The National Archaeological Museum is set in a characteristic hefty neoclassical building, designed by L. Lange and remodelled by P. Kalkos, H. Vlachos and E. Ziller (built 1866-1889), housing a unique, recently refurbished, collection of ancient Greek art and artefacts. Its more than 20,000 exhibits showcase the development of Greek civilisation from Prehistory down to the late Roman era. There are vast collections of finds from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Cycladic and Mycenaean periods (Prehistoric Collection) – including the famous gold mask attributed to Agamemnon –, finds from the prehistoric settlement on the island of Thera (Santorini) – including wonderfully preserved colourful wall-murals –, the Sculpture Collection (7th-5th centuries BC) showcasing many internationally-acclaimed masterpieces of the genre, some of which attributed to Praxiteles’ workshop, the Near Eastern Antiquities Collection, as well as the Metallurgy and Vase & Minor Objects Collections.

Two of its newest exhibits include a 4th century BC gold funerary wreath and a 6th century BC marble statue of a young woman, returned to Greece in 2007 by the Getty Museum in California and conspicuously displayed.

Another major highlight is its renowned Egyptian Collection, 1,100 priceless items of which were recently put on permanent exhibition following years in the Museum’s vast underground storage areas. Considered one of the foremost Egyptian collections worldwide, its star items include a wooden body tag for a mummy, the bronze statue of Princess-Priestess Takushit (c. 670BC) adorned with a gown strewn with hieroglyphs, a 3,000-year-old preserved loaf of bread (with a bite-sized chunk missing!) and other intact organic materials, as well as a rare bronze miniature figurine depicting an African boy at a street market. The Stathatos Collection was also recently brought up from storage and put on display, mainly showcasing ancient jewellery.

There are plans for the future underground expansion of the Museum’s permanent exhibition spaces, but these are not expected to materialise any time soon. It also periodically houses temporary exhibitions. Its amenities include a coffee-shop / restaurant in the pleasant atrium in the basement area, Museum shop, conference facilities and modern conservation workshops.

Admission fee: €7, concessions €3