Art Hopping

Thessaloniki has a famously artistic soul; these are some of the best places to immerse yourself in the city's cultural side.


The Costakis Collection
George Costakis, a Greek living in Moscow and employed by the Greek Embassy (as a driver) and later by the Canadian Embassy (as director of local personnel), had a marvelous eye. Without specific training, he was guided by taste and enthusiasm in acquiring works of the Russian avant-garde. He started in the mid-1940s, ultimately amassing this significant collection of over 1,200 works by Kazimir Malevich, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Vasili Kandinsky and Vladimir Tatlin, among many others. Two large galleries show different parts of the collection in changing thematic exhibitions.

INFO

State Museum of Contemporary Art Lazariston Monastery, 21 Kolokotroni, Stavroupoli (bus No 27 to Stavroupoli, Pavlou Mela stop) • Tel. (+30) 2310.589.143 •  Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 •  Admission: € 3

Info

3 Navarchou Votsi, Warehouse A • Open daily 11:00-19:00 and Fridays 12:00-22:00 • Admission 3 euros Permanent Exhibition Dock A, Old Pump Room • Tel. (+30) 2310.566.716 • Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 15:00-21:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-15:00 • Admission free

The Museum of Photography
One of the harbor’s late 19th-early 20th century warehouses was converted by the noted Thessaloniki engineer Eli Modiano into this well-appointed exhibition space that maintains a strong sense of place. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions of work by local and international photographers that explore the medium’s various applications. The cafe, whose floor-toceiling window overlooks the port’s industrial side, is one of the city’s secret finds. The museum also maintains a permanent collection on the history of the harbor, titled Portrait: The Story of a Port.

Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
This relatively young museum is the result of remarkable initiative, generosity and cooperation – a beautiful thing created in response to the damage to Thessaloniki’s monuments in an earthquake in 1978. The original idea of gallery owner Maro Lagia and collector Alexandros Zolas motivated a community of art lovers to realize the goal of a significant center for contemporary art in Thessaloniki. The museum now has a permanent collection of well over 1,500 works, including by Niki de Saint Phalle, Joseph Beuys, Yannis Gaitis, Dennis Oppenheim, among many others. Perhaps more interesting still, particularly for the foreign visitor, is the opportunity to see the work of 20th century and contemporary Greek artists and their contributions to international movements in the art world. Galleries of a variety of styles, corridors and stairwells on three levels have been used to advantage so that each piece seems to be placed in its ideal environment.

INFO

154 Egnatia • Tel. (+30) 2310.240.002 • Opening Hours: Τhur 10:00-22:00, Fri 10:00- 19:00, Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-15:00 • Admission: € 4



Read More

Mainland

Ioannina: The New Weekend Destination

A weekend in the capital of Epirus promises walks by...


Thessaloniki

Hanging Out in Thessaloniki

Some of most original hangouts in Greece can be found...


GASTRONOMY

The Thessaloniki Restaurants that Tickle our Tastebuds

There are so many interesting restaurants in Thessaloniki, that one...


The Olympic Games

Energized Art


Contemporary Greek artists draw on sporting achievements and the Olympic...


Greece Is Blog Posts

An Ode to Local Products

BY Yiouli Eptakili

No more avocado toast and croque-madames. From Thessaloniki to Crete...

read more >

How Can Greece Become a Gastro-Tourism Destination?

BY Yiouli Eptakili

It’s about more than just taking a trip...

read more >

Leaving Room in Greece for Everyone

BY Greece Is

Labor Day, this year September 5, marks the...

read more >