Museum of Greek Culture

The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is housed in one of the most beautiful neoclassical-style buildings in Athens, near the National Garden and the Hellenic Parliament. It was converted into a museum to shelter the collections of Antonis Benakis and was donated to the Greek nation by Benaki himself and his three sisters, Alexandra, Penelope, and Argine. Following its most recent refurbishment (1989–2000), the building houses a unique exhibition on Greek culture, arranged chronologically from prehistory to the 20th century. There are three permanent collections that focus on Prehistoric, Ancient Greek and Roman Art, Byzantine Art, and Historic Heirlooms.

The collection of Prehistoric, Ancient Greek, and Roman antiquities, formed through the contributions of several Greek and foreign donors, as well as from the reserves of other museums, covers a vast chronological period, stretching from the dawn of prehistory to the end of the Roman era. The Byzantine collection links the ancient Greek world to that of modern Greece. This collection is exceptionally rich and is divided into two groups.

The collection of historical heirlooms recreates the history of modern Greece from the end of the 18th century onwards. Many of the objects in the collection are family heirlooms donated by the descendants and relatives of individuals intimately connected with the history of modern Greece.

The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture showcases exceptional treasures from the Bronze Age up to WWII. Especially impressive are the Byzantine icons, the extensive collection of Greek regional costumes, and complete sitting rooms from Macedonian mansions, intricately carved and painted. The founder, Mr. Antonis Benakis, endowed what is perhaps the finest museum in Greece and had such a good eye that even the agricultural tools are splendid.

The Library is open to the public by appointment.