Goulandris Museum of Modern Art Opens

Art lovers rejoice; the wait is over. From Wednesday, October 2, Athenians and visitors to the city will be able to soak up one of the world’s most extraordinary private art collections as the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation for Modern Art opens to the public. See modern masterpieces by the likes of Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso—that once hung in the homes of Greek shipping tycoon Basil Goulandris and his wife Elise—at their new 11-storey, purpose-built residence in Pangrati. Taking their place next to these European masters are fine works by some of the Greek greats including Parthenis, Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Tsarouchis, Moralis and Tetsis. The new museum, which has a total area of 7,250 sq.m., also has a shop and modern Greek café (run by the team from neighbourhood hotspot Ohh Boy), an art library of 6,000 books, a children's workshop, and 190-seat amphitheatre. You can take a guided tour of the collection or watch short films about individual works of interest as part of your ticket price.