The Maria Callas Museum, Athens

I didn’t know a great deal about Maria Callas before visiting this museum but I did know that my dad was a fan and since it was very close to the hotel where I was staying and had a very eye catching frontage I decided to pay a visit. (I’ve also since seen the film Maria with Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas which I’d recommend). The museum which is the first dedicated to the singer was opened in 2023 and can be found at 44 Mitropoleos Street, opposite Athens Cathedral.

Many of the 1,000 items belonging to or associated with Callas were purchased from an auction of her belongings in Paris in 2000. The second floor has what is dubbed the “Callas Experience” where you walk through three soundproof rooms each playing a different performance of Callas – from Norma, Tosca and La Traviata. The rooms were decorated in theme with each piece and you could sit and listen for as long as you liked. The rooms were quite dimly lit however so my photos didn’t really come out well.

The museum presents a timeline of Callas’ life and career with videos of her performances and interviews as well as some intriguing personal items. Some of the items I particularly liked included this silver mirror from performances of La Traviata in Milan. She kept it in her living room in Paris and used it to put on her makeup.

There were also some of her costumes on display and props such as this knife from a performance of Norma in 1960.

Some of the most touching items were the drawers full of letters, many romantic in nature, with their English translations included.

Though some of the more fun/slightly odd items were these stamps…

…and these pieces of Callas’ hair.

The musuem was much more interesting than I expcted and although not large had enough items and interactive elements that you could easily while away an hour or two there. General admission was €10 and there is also a small shop and cafe on the ground floor which you don’t need a ticket to enter.

In keeping with the Callas theme, there is also a bronze statue of Callas in Robert Galli Park which is just below the Acropolis. It was unveiled in 2021 and commissioned by the Maria Callas Greek Society as a commentration of 100 years since her birth. Created by sculptor Aphrodite Liti it was apparently quite a controversial addition to the city and even compared to The Terminator (!!) but I think it looks fine.