Spathario Shadow Theatre Museum, Athens

Shadow Theater is entrenched in Greek Folklore. It is an art form that has entertained many generations by using leather puppets against the back drop of a white screen. It is assumed that the theatre originates from the Far East.

Shadow Theater is better known as Karagiozis, its main character, in Greece. It was a form of entertainment particularly popular during the 400 years of the Ottoman Empire, an art form that entertained many generations with its funny stories and political satires.

The museum has a rich collections of these puppets made by the most famous 'clan' of puppet players. The museum also includes puppets from Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey and China where this form of entertainment is also very popular.

The Marousi area is a great area to visit. It is one of the better preserved areas of the Greek capital. Old neo-classical houses have been maintained in their original style and the main square is only for pedestrians, a real treat considering Athenian traffic! The main square, just above the metro station and near to the museum, is a lovely area to grab a coffee. There is a plethora of coffee houses and coupled with your visit to the museum this is an ideal way to spend a morning in Athens.

Spathario Shadow Theatre Museum, Athens
Spathario Shadow Theatre Museum, Athens

Opening Hours

Monday:
09:00 - 14:00
Tuesday:
09:00 - 14:00
Wednesday:
09:00 - 14:00
18:00 - 20:00
Thursday:
09:00 - 14:00
Friday:
09:00 - 14:00
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed
Back to top