The Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programme “Management of Monuments: Archaeology, City and Architecture” of the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), in partnership with the Department of Architecture of the University of Patras and the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication of the University of the Aegean, is organising an exhibition entitled “Aspects of the City of Athens, 1841–1941”, in collaboration with the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece and the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation (MIET).

The temporary exhibition is the work of teams of students from various disciplines and constitutes the culmination of an educational workshop coordinated by Dr Dionysios Mourelatos, a lecturer in the Postgraduate Programme, within the framework of a collaboration with the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece (HA/NBG) during the academic years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. The workshop aimed to familiarise students with archival research and introduce them to the management and presentation of historical records.

By actively participating in the preparation and presentation of the exhibition, students gain experience in primary research, the selection of exhibits, museological (conceptual) and museographic (spatial) design, tools for developing exhibition narratives, the writing of exhibition texts, and the available means for presenting and promoting cultural heritage.

The materials used in the exhibition come from the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece, the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation, as well as from the historical archives of other organisations, including the City of Athens, ERT S.A., the National Historical Museum and the Greek Film Archive, where research was also conducted by the students.

The interactive digital applications, developed in collaboration with the Image, Sound and Cultural Representation Laboratory of the University of the Aegean, present aspects of the city’s history through photographs, postcards and moving-image archives (film and newsreel footage), offering an immersive journey through time.

The exhibition seeks to tell the story of Athens’ transformation into a modern European city. It presents the city’s urban development through the different functions, communities and infrastructures that shaped Athens during this period, while highlighting the role of the National Bank of Greece, founded in 1841, in this transformation.

Housing, industry, commerce, education, refugee settlement, transportation, as well as major public and private buildings, come together to form a multifaceted narrative. Through this journey, the exhibition highlights not only changes in the urban landscape, but also the people, institutions and social needs that gave modern Athens its distinctive character.

Ultimately, the exhibition highlights different aspects of the city and sheds light on how the neighbourhoods, social groups, infrastructure and everyday life of a city that radically changed in both scale and character over the course of a century were shaped.

Parallel activities

During the exhibition, the following parallel activities are scheduled:

1. Architectural walks along Agiou Konstantinou Street (Eynard Mansion, National Theatre, Church of Agios Konstantinos) and Omonia Square. Starting from the exhibition venue, specially designed walking tours will explore aspects of the city of Athens in the wider Omonia area.
2. One-day event featuring a presentation of videos under the general title “Aspects of the City Today”, in collaboration with the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. All films were produced as part of the Documentary Directing course taught by Associate Professor Ioannis Skopeteas.
3. Talks and educational programmes.

The exhibition is organised with the support of the Hellenic Parliament.

Major Sponsor: George and Victoria Karelia Foundation

Visitor information

Opening hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 09:30–15:30
Until: 23 October 2026
Admission: Free

The official opening of the exhibition will take place on 22 September 2026 at 18:00, at the Eynard Mansion, 20 Agiou Konstantinou Street, central Athens.

Instagram: @athensframes
Email: dpmsdiax@arch.uoa.gr