If your family is planning a trip to Athens, Greece in the future, be sure to visit the New Acropolis Museum, which opened to the public on June 20, 2009. Called “a museum of sculpture and light,” the ultra-modern museum, designed by architect Bernard Tschumi, brings together glass, marble, and concrete structures in this multi-floor masterpiece that can hold up to 4,000 artifacts.

The main floor holds temporary exhibition pieces on a glass floor that looks down on exhibition sites. A glass ramp leads to the middle floor, where permanent gallery collections are housed, such as life-size statues carved in Parian marble from 6^th century BC. Only 1,000 feet from the actual Acropolis, the top floor overlooks the Parthenon, giving visitors an unobstructed view of the ancient “city on a hill”.

The old Acropolis Museum, situated on the Acropolis itself, was completed in 1874 and could not fit the loads of new artifacts that were uncovered on the site's excavations. A plan for a new museum was proposed, and the New Acropolis Museum is now ten times the size of its predecessor.

The museum features permanent and special collections, a 200-seat auditorium, multimedia space, a store, a bar, and a restaurant. It is surrounded by 75,000 square feet of landscaped gardens and is wheelchair accessible. Admission will cost €1 for the first six months and tickets must be purchased online beforehand.

The museum is sure to please any member of the family with its highlight on the history, art and beautiful views of Athens. Visit the museum’s website for more information.