Address: Koumbari 1, Athens: Tel: +30 210 367 1000. www.benaki.gr Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Admission: €6; Thursdays: Free
The Benaki Museum, established and endowed in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in memory of his father Emmanuel Benakis, is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens. The museum houses Greek works of art from the prehistorical to the modern times, an extensive collection of Asian art, hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. Although the museum initially housed a collection that included Islamic art, Chinese porcelain and exhibits on toys, its 2000 re-opening led to the creation of satellite museums that focused on specific collections, allowing the main museum to focus on Greek culture over the span of the country’s history.