The Museum of the Byzantine Culture is a modern building in the city center, right next to the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. The building construction process started in 1989, while the museum's inauguration took place in 1994. The structure covers an area of 11.500 square meters and includes 11 rooms that were gradually added to the exhibition until 2004.
How is the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki?
The exhibition is organized in 11 separate sections, while the museum follows a contemporary perspective of displaying the artifacts, a fact that makes it attractive to all guests regardless of their age or background. This was the main reason that in 2005 the "Museum Award" was given to the Byzantine Museum of Thessaloniki by the Council of Europe.
The Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki aims to gather, preserve, study and display art pieces and objects from the Byzantine era, starting from the "great power period" until the time right after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.
The guests can admire sculptures, mosaics, murals, paintings of saints, coins, pottery, hand scripts as well as items made of glass. The majority of the exhibits come from the region of Macedonia and especially from Thessaloniki. While the exhibitions are enriched with donations from private collectors and institutions.
Apart from the museum exhibitions, the building hosts fully equipped laboratories for the preservation of the findings. The humidity of the atmosphere and the temperature follow all modern regulations at the museum there is also an amphitheater for lectures, rooms for temporary exhibitions, and a gift shop.
The restaurant of the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki
The restaurant of the museum is an absolute highlight where someone can combine a visit and enjoy a meal or a glass of wine after that. It has a sophisticated design, while it is the first high standard bar-restaurant at a museum in Greece.
Its proximity to the center of the city makes it an ideal choice not only for the museum visitors but also for many others who wish to enjoy a meal in a very elegant restaurant.