CONFERENCE DINNER

Conference’s dinner will be held at the gardens of Byzantine & Christian Museum, on Thursday, September 8^th, 2022, at 20:00 p.m. An oasis in the center of the city, an ideal destination becoming the occasion for a fascinating journey through history and art.

Conference Dinner fee is set to 70 €. Those interested, in case they have not yet proceeded with the relevant process, can reserve their seat via online registration form here. For further information contact via email in registrations@iac2022.gr.

The Villa Ilissia, which nowadays houses the Byzantine and Christian Museum, is one of the loveliest buildings erected in Athens during its early years as capital of the newly-founded Greek State. When Athens was officially declared the capital, in 1834, it was a town of some 7000 people. Building of the Villa Ilissia commenced in 1840, a short distance beyond the city’s boundaries and not far from the Royal Palace (the present Parliament building), which began to go up in 1836.

The Villa Ilissia is actually a complex of buildings. The imposing central building, the Duchess’s residence, stands at the far end of the forecourt, which is delimited by two low lateral wings intended for ancillary uses, and the gatehouse at the entrance. In 1926 the Villa Ilissia was granted as the premises of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Today the Byzantine and Christian Museum has completed the re-exhibition of its collections in the new museum, designed by the architect Manos Perrakis in the period 1987-1992 and already completed. The new museum is underground and developed on multiple levels below the building complex of the Duchess of Plaisance.

Congresses’ delegates will enjoy a memorable experience combining excellent dining in a beautifully landscaped setting. And all this only few meters away from city center. Α perfect contrast to an urban city notable for its numerous modern and historic buildings.

In the exterior area of Byzantine & Christian Museum, among fruit trees and aromatic plants, rest areas are in disposal of the visitors. Additionally, three small themed exhibitions of archaeological interest are presented:

• The well-cistern of Athens from ancient times to the present day. Exhibition provides information on the water resources of Attica, on the aqueducts of Athens, as well as on the water supply of the city since 1834.
• Paradisos. The concept of paradise as perceived by the Byzantine Greek, concept of life on earth and the afterlife.
• Ilissos River. The evolution of the Parillis landscape from antiquity to the present day. The wider Ilissos area functions as an archaeological park, offering an idea of the landscape in the past and how it changed dramatically during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Byzantine & Christian Museum is only few meters away from the metro station “Evangelismos” (Line 3) and within 15 minutes walking distance from Syntagma Square and metro station “Syntagma” (Line 2).