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An excellent museum of its type. Too often neglected by visitors to Athens, even though it is in the heavily touristed Plaka neighbourhood. Displays include artefacts, tools, primitive painting, folk pottery and interior decor. It is particularly strong on costume and embroidery.
The Museum of Greek Folk Art is a museum in Athens, Greece. The museum was founded in 1918 as the Museum of Greek Handicrafts in the Tzistarakis Mosque in Monastiraki, which later became the National Museum of Decorative Arts and in 1959 it obtained its current name. In 1973 the greater part of the collection and the main functions of the museum were moved to 17 Kydathinaion Str. in Plaka and the mosque was annexed to it. Other annexes are the old "Public Baths" at Kyrristou 8 and one at Thespidos 8, both also in Plaka.
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Only the ruins remain today. The column that has fallen and can still be seen in pieces was brought down during a thunderstorm about a century ago.
Check out the Parliament building and the newly restored Grande Bretagne Hotel.
Classical Athens' main theatre, the first theatre ever built. Many of the great Greek plays were performed here for the first time. According to Plato's Symposium, it could hold an audience of 19,000 spectators. Aristophanes' The Clouds, mocking Socrates, was first performed here, and Plato considered this play to be a contributing factor in Socrates' trial and execution.
Includes exhibits of traditional Greek musical instruments, with recordings of most of them.
Catch the changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament every hour on the hour. The guards are a fascinating sight; they wear distinctive uniforms with pleated kilts and leather clogs with pom-poms. The uniforms and the guards' unusual marching style are a tribute to the light infantry insurgents (evzones) who bravely fought the Greek War of Independence. Make sure you don't get too close or stand on the wrong side of them if you want to take a picture. If that occurs, they will knock their gun and, as they are not allowed to speak, another guard in regular military uniform will kindly ask you to change position. A more elaborate version of the ceremony takes place at 11:00 every Sunday, when it is accompanied by a marching military band.
A Peaceful and beautiful park in the centre of Athens, easily the coolest place to hide from the summer sun. Wander around, check out the quirky art that seems to sprout up every now and again, look on in disbelief at the "zoo", sit on one of the benches, enjoy the luxuriant flowers and vegetation, marvel at the turtle and duck ponds, have a frappe in the cafe, and spot one of the resident tortoises exploring... it's a fun place to hang out.