All Museums in Greece Ready to Open on May 14

National Gallery, Athens. Photo source: Ministry of Culture

All museums in Greece will reopen their doors to the public on Friday, May 14, according to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

The minister’s announcement comes after Greece’s Covid-19 committee of health experts gave the green light for all museums to reopen under safety measures that define the maximum number of visitors allowed, set rules for the entrance and exit of visitors and also indicate the safest routes in each museum for browsing exhibits.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, the minister also referred to the National Gallery in Athens, which will now officially open to the public.

“The National Gallery will open with access to all of its three floors and program of exhibitions,” she said.

The recently renovated gallery had opened for only one day – on March 24 – to welcome state officials from all over the world for the bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution, but closed again as coronavirus lockdown measures were still in place.

The Ziller-Loverdos Mansion in Athens during its renovation. Photo source: Ministry of Culture

Mendoni added that two new museums in Greece on May 14 would open their doors for the first time: the Arethousa – Archaeological Museum of Halkida, located north of Athens, and the historic Ziller-Loverdos Mansion in the Greek capital.

Recently transformed into a museum , the 19th century Ziller-Loverdos Mansion is home to the Loverdos collection, which consists of icons of the Cretan and Heptanese Schools as well as antiquities, wooden sculptures and more.

Cafes and gift shops in Greek museums will also operate as of May 14.

Measures, rules

The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in Athens.

Following are the main measures according to the Covid-19 health protocols for Greek museums:

– a distance 1.5 meters minimum must be maintained between people in the open spaces of museums and at least 2 meters indoors. It is mandatory for all visitors to wear a non-surgical mask

– rules for social distancing in the dining areas that operate in museums are similar to those announced for restaurants and cafes. Tables and chairs are disinfected by staff between customers

– rules for social distancing in museum shops are similar to those announced for retail spaces

– the use of e-tickets (where available) is highly recommended to control, as much as possible, the flow of visitors in museums

– in case of organized guided tours with a tourist guide (limited number of people), the rules regarding the distances between visitors must be strictly followed, as well as rules regarding the mandatory use of audio tourist guide equipment (wireless microphone transmitters and receivers, better known as “whispers”) and the avoidance of using common devices (tablets, headphones, etc.).

Safety of employees

Employees that come in contact with the public (at ticket booths for example) must wear non-surgical masks and frequently use antiseptics. Dividers have been placed in key areas where contact is frequent. The disinfection of areas where staff interacts with the public must be frequently carried out.