Moni Lazariston, Cultural venue and protected building in Stavroupoli, Greece
Moni Lazariston is a monastery complex on the outskirts of Thessaloniki with multiple buildings arranged across its grounds. It combines an outdoor performance space, an indoor theater, a contemporary art museum, and the original religious structures built by earlier residents.
The monastery was founded by the Lazarist Fathers and remained a functioning religious community until the Balkan Wars disrupted life in the region. After this period, the site gradually transitioned into a cultural center for the city.
The monastery now houses the National Theatre of Northern Greece, the State Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Thessaloniki Symphony Orchestra. These institutions make the space active with regular performances, exhibitions, and cultural events throughout the year.
The venue is accessible by public bus from central Thessaloniki, with most performances and exhibitions taking place during the warmer months. It helps to check ahead on specific opening times for the different institutions housed there.
The MOMus Museum housed within the complex contains the Costakis collection, which holds a remarkable array of Russian avant-garde works from the early decades of the 1900s. This collection is rarely seen outside Russia and draws art enthusiasts from across Europe.
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