Municipal Gallery of Athens

What I can see

The Athens Municipal Art Gallery is housed in the famous former Silk Factory (Metaxourgio), which gave its name to the area. Originally designed to be a mall, it was owned by Kantakouzinos and featured shops on the ground level and flats on the first floor. This ambitious project was left unfinished when plans to build the palaces in today’s Omonia square were cancelled. It was later completed but became a silk factory. Recent restoration works have highlighted its neoclassical character though it remains an uneven structure, reflecting the economic principles of its age and the fragmentation that resulted from the constant change in the building’s use. Today, it houses the visual arts department of the gallery (the administration and other services are located in the former municipal nursery), featuring 3,000 works mainly by Greek artists of the 20^th century, reflecting the foreign influence that marked the course of modern Greek art.

What I can't see

In the 19^th century, it was a landmark of the area and, together with the gasworks factory (Gkazi), formed the first industrial zone of the city. It was the first steam mill in the country and reflected the social reality of its time. The different uses of the building have directly affected the residents and character of the area. It was turned into a silk mill about 10 years after the suspension of its construction by Kantakouzinos and although it changed owners, it kept operating mostly as a factory. One exception is a small space that served as a hospital for cholera patients and, during the German Occupation, as a shelter for refugees. Its area covered almost circumferentially the block between Megalou Alexandrou, Thermopylon, Leonidou and Kolokynthous Streets, while today’s two Art Gallery buildings used to be a single structure. Although we cannot see the original stone facade, the building’s restoration is considered a success. In addition to its exhibitions, the Municipal Art Gallery offers educational programs and guided tours of the area.

Info

• Address: Leonidou and Myllerou St.
• Phone: +30 210 3231841

Bibliography