Location: Vasileos Konstantinou 50,
Illsia, Athens
Tel. 210 723 5937
Subway: Evangelismos
Tram train: 3, 13
Open: 9am- 3pm and 6- 9pm Mon and Wed
9am- 3pm Thu- Sat, 10am- 2pm Sun
Closed: public holidays
Official
Site
The National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens, Greece, is the country’s premier art museum, renowned for its extensive collection of modern Greek art alongside a notable selection of Western European works. Located at 50 Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue in the Pangrati district, opposite the Hilton Athens, it is a cultural cornerstone that traces Greece’s artistic evolution from the post-Byzantine era to the 21st century. Founded in 1900 and significantly expanded after an eight-year renovation, the museum reopened on March 24, 2021, just before the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence. With over 20,000 artworks, modern facilities, and a commitment to education and accessibility, it is a must-visit for art lovers and those seeking to understand Greece’s cultural identity.
The National Gallery was established on April 10, 1900, as a decree
in 1833 aimed to create a national art institution, but it lacked a
permanent home until the 1960s. Initially, it began as a modest
collection of 117 paintings displayed at the National Technical
University and the University of Athens. In 1896, Alexandros Soutsos, a
jurist and art enthusiast, bequeathed his collection of 107 artworks and
estate to the Greek government, catalyzing the museum’s formal
establishment. The first curator, Georgios Iakovidis (also spelled
Jakobides), a prominent painter of the Munich School, shaped its early
focus on Greek art.
The museum moved through various temporary
locations, including the Polytechnic School of Athens until 1939, before
settling into its current building on Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue in
1976. This modern structure, designed with clean lines, marked a new era
for the gallery. In 1954, the museum merged with the Alexandros Soutsos
Estate, adopting its dual name, and began expanding through donations
from Greek entrepreneurs and foreign artists.
From 2013 to 2021,
the National Gallery underwent a major renovation and expansion, costing
nearly €60 million, largely funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
and the Greek Ministry of Culture. The refurbished museum, doubled in
size to 20,760 square meters, reopened on March 24, 2021, with enhanced
exhibition spaces, modern facilities, and a renewed focus on Greece’s
artistic narrative. The timing of the reopening, aligned with the
bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence, underscored its role as a
symbol of national pride.
The gallery has also expanded its reach
through annexes in Nafplion (focused on the 1821 Revolution), Corfu
(modern Greek art), Sparta (Coumantaros Art Gallery), Aegina (Kapralos
Museum), and the National Glyptotheque in Goudi, Athens, dedicated to
sculpture. In 2021, it incorporated the Contemporary Greek Art Institute
(ISET), further broadening its scope.
The National Gallery’s current building, completed in 1976 and
expanded in 2021, is a modern architectural marvel designed to
integrate with Athens’ urban landscape while showcasing its vast
collection. The renovation, overseen by the Greek Ministry of
Culture and executed by TOMI S.A., doubled the museum’s size and
introduced state-of-the-art facilities. Below is a detailed
breakdown of its architectural features:
Main Building
(Central Building)
Design: The original 1976 structure, with its
modernist lines, was expanded with a glass-clad annex (the Stavros
Niarchos Wing), creating a sleek, transparent facade that contrasts
with Athens’ neoclassical heritage. The glass exterior, designed to
maximize natural light, enhances the viewing of artworks and
connects the museum to the city’s vibrancy. The building’s aesthetic
balances functionality with elegance, aligning with 21st-century
museological standards.
Size and Layout: The complex spans 20,760
square meters, including:
Exhibition Spaces: 2,230 m² of
galleries across three floors, organized chronologically (19th
century on the first floor, 20th century on the second, 20th–21st
century on the third).
Storage: 1,645 m² of climate-controlled
warehouses for the 20,000+ artworks.
Auditorium: A 240-seat (or
450-seat, per some sources) amphitheater for lectures, conferences,
and events.
Library: A two-story art library with a vast
collection of books on Greek and European modern art.
Conservation Labs: Equipped with cutting-edge technology for art
restoration.
Educational Areas: Spaces for workshops and
programs, particularly for children.
Lobby: A spacious entrance
with a ticket office, cloakroom, digital information lounge
(featuring touch-sensitive tables for exploring the collection), and
a monumental triptych, “People’s Market” by Panagiotis Tetsis,
welcoming visitors with its vibrant depiction of an Athenian market.
Accessibility: The museum is fully accessible for visitors with
mobility impairments, with ramps, elevators, and accessible
restrooms. The design ensures inclusivity, with clear pathways and
digital resources for diverse audiences.
