Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments, Ethnomusicology museum in Plaka district, Athens, Greece
The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments is housed in a 19th-century mansion and displays around 600 instruments across three floors. The collection is organized by instrument types including wind instruments, drums, stringed instruments, and percussion.
The building was constructed in 1842 as a private residence and once housed a general who fought in Greece's independence struggle. A musicologist named Fivos Anoyanakis converted it into a museum in 1978 and donated his extensive collection of folk instruments.
The collection features traditional instruments like lyres, wind pipes, and bagpipes that reflect different regions across Greece. These pieces show how folk music shaped daily life and celebrations in communities throughout the country.
The museum is located in a quiet building in the Plaka district, easily accessible on foot near Monastiraki metro station. Wearing comfortable shoes is helpful since the exhibition is spread across several narrow staircases.
Many of the instruments can be heard through headphones, allowing visitors to experience their authentic sounds and playing techniques. This hands-on approach brings the instruments to life and shows how they sound in practice.
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