Athens Acropolis Museum
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Location: Acropolis
The Acropolis Museum of Athens: The Acropolis Museum can be found in the picturesque area of Makriyianni Athens, on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street.
It is located in the southeast corner of Acropolis rock. It was built to house the vast exhibits that were found during the excavations in the Acropolis and who were too many to fit in the former small Acropolis Museum (next to the Parthenon).
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This new Acropolis Museum basically houses excavated materials from the Acropolis of Athens and from some other excavated sites around Attica, such as the temple of Artemis in Vravron, southeastast of Athens.
The museum was designed by the New-Yorker architect Bernard Tschumi, in cooperation with the Greek architect Michael Photiades.
The total area of this building is 14,000 sqm and there are more than 4,000 historical objects on display.
An interesting feature of this museum is the extensive use of glass that is used inside and outside of this building.
All the artifacts recovered from the excavation site date back to the Greek Bronze Age, the Roman and the Byzantine era.
It is a four storied museum, where three levels have been used to showcase the historical artifacts and the remaining top floor houses the gift shop, cafeteria, restaurant, and offices.
The entire tour of the museum is structured in such a manner that visitors will be going to each of the floors according to the chronological order of the time period.
At first, visitors come across the exhibits found on the Acropolis Slopes.
The hall housing these exhibits is long and rectangular in shape and imitates the ascending path on a rock.
Here, there are various objects and remains of buildings from the settlements dating back to the Neolithic period, from 3000 B.C to the 6th century A.D, and ancient sanctuaries dedicated to gods Dionysus and Asclepius.
The next stage in the tour involves findings from the archaic period, marble statues used as decorative pieces and various gifts dedicated to goddess Athena, the protector of ancient Athens.
The hall in which these objects are kept is a large trapezoidal hall.
In the third phase of the tour, visitors will see the Parthenon gallery, where sections of marble structures from the Temple of Parthenon have been kept for display.
This gallery is totally made out of glass enabling natural light to fall on the displayed items.
There are also sculptures from the Propylaia, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion.
There are also some interesting exhibits as well, like the colossal head of Goddess Artemis Vravronia, sculptures from the classical period and different types of gifts contributed to the Acropolis during the Roman period.
These gifts included even portraits of emperors, philosophers, gods, warriors, and athletes.
On the top floor, there is the most impressive part of the museum: the frieze of the Parthenon, as it was in its original form.
Of course, there aren't all the pieces of the frieze, as almost half of them are kept in the British Museum in London.
However, the archaeologists and special artists have managed to copy the Elgin Marbles, unite them with the parts of the frieze that Greece possesses and make a view of the frieze as it used to be in the ancient times.
In fact, this is one of the main reasons why this museum was created: to put pressure on the British Museum and give the Elgin Marbles back to Greece, to host them in a proper house at their homeland.
The entire cost of construction of the Acropolis Museum was covered by the Greek Ministry of Culture and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).
Although it took many years to finish this project (discussions about it started in 1975), the museum was finally inaugurated in June 2009.
The Acropolis Museum is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm, except Monday and Greek public holidays.
It is close to Acropolis Metro Station and easy to reach by the disabled.
Photographs are not permitted and measures have been taken to protect the exhibits of the museum.
The cafeteria has a view of the holy rock of the Acropolis.
Read also in our blog: 5 reasons to visit Athens Acropolis Museum
Address: Makriyianni Athens, opposite the Acropolis
Phone: (+30) 210 90 00 900
Official website: www.theacropolismuseum.gr
Top Tours and activities
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Skip the line! Acropolis Museum Ticket with Audio guide
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Self-drive classic route
Book nowfrom € 620.00Category: Other, Multi Days, City Breaks, City, Private, Ancient Sites, Shore ExcursionsN/A MapExplore Greece by car on this self-drive classic route. Give your self the change to see the capital of Greece, Athens, and the most important archaeological sites of the country at your own pace!
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Sightseeing tour with Acropolis museum
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How to get there
There are many ways to reach the Acropolis Museum, from any location in Athens.
Tours: Discover the Acropolis Museum with an organized tour, starting from 61.20 euros.
Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 693 881 8288, 0030 694 597 2090, 0030 690 943 9292 or book your taxi online.
On foot: As the Acropolis Museum is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Acropolis metro station.
By metro: The closest metro station is “Acropolis” on line 2. Note that the Acropolis Museum is located within a 3-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.
By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Mouseio Acropolis” of the bus line 230. The Acropolis Museum is located within a 3-minute walking distance from the bus stop. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.
Photos Of Acropolis Museum by Greeka Members
Photos Of Acropolis Museum by Greeka Team
Map
Reviews
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vasilikiang 24 Sep 2010Great sense of walking in the airAn impressive museum just opposite the Acropolis. The most impressive feature is that the whole museum has been built above some ancient findings. The yard is made of glass and visitors can actually walk on this glass floor and see the findings beneath. The absolute sense of walking in the air!
The interior has three floors and lots interesting exhibits. My favourite was the second floor with the gorgeous and so detailed statues. The third floor hosts the frieze of Parthenon (with copies of the missing parts that are hosted in the British Museum) but it was not as impressive as I expected. Videos were playing in various corners with the history of the Parthenon, the building of the museum, some excavations.
A great thing to do is to have a coffee at the terrace of the museum with view to the Acropolis, but seats are few and visitors are many, so you might seat only if you are lucky enough...
The only bad thing: the exhibits were not efficiently labeled and explained for foreigners. I am Greek and I understand some archaeological terms, but a foreigner might not, so it would be good to explain the exhibit in more words.