Outdoor Spaces
Sculpture Garden: Covering 2,287 m², the garden is a “living canvas”
with 99 plant species (native and acclimatized exotics) chosen for
sustainability and seasonal beauty. It features eight significant
sculptures from the collection, exploring themes like the human
figure (e.g., Joannis Avramidis, Christos Kapralos), animals (Maria
Michalea), objects (George Zongolopoulos), and natural sciences
(Nikos Nikolaidis, Takis, Costas Varotsos). Notable works include
Auguste Rodin’s “Walking Man on Column”, a striking metal assemblage
at the entrance. The garden’s planting reflects Greek artistic
inspiration, with species depicted in the museum’s artworks used in
educational programs.
Courtyard: Adjacent to the Ilissos
Café-Restaurant, the courtyard offers shaded seating and a tranquil
space for visitors.
Cafés and Restaurants
Ilissos
Café-Restaurant: On the ground floor, it serves drinks, snacks, and
meals, with courtyard tables. Open during museum hours, it’s
accessible without a ticket but has received mixed reviews for
quality.
Parthenis Café-Restaurant: On the third floor, this
rooftop venue offers panoramic views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus
Hill, and the Saronic Gulf. Currently under refurbishment (as of
2023), it promises to be a highlight once reopened.
Museum
Shop
The 910 m² shop, located in the lobby, offers high-quality
replicas, art books, jewelry, and merchandise inspired by the
collection. It’s praised for its curated selection and safe
packaging for travel, with an online store at nationalgallery.gr.
The architecture, with its glass facade, spacious galleries, and
sustainable garden, creates an inviting, modern environment that
enhances the art-viewing experience while reflecting Greece’s
cultural dynamism.
The National Gallery houses over 20,000 artworks, encompassing
paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, decorative arts, and
photographs, making it the largest collection of modern Greek art in the
country. The permanent exhibition, displaying approximately 1,000 works,
is organized chronologically across three floors, tracing Greece’s
artistic evolution from the post-Byzantine era to the present. The
collection also includes a significant selection of Western European
art, particularly Renaissance and 17th–20th-century works. Below is a
detailed overview of the collections:
Modern Greek Art
Overview: The core of the collection, this section spans from
post-Byzantine times (15th century) to the 21st century, highlighting
the development of Greek art alongside the modern Greek state. It is
divided by period and style across three floors:
First Floor
(19th Century): Focuses on the Munich School and bourgeois portraiture
post-1862 (after King Otto’s dethronement). Key artists include:
Nikiforos Lytras: Known as the “father of modern Greek painting,” his
works include the Portrait of Mrs. Serpieri (with an opulent French gold
frame) and a portrait of King Otto and Queen Amalia, reflecting the
emerging Greek bourgeoisie.
Iakovos Rizos: His Athenian Evening and
On the Terrace capture the Belle Époque spirit, depicting aristocratic
Athenians against the Acropolis backdrop.
Nikolaos Gyzis: A Munich
School leader, his works blend realism with national themes.
Second Floor (20th Century): Showcases early modernism, expressionism,
and abstract art, including:
Konstantinos Parthenis: A pioneer of
Greek modernism, his works like Love Scene (1982) blend symbolism and
abstraction.
Yannis Moralis: Known for abstract yet emotive
compositions.
Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika: A dedicated room displays
his cubist works, influenced by Picasso and Cézanne, blending European
avant-garde with Greek elements.
Fotis Kontoglou: His monumental
multi-panel mural at the museum (originally from his home) mixes
Byzantine influences with surrealist and historical scenes, depicting
figures like Homer and Plutarch as saints. Kontoglou’s frescoes also
appear in the Panagia Kapnikarea church.
Third Floor (20th–21st
Century): Explores contemporary styles, including Pop Art, figurative
art, and art-technology intersections. Artists include Alekos Fassianos,
Yannis Tsarouchis, and Dimitris Mytaras, whose works reflect modern
Greek identity and global trends.
Significance: This collection
narrates Greece’s modern history through art, from the 1821 Revolution
to the establishment of the modern state, capturing themes of war,
independence, bourgeois life, and cultural renewal.
Western
European Art
Overview: While the focus is on Greek art, the gallery
houses a respectable collection of European works from the 14th to 20th
centuries, particularly strong in Renaissance paintings. Key works
include:
El Greco: The Concert of the Angels, Christ on the Cross
with the Two Maries and St. John, and Saint Peter, showcasing his
proto-expressionist style.
Rembrandt: Works attributed to his school,
adding depth to the collection.
Pablo Picasso: Modernist paintings,
reflecting his influence on Greek artists.
