Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum

Location: Vasilissis Sofias Ave

The Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, Greece: The Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens is located in the center of Athens, just 15 min walk from Syntagma Square. It is housed in a 19th-century Neoclassical building called Villa Ilissia. This villa was the winter residence of Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, commonly known in Greece as the Duchess of Plaisance.

✔ DISCOVER THE BYZANTINE MUSEUM WITH A TOUR!
Book an unforgettable Tour to the Byzantine Museum!

The Duchess was a wealthy American-born lady (1785) was had got married to a French military in 1804 and had moved to Athens in 1830. At first, she lived in Nafplion and contributed financially to the Greek War of Independence. When Athens became the capital of the country in 1834, she moved there and constructed Villa Ilissia behind the Royal Palace. The villa took this name from river Ilissos that used to flow that time at the south side of the gardens.

The Duchess of Plaisance died in 1854 and was buried in the mountain of Penteli, northern Attica. After her death, her fortune was inherited by her French nephew who later sold them to the Greek State.

The building of the villa started in 1840 and was completed in 1848. The designs were made by Stamatis Kleanthis, a distinguished architect who had also constructed many other private and public buildings in Athens at that time. Distinguished by simplicity and strict symmetry, the exterior of the villa is all covered with marble. The central building, that was the residence of the Duchess, has two storeys and a basement. This imposing building stands at the far end of the yard and has a gatehouse at the entrance. Carved on the arch of the marble vaulted entrance is the name of the complex: Ilissia. In the mid 20th century, some additional buildings were constructed in the garden of the villa.

The Byzantine and Christian Museum was established in 1914 and at first, it was housed in a room of the National Archaeological Museum. In 1930, the Byzantine Museum was transferred to Villa Ilissia, after the necessary architectural changes were made, particularly in the basement, to host the exhibitions. The collection of the museum contains more than 25,000 exhibits, including unique icons, sculptures, wall frescoes, ceramics, textiles and manuscripts dating from the 3rd century AD till recently. Occasionally it also hosts many permanent exhibitions.

Discover the Byzantine Museum with a tour

Discover some of the most popular tours to the Byzantine Museum:

View more tours

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Byzantine and Christian Museum, from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Athens 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 Byzantine and Christian Museum is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma metro station, in approximately 15 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is “Evangelismos” on line 3. Note that the Byzantine and Christian Museum is located within a 5-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Vyzantino Mouseio - Rigilli”. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

✔ How to organize your holidays in Athens

Ferry to the islands: Book your ferry to to Santorini, Mykonos and other islands.
Hotels: Discover our selection with the best hotels and accommodation in Athens.
Tours and Activities: Explore the city with some amazing tours and activities.
Car rentals: Discover the the surroundings on your own by booking your car.
Island hopping packages: View packages from Athens including multiple islands like Santorini, Mykonos and more.
Tailor-made trip: Do you want to customize your trip according to your needs? Contact us!