Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum at Koumbari 1 in the Kolonaki neighborhood of Athens was founded in 1930 by the cotton merchant and philanthropist Antonis Benakis, who donated his extensive personal collection to the Greek state. It is the oldest and one of the most beloved private museums in Greece, housed in a neoclassical mansion originally built in 1867. The collection's extraordinary breadth spans from prehistoric antiquities (Neolithic, Bronze Age, and early Cycladic objects) through ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine material to Islamic art, Asian decorative arts, and the most comprehensive collection of Greek folk art and traditional costume in the world. The Islamic art wing, covering Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Ottoman Empire, is considered among the finest outside the Islamic world. The post-Byzantine and Greek independence sections contain significant material on the Greek War of Independence (1821–1832) including Lord Byron memorabilia, weapons, and portraits of independence leaders. The neoclassical building's rooftop café-restaurant terrace overlooking Kolonaki and the Acropolis is a celebrated Athens lunch and coffee destination that can be visited independently without museum admission. The museum shop stocks high-quality art books, jewelry, and replicas. Temporary exhibitions supplement the permanent collection throughout the year and regularly attract specialist audiences from across Europe.