Other Masters: Works by
Bruegel, Caravaggio, Eugène Delacroix, Peter Paul Rubens, Auguste Rodin,
Francisco Goya, Henri Matisse, and Jacob Jordaens (e.g., The Adoration
of the Shepherds).
Significance: These works contextualize Greek art
within European traditions, highlighting cross-cultural influences,
particularly during the Renaissance and modern periods.
Sculpture
and Decorative Arts
National Glyptotheque (Goudi): The museum’s
sculpture collection, housed in a separate facility in Goudi, includes
works by Christos Kapralos, Costas Varotsos (creator of “The Runner”),
and international artists like Rodin. The sculpture garden at the main
building features eight key pieces, such as Rodin’s Walking Man on
Column.
Decorative and Applied Arts: Includes engravings, drawings,
and historical photographs, preserved in the museum’s archives.
Panagiotis Tetsis’ “People’s Market”: A 15-meter-long triptych in the
lobby, this post-Impressionist mural captures the vibrancy of an
Athenian market, setting an inclusive tone for visitors.
Additional Notes
Digitization: The collection is fully digitized
under the EU’s “Information Society” program, accessible via
touch-sensitive tables in the lobby and online at nationalgallery.gr.
Storage: Most of the 20,000 works are in storage, with annexes and
temporary exhibitions showcasing additional pieces.
Educational Role:
The museum’s library and digital resources support research, while
guided tours and workshops engage diverse audiences.
The National Gallery hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions,
with the latter adding dynamism to its offerings. Below are key details:
Permanent Exhibition
Scope: Approximately 1,000 works are
displayed across three floors, organized chronologically to trace Greek
art’s evolution. Highlights include Lytras’ portraits, Rizos’ Belle
Époque scenes, Ghika’s cubist works, and Tetsis’ “People’s Market.”
Presentation: Spacious galleries with improved lighting (post-2021
renovation) enhance the viewing experience. Bilingual (Greek and
English) labels, audio guides, and digital touchscreens provide context.
Temporary Exhibitions
Recent and Notable:
“The Obsession of
the Gaze” (2021): A retrospective celebrating the centenary of
Panagiotis Tetsis, showcasing his plein-air colorist works.
“Francisco Goya, Los Caprichos” (2023–2024): Featured Goya’s satirical
engravings, though some visitors noted difficulties booking tickets
online.
Current and Upcoming (as of June 2025): Check
nationalgallery.gr for updates, as temporary exhibitions often focus on
Greek artists, European masters, or thematic explorations (e.g., the
1821 Revolution). Recent exhibitions have included works by Yannis
Tsarouchis and Konstantinos Parthenis.
Significance: Temporary
exhibitions complement the permanent collection, drawing international
attention and showcasing lesser-known works from storage or loans.
Annex Exhibitions
Nafplion: Focuses on the Greek Revolution.
Corfu and Aegina: Highlight modern Greek art and sculpture.
Goudi
(National Glyptotheque): Temporary sculpture exhibitions alongside the
permanent collection.
The National Gallery is a vital institution for understanding
Greece’s artistic and cultural identity:
Tracing National
Narrative: The collection narrates Greece’s modern history through art,
from post-Byzantine religious works to the 1821 Revolution, the
establishment of the modern state, and 20th-century modernism. It
reflects key moments like the bourgeois rise under Charilaos Trikoupis
and the cultural renewal of the 1930s.
Greek Art’s Global Impact:
Artists like Lytras, Gyzis, and Ghika, who trained in Europe, brought
international influences to Greece, while figures like El Greco connect
Greek art to global movements. The gallery’s European collection
underscores these cross-cultural ties.
Educational Role: The museum
offers guided tours (in English, €10–15), workshops for children, and
lectures in its auditorium. The two-story library supports scholarly
research, and digital resources (e.g., 3D models, online catalogues)
enhance accessibility. Educational programs, such as those using the
sculpture garden’s plants, engage younger audiences.
Cultural Hub:
Located in Pangrati, near the Hilton and Evangelismos metro, the gallery
is part of Athens’ “Museum Mile,” alongside the Byzantine and Christian
Museum (422m), Museum of Cycladic Art (578m), and Benaki Museum (796m).
Its cafés, shop, and garden make it a social and cultural meeting point.
Visitor Impact: Approximately 4 million people have visited in the last
14 years, with exhibitions supported by sponsorships covering up to half
the budget. The 2021 reopening revitalized Athens’ art scene, filling a
gap left during the eight-year closure.
