Description of the attraction
Athens is home to one of the oldest private museums in Greece - the Benaki Museum. It was founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in honor of his father Emmanuel Benakis. The museum is located in a neoclassical family mansion, which was built back in 1867. In April 1931, the museum was opened to the public.
His collection, which became the basis of the museum, Antonis Benakis collected for 35 years and handed over to the state on the condition that it will be exhibited in the museum. He was also the head of the museum until his death in 1954.
The collection of the museum includes exhibits that cover the period from prehistoric times to the present day. Besides an extensive collection of Greek art, the museum also owns a large collection of Asian art. Initially, a collection of exhibits of Islamic art, Chinese porcelain and toys were displayed in separate sections of the museum. In 2000, after a global restoration, satellite museums dedicated to specific topics were created, such as the Museum of Islamic Art in Keramika, the Gallery of Nikos Hadzikiriakos-Gik, a famous Greek artist, in Kolonaki, a separate exhibition of the collection of children's toys, etc. This allowed the main museum to focus on Greek culture.
The museum presents a variety of exhibits from the Paleolithic and Neolithic period, exhibits relating to the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, products of the early Hellenic period. Articles made of ceramics, metal and wood, ancient icons and church utensils, gold jewelry, textiles, paintings, sculptures, engravings and other entertaining artifacts allow the visitor to travel into the world of Ancient Greece and trace its history to the present day. The museum also displays the works of the Greek artist El Greco.
The museum has its own restoration and conservation workshops, a library, and regularly holds field exhibitions.
There is a cozy cafe on the roof of the building. From there, visitors can enjoy stunning views of Athens.
