Greece Reopens Its National Gallery for a Bicentenary

After eight years of closure and a major rebuild, Greece's National Gallery (the Ethniki Pinakothiki) reopened in Athens in March 2021 — perfectly timed to mark 200 years since the start of the Greek War of Independence.

The expanded, light-filled museum finally gave proper space to two centuries of modern Greek art, telling the nation's story through the eyes of its own painters.

For a country whose ancient heritage usually dominates the headlines, it was a chance to celebrate the rich, less-known tradition of modern Greek painting.

Image: “National Art Gallery building in Athens” — Leeturtle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.