Frissiras Museum in Athens

The Frissiras Museum is the only museum of modern European art in Greece. The museum opened its gates to the public in December 2000 and it is housed in two neoclassical buildings in Plaka.

Frissiras Museum constitutes the embodiment of Frissiras family’s vision of a place in which the human-centered art and its transcendental glory would be celebrated. Vlassis Frissiras, the founder, firmly believes in the emotional awakening that various art forms force in the viewer and is interested in artists and exhibits that can have such impact.

The two buildings that house the museum exhibit major architectural significance. Both are located on the same street, Monis Asteriou, at the prestigious neighborhood of Plaka which is admittedly one of the most picturesque in Athens. The first building is situated at number 3 and houses a permanent collection with 3,500 pieces of post-1940 art by renowned artists such as Todorovic, Hortala, Tinei, and Diamantopoulos. The building itself it one of the oldest neoclassical edifices of the city; it has five floors and an impressive atrium and was originally built in 1860 by the architect Alexandros Tompazis.

The second building is located on the same street at number 7 and hosts periodical exhibitions, all of which apply to a wide spectrum of subjects. It was constructed in 1904 by the renowned architect Ernst Ziller and is considered an edifice of great significance, due to its unique architectural elements and style. In the later years, it was renovated by Frissiras family.

Frissiras Museum is not only a place where past meets future in a fruitful dialogue; the major offer of the museum also lies at its function as a conservatory that promotes interest in Arts, and for that reason, it frequently hosts various cultural events and art-related seminars.