Byzantine and Christian Museum
The first part of the Byzantine and Christian Museum’s new exhibition of its collection is scheduled to open on June 21 and will contain 1,200 displays dating to the Byzantine era. The second part of the exhibition is scheduled to take place one year later and will display items from the late Byzantine era. Most of these items have been kept in storage for a number of years, since the Villa Ilissia, where the museum is housed, was unable to hold more than 300 displays. The new expansion, however, will allow the museum to hold up to 3,500 displays. Once the expansion works are complete, the Byzantine and Christian Museum will be one of the most significant museums of its kind in the world, as its collection, especially the pieces dating to the Byzantine era, is among one of the richest ever and has a number of rare pieces. Among the displays that will be shown in the first leg of the exhibition in June, will be a part of the Avgeria Collection with portraits of Byzantine emperors on coins. The museum’s director, Dimitris Constantios, noted that the exhibition will be accompanied by explanatory texts of an educational character. He also pointed out that the museum will be equipped with all modern, state-of-the-art technology and that great attention has been paid to making the display areas attractive to visitors. It is also worth noting that there are some hopes that by the summer, part of the museum’s courtyard will be operational and will have a cafe.