Byzantine Museum, Thessaloniki

Byzantine icons on display. Photo Kemal Cenk Sarioglu.

Marble arch from the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki.
Photo David S, edited by Sacred Destinations.

Crosses

Ancient crosses and inscriptions on marble. Photo Joshua Treviño.

Icon of Christ as the "Wisdom of God," c.1375. Photo Joshua Treviño.

Fresco of St. John the Baptist. Photo Joshua Treviño.

Madonna

Middle Byzantine relief of the Virgin Mary. Photo Joshua Treviño.

Collection of Byzantine pottery. Photo Joshua Treviño.

The Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki is currently the only museum in the world entirely devoted to Byzantine art and civilization. Its impressive collection includes many Byzantine and early Christian frescoes, icons and artifacts.

History

The Museum of Byzantine Culture is housed in a modern building designed by architect Kyriakos Krokos and constructed in 1989-93. It opened its doors in 1994. In addition to a public museum, the institution also serves as an important center for the preservation, research and promotion of Byzantine culture. The Museum of Byzantine Culture won the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2005.

What to See

The museum contains an excellent permanent exhibition that is beautifully lit and presented in 11 rooms. About 2,900 objects are presented in chronological order from Late Antiquity (3rd-4th century) to the Fall of Constantinople (1453), with some later artifacts representing the continuation of Byzantine culture included as well.

Objects on display include marble fragments, frescoes, mosaics, icons, liturgical vessels, jewelry, and tools for daily life. Among the highlights are:

a 4th-century silver reliquary,
a 5th-century Christian tomb fresco featuring Susanna,
a reconstructed triclinium with mosaics from a 5th-century mansion,
a 6th-century floor mosaic from a Thessaloniki church,
6th- or 7th-century chitons (tunics),
marble closure slabs (which fill the space between columns in a church to form a low wall),
Middle Byzantine coins (c.900),
the liturgical silk cloth known as the Epitaphios of Thessaloniki (c.1300),
an icon of Christ from Agia Sophia (c.1375), and
a 5th-century house mosaic featuring the signs of the zodiac.

The rooms are arranged as follows:

Early Christian Churches
Early Christian City and Private Dwelling
From the Elysian Fields to the Christian Paradise: Burials and Cemeteries in the Early Christian Period
From Iconoclasm to the splendour of the Macedonian and Komnenian dynasties
The dynasties of Byzantine emperors
Byzantine castles
The twilight of Byzantium
The Dori Papastratou Collection (Byzantine engravings of the 18th and 19th centuries)
The Dimitrios Ekonomopoulos Collection (1,460 objects from prehistory to the Byzantine era)
'Byzantium after Byzantium': The Byzantine Legacy in the years after the Fall of Constantinople (1453-19th c.)
Discovering the Past

In addition, the Museum of Byzantine Culture hosts regular temporary exhibitions on specific themes relating to Byzantine art and culture. See the museum's official website for the current schedule.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Byzantine Museum; Museum of Byzantine Culture
Location:	Thessaloniki, Greece
Category:	Museums
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Eastern Orthodox
Date:	1994
Architect:	Kyriakos Krokos
Features:	Byzantine Mosaics; Early Christian Artifacts

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	40.624273° N, 22.95508° E (view on Google Maps)
Address:	2 Stratou Avenue, Thessaloniki 546 40, Greece
Phone:	+30 2310 868 570
Website:	www.mbp.gr
E-mail:	protocol@mbp.culture.gr
Hours:	Mon: 10:30am-5pm Tue-Sun: 8:30am-3pm Closed Dec 25-26, Jan 1, Mar 25, Orthodox Easter Sunday, May 1.
Cost:	Regular fee €4 Reduced fee €2 for EU seniors (+65), non-EU students Free for children (-19), EU students, journalists, guides, soldiers, and for everyone on special free days.
Photography:	Permitted without flash, including video, for non-professional purposes
Facilities:	Gift shop, café (8:30am-1pm)

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Thessaloniki Map - our detailed interactive map of Thessaloniki, plus hand-picked links to more
Thessaloniki Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
Thessaloniki Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
Thessaloniki Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
Thessaloniki Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Thessaloniki tourism

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Byzantine Museum. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Thessaloniki Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Museum of Byzantine Culture - official website

Article last updated: 10/22/2009.