolis
* Mnimeío Lysikrátous (Monument of Lysikrates)
* Monastiráki
* Mouseío Athinón (Museum of the City of Athens)
* Mouseío Benáki (Benaki Museum)
* Mouseío Ellinikís Paithikis Téchnis (Museum of Greek Children's Art)
* Mouseío Kanellópoulos (Kanellopoulos Museum)
* Mouseío Kosmímatos Ilía Lalaoúnis (Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum)
* Naós Aiólou (Tower of the Winds)
* Odion (théatro) Iródou Attikou (Odeon of Herodes Atticus)
* Olympíeion (Temple of Olympian Zeus)
* Píli (Pýli) Adrianoú (Hadrian's Arch)
* Pinakothíki Tou Dímou Athinaïkoú (Municipal Art Gallery)
* Plateía Klafthmonos (Klafthmonos Square)
* Plateía Omonoías (Omonia Square)
* Plateía Syntagmatos (Syntagma Square)
* Pnýka (Pnyx)
* Polemikó Mouseío (War Museum of Greece)
* Proedrikó Mégaro (Presidential Palace)
* Prótoí Nekrotafío Athinón (First Cemetery of Athens)
* Romaïki Agorá (Roman Agora)
* Schliemann's House
* Théatro Dionýsou (Theatre of Dionysos)
* Théatro Filopáppou (philopappou Theatre)
* Vivliothíki Adrianoú (Library of Hadrian)
* Vizantinó Mouseío (Byzantine Museum)
Excursions
  + Excursions

  Walk/Drive
  Food&Drink
  In The Know
  Did You Know?
Mouseío Benáki (Benaki Museum)

( Do not miss )

This neo-classical mansion built in 1867 (extended in 1911 and 1930) houses an amazing collection of Greek and Egyptian items. The exhibits, and the house in which they are displayed, belonged to an Alexandrian Greek cotton trader, Antoine Emmanuel Benaki (1873-1954). Over a period of 35 years he amassed a splendid selection of artefacts, which he eventually gave to the Greek state for display in a museum.
The mansion was thoroughly renovated in the late 1990s to create a fine backdrop for the artefacts. Thirty thousand pieces illustrate the daily life in Greece from ancient times to the 20th century. The collection incorporates paintings (including an El Greco), jewellery from Mycenae, ceramics, icons, clothing and Greek folk art, such as bridal cushions, traditional clothing and decorative items. Lord Byron's writing desk is one of the many items from the War of Independence, along with other historical objects. The Egyptian collection is also fascinating. Early Coptic textiles and jewellery give an inpression of the wealth of artistic talent found within this still-thriving community. A major attraction is a highly unusual piece: a complete Egyptian reception room from a palace of the 17th century. Another showcase item from Egypt, where Benaki made his great fortune, is a wonderfully sensitive portrait of a man, painted on linen in the 3rd century AD.


Address: Vasilissis Sofias/Koumbari 1
Phone: 367-1000
Open: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 9-5, Thu 9-midnight, Sun 9-3
Restaurant: Café Moderately priced
Bus: 023, 234
Metro: Syntagma
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Greece (Mainland)
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Athens
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