The Museum of Byzantine Culture is opening its southern garden to the public for the first time, offering a fully accessible space for culture and discovery, and invites visitors to explore the permanent open-air exhibition “Ivy and Stone.” The opening event will take place on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, at 18:30, in the presence of Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture of Greece, and Alessandro Giuli, Minister of Culture of Italy.
The exhibition presents mosaic floors dating to the late fourth century AD, featuring rich vegetal and geometric decoration from a luxurious residence in Thessaloniki that included a formal reception and dining hall (triclinium). Throughout the summer, visitors will have the opportunity to stroll through the garden, observe the conservation process of these mosaics as it unfolds, and engage directly with conservators to learn about the techniques and challenges involved in their preservation.
The garden also showcases selected architectural sculptures from Thessaloniki, including bases, columns, and capitals, dating primarily to the Early Christian period (4th–7th centuries AD). Representative examples of columns made from white and colored marbles, as well as granites that once adorned prestigious public and private buildings, illustrate the prosperity of Thessaloniki and the intensive building activity that characterized the city during this period.
Through these exhibits, visitors gain insight into aspects of urban life, as well as the production, circulation, and trade of valuable raw materials—particularly marble—from some of the most important quarries of the eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity.
A distinctive element of the visitor experience is the museum garden itself, designed by the architect Kyriakos Krokos for a variety of educational activities. Planted with native species of the Greek countryside, the garden creates a living dialogue with the exhibits and highlights the enduring relationship between people and nature.
This open-air exhibition, a true urban oasis, aims to offer a unique visitor experience in which art and the natural landscape coexist harmoniously and engage in conversation with the museum’s award-winning permanent exhibition. The garden is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities and includes opportunities for tactile engagement with selected exhibits, promoting equal access and participation for all.
The opening event will be accompanied by an ensemble from the MOYSA Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, under the artistic direction of Panagiotis Diamantis.

Opening Hours: Daily, 08:00–20:00
Free Admission to the Gardens: Tuesday, 16 June 2026, from 17:00 to 20:00

Museum of Byzantine Culture
2 Stratou Avenue, 54640 Thessaloniki, Greece

Information: Anastassios Antonaras, aantonaras@culture.gr

• Invitation
• Press release