Museum of Byzantine Civilization — Attraction in Municipality of Thessaloniki

The Museum of Byzantine Culture presents various aspects of Byzantine art and culture, as well as of the following era, after the fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Frescoes, mosaics, icons, marble architectural members, integrally detached frescoed early Christian burials, valuable ecclesiastic utensils, objects of personal ornament, but also functional objects of everyday use present aspects of life in Byzantium, from the organization of religious and social life and the artistic and intellectual production to private life and activities in the market, the countryside and the sea. The Museum of Byzantine Culture has been awarded the Council of Europe Museum Prize for 2005, for its significant contribution to the understanding of European cultural heritage. The jury appreciated “the excellence of the museum and the balance between conservation, restoration and presentation”, noting in particular the virtual absence of showcases and the illustration of restoration work. It described the museum as “visitor-friendly, with an educational emphasis on children”. The Museum’s building was constructed on the plans of the talented architect Kyriakos Krokos (1941-1998). Among the best works of public architecture of the last decades in Greece, it has been declared a historically listed monument by the Ministry of Culture in 2001. Discovering Thessaloniki’s Byzantine past, it is divided in several different thematic sections and collections that cover a wide time period of the city’s Byzantine past. Wonderful mosaics and wall paintings, Byzantine icons and religious architecture, impressive jewellery, rare books and scripts await you there. A café restaurant, a small amphitheater and a separate section that hosts outdoor exhibitions are some of the extra features available for the visitors. Inside the Museum of Byzantine Culture is considered one of the best designs of public architecture in Greece, as it successfully combines the Greek architectural heritage with modern elements while using modern materials in a really clever way. The Museum of Byzantine Culture has been awarded the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize for the year 2005. For years it remains one of the favorite destinations of the city for the majority of the visitors! You won’t have a hard time finding the museum as it is right next to the Archaeological museum in the centre...

First thing first, it is a great museum with permanent exhibitions regarding the Byzantine culture formally existing in Greece. Luckily we were here by chance for the once-in-lifetime experience—Orthodox Easter—one week after that of Germany. We didn‘t know that national holidays museums are open for public free-of-charge and we already purchased the day pass for 4 museums previously. We did not know that on national holidays they are open until 15:30. We arrived around 15:00 and were told to have 35mins for the exhibition. We tried our best to make it. At that time in the exhibition number 5, there was a senior museum staff who told us to hurry because there were 11 rooms in total. It gave us an uncomfortable feeling because we wanted to know about the culture and the staff made us feel unwelcome. At the end, around 15:40, as we could not see and read carefully that much in the rest 6 rooms, I wanted to visit the museum shop to purchase some books to read afterwards as I am so much interested in history and work in tourism and attraction industry. The same madam came to us and pointed the finger on her watch to indicate the time was over and we had to leave. I would not have written this constructive comment if it had not been for her act of indication of asking visitors to leave (if not the security’s responsibility) at the near end of closing time. I am deeply aware of the closing time for staff to go home and their preparation for the evening ceremony of the resurrection of Christ in Orthodox Easter. It is unacceptable to do like this on this occasion to their visitors. However, the museum shop staff took the stage and excused us for such inconvenience and gave us some good advice to experience the Orthodox Easter...

What a wonderful place to travel through time from creation, rise and fall of one of the biggest empires the world has ever known. Not only that the museum keeps on and shows evidently how the Byzantine empire affected the whole world and its importance to the world by the development of carpentry, craftsmanship, embroidery and so many arts and professions that we still use up to this day. I highly recommend you visit this place and encourage you to purchase the big ticket for €15 euro which is a combined ticket of four tickets into one. This big ticket allows entrance into four must visit major landmarks in Thessaloniki , Rotunda (The Pantheon of Greece and the Covenant of angels), Byzantine museum (a time travel experience), the Archaeological museum (an educational experience) and Inside the white Tower (the view is incredible from there). By the end you have used up all entrances of the big ticket you will accumulate lots of knowledge and experiences and you will pass by a wonderful day as time flies when you visit thoss wonderful places. PS: The museum also has very clean toilets and a wonderful cafeteria that also functions as a restaurant later on...