A large audience and representatives of Thessaloniki’s political, academic, and cultural communities attended the inauguration of the permanent outdoor exhibition Ivy and Stone at the Museum of Byzantine Culture on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. Among those present were the Minister of Culture of Greece, Lina Mendoni, and the Minister of Culture of Italy, Alessandro Giuli.
The event was also attended by Mr George Avgoustidis, President of the Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics (Macedonia–Thrace Branch), accompanied by the Association’s Secretary, Mr Andreas Gevrexoudis; members of the Central Macedonia Regional Union of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind, and members of the support, information, and education association Anorasis. Their presence highlighted the importance of universal accessibility, a fundamental principle underlying the design of both the exhibition and the garden.
The inauguration marked the opening of the Museum’s South Garden to the public. The garden now forms an integral part of the museum experience and houses late fourth-century AD mosaic floors originating from a luxurious residence in Thessaloniki.
The exhibition Ivy and Stone explores the dialogue between monuments and the natural environment, integrating both into a contemporary museum experience. Visitors may explore the garden daily (08:00–20:00), view the Early Christian mosaics at close range, and, over the next two months, observe the conservation work being carried out on them.
The event was accompanied by a musical programme performed by MOYSA, the Thessaloniki Concert Hall Youth Symphony Orchestra, under the artistic direction of Panagiotis Diamantis.