The Only Jewellery Museum in Greece
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) is a true gem for Athens and a unique cultural destination in Greece, dedicated exclusively to contemporary jewellery. It offers visitors a rare glimpse into the high aesthetics and evolution of silver- and gold-smithing,
The museum’s permanent collection comprises over 4,000 original pieces of jewellery and miniature artworks. These invaluable exhibits belong to more than 50 different collections, all designed entirely by the founder, the internationally renowned jeweller Ilias Lalaounis, covering his creative journey from 1949 to 2000. The Museum's richness is constantly enhanced through significant donations of jewellery and decorative arts from around the world.
The main building housed the first historical workshop of the company founded by Ilias Lalaounis. It was converted into a model museum centre thanks to the work of distinguished French architect Bernard Zehrfuss. The final architectural design was executed by architect Vasilis Grigoriadis, in collaboration with civil engineer Giorgos Athanasoulis, creating a space that blends tradition with modern functionality.
Today, the Museum functions as a dynamic international centre for the decorative arts. Over the course of its history, it has organised over 80 temporary exhibitions and implemented 1,200 educational programmes for 140,000 children and adults, while its visitors exceed half a million in number. A significant milestone was the launch of the ‘Artist in Residence Program’ in 2017, thanks to a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
The museum is located in the heart of the historic centre, on the southern side of the Acropolis, directly below the Theatre of Dionysus. Access is extremely easy, as it is only a 2-minute walk from the ‘Akropoli’ metro station, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the city's most important monuments.
A Priceless Permanent Collection
The museum’s permanent collection comprises over 4,000 original pieces of jewellery and miniature artworks. These invaluable exhibits belong to more than 50 different collections, all designed entirely by the founder, the internationally renowned jeweller Ilias Lalaounis, covering his creative journey from 1949 to 2000. The Museum's richness is constantly enhanced through significant donations of jewellery and decorative arts from around the world.
A Historic, Architecturally Significant Building
The main building housed the first historical workshop of the company founded by Ilias Lalaounis. It was converted into a model museum centre thanks to the work of distinguished French architect Bernard Zehrfuss. The final architectural design was executed by architect Vasilis Grigoriadis, in collaboration with civil engineer Giorgos Athanasoulis, creating a space that blends tradition with modern functionality.
International Centre for the Arts and Education
Today, the Museum functions as a dynamic international centre for the decorative arts. Over the course of its history, it has organised over 80 temporary exhibitions and implemented 1,200 educational programmes for 140,000 children and adults, while its visitors exceed half a million in number. A significant milestone was the launch of the ‘Artist in Residence Program’ in 2017, thanks to a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Access and Location
The museum is located in the heart of the historic centre, on the southern side of the Acropolis, directly below the Theatre of Dionysus. Access is extremely easy, as it is only a 2-minute walk from the ‘Akropoli’ metro station, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the city's most important monuments.
