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The fantastic museum houses the greatest offerings brought to the Oracle from around the world.

Some 2,000 years before the Parthenon, a mysterious civilization on the Cycladic islands created the prototypical Mediterranean marble sculptures: simple, elemental female forms. The figures still resonate today, famously influencing artists like Modigliani and Picasso. The Goulandris family, one of Greece’s oldest shipping and philanthropic dynasties, displays the world’s largest collection of Cycladic art in a beautifully restored Neo-Classical mansion. There are often exhibits by top contemporary Greek and international artists in the extra-swanky new wing. (see Museum of Cycladic Art, Museums - Museum of Cycladic Art)

The world’s largest collection of Cycladic art showcases a matriarchal island culture whose 5,000-year-old icons still inspire artists of the modern world. (see Museum of Cycladic Art)

The Cycladic island civilization of the Aegean flourished at the same time as the early Egyptians and Mesopotamians, but produced something very different: strangely elegant, stylized marble goddess-cult figurines. These were the first pieces in the centuries-long tradition of Greek art that was to follow; this is the world’s largest collection. (see Museum of Cycladic Art)

The dimly lit, government-run building won’t win prizes, but inside are five floors packed with rich, beautiful folk art, from jewellery to decorate and cover the entire body to fine embroideries worked with gold and silver thread. There’s also a room of wall paintings by prim-itivist painter Theofilos Khatz-mikhail. (see Museum of Greek Folk Art)

A rich collection of Greek folk art from 1650 to the present day, including traditional tapestries, embroideries, costumes, shadow puppets, and not-to-be-missed sumptuous filigreed jewellery. Another highlight is an original room full of frescoes by internationally renowned folk artist Theofilos Khatzmikhail, transported in its entirety from his home on the island of Lesvos. (see Museum of Greek Folk Art)

This unassuming museum is a great treasure. Here you can see and hear the Middle Eastern and European influences on Greek music, and how Greeks transformed them into something of their own. The instruments themselves are beautiful, often intricately inlaid with silver, ivory and tortoise-shell. It is also an ethno-musicology study centre, and there are occasional courtyard performances. (see Museum of Greek Musical Instruments)

Greek musical instruments are far more varied than the bouzouki that plucked out the theme to Zorba the Greek . The Greek musical tradition, though heavily influenced by Turkey and Asia, has filtered through the unique Hellenic sensibility. The array of beautiful instruments includes carved Byzantine lyres, ivory lutes and gypsy flutes. (see Museum of Greek Musical Instruments)

Over 6,000 items of clothing, jewellery and adornments showing the variety of Greek dress through the ages.

Legend and history combine alluringly at Mycenae. Homer wrote of Agamemnon, Greece’s most powerful king during the Trojan War, commanding the citadel of “well-built Mycenae, rich in gold.” And history confirms that indeed there was a Trojan War and a powerful civilization based in Mycenae. The evidence came together when Heinrich Schliemann discovered the palace at Mycenae in 1874, much of which accords with Homer’s descriptions, including the wealth of gold.