:: Thessaloniki Museum of Byzantine Culture

The Museum of Byzantine Culture was designed by the architect Kyriakos Krokos, the foundation stone was laid in 1989, and the Museum opened in September 1994. It is a centre for preservation, research, and promotion of those manifestations of Byzantine culture that survive in Macedonia, particularly in Thessaloniki, which was the most important centre after Constantinople in the European part of the Byzantine Empire.

With its permanent and temporary exhibitions, up-to-date conservation workshops, functional archaeological storerooms, educational programmes, information systems, regular scientific meetings, and conferences, the Museum operates as a centre for the investigation and study of Byzantine culture.

The Museum's Collections

The archaeological material that makes up the Museum's collections consists of sculptures, mosaics, wall paintings, icons, coins, inscriptions, ceramics, manuscripts, minor art, and glassware. It comes chiefly from excavations in Thessaloniki and the area covered by the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, but also from other parts of Macedonia, purchases, donations, and surrendered finds. Some of the antiquities had been kept in the Byzantine Museum in Athens since Thessaloniki's liberation in 1912 and were only recently returned to the city. Two large private collections have been donated to the Museum: Dori Papastratou's collection of Orthodox religious engravings and Dimitrios Ikonomopoulos's collection of icons (mainly) with some ceramics, coins, and minor art.

November 1st, 2004 - March 31st, 2005

Monday: 10.30-17.00
Tuesday- Sunday: 08.30-15.00

Holidays

6 January, Shrove Monday, Holy Saturday, Easter Monday, Holy Spirit Day, 28 October: 08.30-15.00