Greece - Korina Miller [80]
The gallery’s significant sculpture collection is now housed at the National Sculpture Gallery (off Map; 210 770 9855; Army Park, Katehaki; adult/concession €6/3; 9am-3pm Mon & Wed-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun).
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Periodic exhibitions and exhibitions of contemporary art from this museum’s significant Greek and international collections are on show at its temporary gallery at the Athens Conservatory (Map; 210 924 2111; www.emst.gr; Leoforos Vas Georgiou B 17-19, enter from Rigilis; admission €3; 11am-7pm Tue, Wed & Fri-Sun, 11am-10pm Thu). Exhibitions include paintings, installations, photography, video and new media, as well as experimental architecture. The museum will eventually move to the old Fix brewery on Leoforos Syngrou.
NUMISMATIC MUSEUM
This magnificent neoclassical mansion is worth a visit, even if you have little interest in coins. The museum (Map; 210 364 3774; Panepistimiou 12, Syntagma; adult/concession €3/2; 8.30am-8pm Tue-Sun) comprises 400,000 coins from ancient Greek, Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine times. The building was once the home of the celebrated archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. The lovely shady cafe in the gardens is a little oasis.
GREEK FOLK ART MUSEUM
An excellent collection of secular and religious folk art, mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, is housed in this museum (Map; 210 322 9031; Kydathineon 17, Plaka; admission €2, free Sun; 9am-2.30pm Tue-Sun). The 1st floor has embroidery, pottery, weaving and puppets, while the 2nd floor has a reconstructed traditional village house with paintings by the primitive artist Theophilos. Greek traditional costumes are displayed on the upper levels.
The museum has an annexe (Greek Folk Art Museum: Man & Tools; Map; 210 321 4972; Panos 22, Plaka; admission €2; 9am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) dedicated to men and tools, and a fine exhibition of ceramics at the Museum of Traditional Greek Ceramics (Map; 210 324 2066; Areos 1, Monastiraki; admission €2; 9am-2.30pm Tue-Sun) at the old mosque.
NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Specialising in memorabilia from the War of Independence, this museum (Map; 210 323 7617; Stadiou 13, Syntagma; adult/concession €3/1, free Sun; 9am-2pm Tue-Sun) has Byron’s helmet and sword, a series of paintings depicting events leading up to the war, Byzantine and medieval exhibits, and a collection of photographs and royal portraits.
The museum is housed in the old Parliament building at Plateia Kolokotroni, where Prime Minister Theodoros Deligiannis was assassinated on the steps in 1905.
CITY OF ATHENS MUSEUM
Housed in two interconnected historic buildings, including the palace where King Otto lived between 1830 and 1846, this museum (Map; 210 323 1397; Paparigopoulou 7, Syntagma; adult/concession €3/2; 9am-4pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat & Sun) contains an extensive collection of royal furniture, antiques, paintings and personal mementos, as well as a model of 1842 Athens and a massive painting showing Athens before the Venetian destruction in 1687. The 2nd-floor gallery hosts temporary exhibitions.
JEWISH MUSEUM
This museum (Map; 210 322 5582; Nikis 39, Plaka; adult/concession €5/2; 9am-2.30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm Sun) traces the history of the Jewish community in Greece back to the 3rd century BC through an impressive collection of religious and folk art, and documents. It includes a reconstruction of a synagogue.
TURKISH BATHS
The beautifully refurbished 17th-century bathhouse (Map; 210 324 4340; Kyrristou 8, Plaka; admission €2; 9am-2.30pm Wed-Mon) is the only surviving public bathhouse in Athens and one of the few remnants of Ottoman times. A helpful free audio