Thessaloniki Museums
If you like museums, you will love Thessaloniki! |
Thessaloniki archaeological Museum |
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Designed by the Patroklos Karantinos, the Archaeological Museum was thrown open on the 27th of October 1962, a year after its construction began (January 1961). The inauguration of the museum coincided with the golden jubilee celebrations of the freedom of Thessaloniki. By 1971, all displays were in place and among the exhibits were miniature art belonging to the Classical and Archaic times, a collection from the prehistoric period and various sculptures. On the inaugural day the Museum also presented to the public their treasures unearthed from the tombs at Derveni. In 1978, some startling discoveries were unearthed at Vergina and the entire arrangement of the museum was changed in order to exhibit these. The treasures from the royal tombs were presented in an exhibition entitled 'Treasures of Ancient Macedonia', in the chambers housing the miniature art collection and the prehistoric exhibits. As more archaeological discoveries presented themselves, it became necessary to build additional capacity to store and exhibit them. Consequently, in the month of July 1980, a new wing was inaugurated with an exhibition on Alexander the Great. A few months later, a cemetery at Sindos was excavated, which had a significant amount of gold. The exhibits from these were displayed to the public through the Sindos exhibition held in October 1982. |
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Museum info: |
Museum of Byzantine Culture
Thessaloniki was the most important European city of the Byzantine Empire, right after Constantinople. The Museum of Byzantine Culture preserves the traces of Byzantine civilisation in Thessaloniki. It also conducts studies and research programmes to unearth more evidence of Byzantine culture in Macedonia.
The Museum is a repository of inscriptions, sculptures, frescoes, icons and mosaics from that era. In 1997, an exhibition named 'The Holy Treasures of Mount Athos' was laid open to the public. This is permanent and certainly worth visiting.
Museum info:
2 Stratou Avenue, 546 40, Thessaloniki
P.O.B. 50047, 54013 Thessaloniki
Tel:. +30 2313 306 400 | Fax: +30 2310 838 597
Museum website
Museum of ancient, byzantine and postbyzantine musical instruments
The museum is open since 1997 in a restored building in the Ladadika district. The area is near the port at the downtown Thessaloniki. There are three exhibition spaces, a music library, an electronic archive of scores and musicology research departments.
The exhibitions display over 200 musical instruments which existed between 2.800 BC and 20th century. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has helped to reconstruct the instruments. Apart from the pictorial evidence that accompanies each instrument in many cases you can also hear the sounds they make.
Museum info:
Address: 12-14, Katouni St.
Opening hours: Daily 09.00-15.00 / 17.00-22.00
Phone no: (+30) 2310 555263-6
Email: musbyzorga@otenet.gr
The museum is currently closed to visitors
Thessaloniki Cinema Museum
Back in 1997, when Thessaloniki was Cultural Capital of Europe, the Organizing Committee founded the Cinema Museum in Warehouse 1, in the Port, at the end of the old seafront, very close to Aristotle's Square. Now, the Cinema Museum has its own management committee and is important part of Thessaloniki's Film Festival.
Museum info:
Thessaloniki Cinema Museum Address: Warehaouse A' -In the Port, P.O.Box 10467, 541 10
Telephone: 2310 508398
Museum website
Jewish museum of Thessaloniki
The museum is housed in one of the rare Jewish structures that survived the fire of 1917. It was founded to hounor the Sephardic heritage as it evolved in the city after the 15th century. Central to the first floor is a narrative history of the Jewish presence in Thessaloniki from the 3rd century BCE until the Second World War.
There are monumental stones and inscriptions that were once found in the great Jewish necropolis that lay to the east of the city walls. The visitors can also learn more about religious and everyday life of the pre-war Jewish community of Thessaloniki by some artifacts from the collections of the museum.
Museum info:
Address: 13, Aghiou Mina St.
Phone no: (+30) 2310 250406-7
Email: jctmuseo@otenet.gr
