On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of her birth Maria Callasthe Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens delivers the first Museum for the legendary Greek soprano. From tomorrow Thursday (26/10), the Maria Callas Museum at 44 Mitropoleos Street, opens its doors to the public and aspires to illuminate the personality and career of the leading soprano, but also to be a point of cultural reference in the years to come.

The new cultural space in the center of Athens focuses on an experiential experience, which awakens visitors’ love for Maria Callas and then pushes them to discover the different aspects of her career and life. The exhibits of the Museum include separate objects that belonged to this versatile artist. Through texts, objects, videos and rare audio clips, the thread of her journey unfolds. From her beginnings and years in Greece, her international career and major roles, to her worldly life, her personality, the people in her life, and the legacy she left behind.

The collection and the building

The creation of a collection of objects by Maria Callas began in 2000, when the Municipality of Athens acquired the first objects by participating in an international auction in Paris. Since then, the collection has been enriched by donations from several institutions and individuals, such as the Maria Kallas Hellenic Association and the couple Konstantinos and Viktorias Pylarinos, with heirlooms that belonged to or refer to Maria Kallas, but also with items obtained from a loan, as a result of which it numbers today about 1000 items.

In October 2022, in the Music Library of the Athens Music Hall, the couple Konstantinos and Victoria Pylarinos, had donated to the Municipality of Athens 50 unique items by Maria Callas from their personal collection. In September 2023, the Hellenic Association Maria Kallas showed its support for the Museum by donating to the Municipality of Athens important relics it had in its possession.

Regarding the four-storey building at 44 Mitropoleos Street, it was built during the interwar period (an older contract mentions the year 1928) and for a long time (until the 60s) housed the Royal Hotel, category C with 20 rooms. The building was deemed preserved, based on Presidential Decree (Government Gazette 349D/85). In the decade of 2010, it was bought by the Municipality of Athens, in order to install its services. With the actions of the current, as well as the previous municipal authorities, it was decided that the building will house the Maria Callas Museum.

“Athens owed this honor to the legendary Greek soprano. The Maria Callas Museum, the first in the world, makes us all proud”, stressed the mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis and added: “I sincerely thank the donors, the sponsors, the project team and everyone who contributed to the city acquiring this special space of culture”.

For his part, the president of Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, Konstantinos Dedes, said: “The creation of a Museum, the first Museum in the world, for the great artist Maria Callas, was a demanding project, which the Municipality of Athens entrusted to Technopolis and with great pleasure we launch. The residents and visitors of the city will have the opportunity to meet her, feel her and listen to her in a modern and accessible space in the heart of Athens”.

And the managing director of Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens and coordinator of the project, Konstantinos Bitzanis, added: “The know-how and the organized and efficient work made it possible to build this new Museum in less than a year. It is handed over to the public 100 years after her birth, as a modern and complete Museum, dedicated to the great artist, who gave a new dimension to opera and lyrical singing”.

From tomorrow 26/10 until 29/10, the Maria Callas Museum will operate with free entry, with a necessary reservation through more.com and presentation of the zero ticket at the Museum area for validation. Tickets are available online from today (10/25). The Museum is accessible to people with disabilities.

Opening hours

April 1 – October 31

Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00-20.00

Friday: 10.00-22.00

November 1 – March 31

Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00-18.00

Friday: 10.00-21.00

Closed on Mondays, 25 & 26/12, 1 /1

Closed Easter Sunday & Monday

Free entry on 2/12, 18/05 and 25/09, European Cultural Heritage Days.

TICKETS at more.com and at the Museum box office

GENERAL ADMISSION: 10 euros

REDUCED TICKETS: 7 euros, 3 euros

FAMILY: 2 adults + 2 children (over 6 years old) 22 euros

Free entry: Children up to 6 years old, PWD and accompanying person, ICOM members, refugees, sponsors, donors.

TOUR: +4 euros/person with necessary reservation at 2104404204

GROUP TICKETS: 8 euros/person, for 10 or more people reservation at 2104404204