Courtesy: Museum of Modern Greek Culture

Museum of Modern Greek Culture (MNEP)

Courtesy: Museum of Modern Greek Culture

The most important (and charming) new museum in Athens is one that you have probably walked by without noticing.

When was it built

In its current form, the museum complex was restored in 2018.

What's the story

The Museum of Modern Greek Culture is one of the oldest museums in Greece. It was founded in 1918 as the Museum of Greek Handicrafts and was initially housed in the Tzistarakis Mosque in Monastiraki Square. It was later renamed the National Museum of Decorative Arts and then the Museum of Greek Folk Art. The latter was located in a building in Plaka, while expanding to other locations such as the Bath House of the Winds and the building at 22 Panos Street. Under its current name, the museum now resides in a stunning complex in the heart of Monastiraki, reflecting a rare architectural beauty.

Why it's important

It represents Greece's most comprehensive attempt to holistically portray the country's tangible and intangible cultural heritage over the past two centuries. Its vast collection includes more than 25,000 exhibits from the Greek mainland, islands, and regions where Hellenism has flourished, such as Cyprus and Asia Minor. The museum's location is also significant, as it occupies a unique 4,000 sqm complex comprised of 18 buildings, within a private courtyard on the borders of the old Vrysaki neighbourhood. This area was sadly expropriated and demolished during the excavation of the Ancient Agora of Athens between 1931 and 1939. Neoclassical townhouses stand next to relics of the post-Roman wall, a Byzantine church, ruins of an Ottoman mansion, 19th and 20th-century houses, and a church from the Ottoman times, all meticulously restored to embody the museum's vision in this new era.

Must-see

Choosing where to start can be challenging. The museum's exhibition is divided into ten thematic sections, each housed in a different building within the complex—except for the tenth and final one, the Tzistarakis Mosque, which is due to open soon and will showcase the museum's history. Other thematic areas include religion, housing, labour, nutrition, entertainment, women's life, clothing, and more. All exhibitions are highly interactive, with some featuring well-crafted quizzes and games for your young ones. If we had to pick a favourite, it would be the clothing section.

Fun fact

It is said that the Parthenon Marbles were temporarily stored by Lord Elgin somewhere on the grounds of the museum before they were taken to Great Britain.