The gallery’s focus on Greek
art, while not as expansive as London’s National Gallery or Madrid’s
Prado, offers a unique perspective on a nation’s artistic journey,
making it essential for understanding Greece’s cultural heritage.
The National Gallery faces several challenges in preserving its
collection and facilities:
Artifact Conservation: Paintings,
sculptures, and engravings require climate-controlled storage and
regular restoration, managed by the museum’s advanced conservation labs.
Delicate works, like Tetsis’ triptych, are vulnerable to light and
humidity.
Crowding: Peak tourist seasons (July–August) can overcrowd
the galleries, despite the expanded space, affecting the viewing
experience.
Funding: As a state-run institution, the gallery relies
on government support, ticket revenue, and sponsorships (e.g., Stavros
Niarchos Foundation). Budget constraints can limit exhibition scope or
outreach compared to private museums like the Goulandris Foundation.
Visitor Amenities: Some reviewers note a lack of seating for rest and
contemplation in galleries, and the Ilissos Café has mixed reviews for
quality. The Parthenis Café’s closure for refurbishment (as of 2023)
limits dining options.
The museum mitigates these through
digitization, international collaborations (e.g., with Google Arts &
Culture), and rigorous conservation protocols. Its accessibility
features and digital lounge ensure inclusivity, while the sculpture
garden’s sustainable design reduces environmental impact.
Location: 50 Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, Pangrati, Athens 116 34,
Greece. Approximately 300m from Evangelismos metro station, 20 minutes’
walk from Syntagma Square, opposite the Hilton Athens.
Access:
Metro: Evangelismos (Line 3, 300m, 5-minute walk).
Bus: “Pinakothiki”
stop (lines 550, 10) or nearby stops (203, 211, 214, 220, 221, 224, 235,
608, 622, 815, A5, E14, X95).
On Foot: 1.2km from Syntagma Square via
Vasilissis Sofias Avenue.
Private Transfers: Pre-booked taxis via
(0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, or (0030) 18180, or online services.
Parking: No on-site parking; closest options at Evangelismos metro
station (24/7) or nearby lots (e.g., Polis Park, 500m).
Hours (as of
June 2025, subject to change, per nationalgallery.gr):
Monday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday: 12:00
PM–8:00 PM
Closed: Tuesdays, January 1, January 6, Ash Wednesday,
March 25, Orthodox Easter Sunday and Monday, May 1, Pentecost, August
15, October 28, December 25–26.
Last entry: 1 hour before closing.
Admission (as of September 2024, subject to change):
Adults: €10
(permanent exhibition).
Reduced: €5 (seniors 65+, students, EU
citizens 18–25).
Free: Under 18, visitors with disabilities and their
companion, Greek unemployed citizens, archaeology/art history students,
ICOM/ICOMOS members, journalists, tour guides.
Temporary exhibitions:
Additional cost (check nationalgallery.gr).
Free admission days:
First Sunday of each month (November–March), March 6, April 18, May 18,
last weekend of September, October 28.
Tickets: Available on-site or
online via nationalgallery.gr or culture.gov.gr. Credit/debit cards
accepted. Online booking recommended for temporary exhibitions to avoid
queues.
Accessibility: Fully accessible with ramps, elevators, and
accessible restrooms. Tactile guides and audio descriptions available
for visually impaired visitors (pre-book via +30 214 408 6213).
Amenities:
Ilissos Café-Restaurant: Ground floor, open during museum
hours, mixed reviews for quality.
Parthenis Café-Restaurant: Third
floor, under refurbishment, offers Acropolis views when open.
Museum
Shop: High-quality art replicas, books, and merchandise in the lobby,
with an online store.
Wi-Fi: Free throughout the museum.
Cloakroom: Free storage for bags and coats.
Rules:
Photography
without flash permitted for personal use; tripods and professional
equipment require permission.
Do not touch artworks to prevent
damage.
No food, drinks, or smoking in galleries.
Guided tours for
groups of 10+ must be pre-booked.
Visiting Tips:
Allow 2–3
hours for a thorough visit, including permanent and temporary
exhibitions.
Visit early morning (10:00–11:00 AM) or late afternoon
to avoid crowds, especially in summer.
Start with the lobby’s digital
lounge to plan your route, then explore chronologically from the first
floor.
Combine with nearby museums (e.g., Byzantine and Christian
Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art) or a walk to the Panathenaic Stadium
(800m).
Check nationalgallery.gr for temporary exhibition schedules
and ticket availability.
Wear comfortable shoes for navigating the
three floors and sculpture garden.
Audio guides (€5–10) or guided
tours (€10–15, in English) enhance the experience.