Glyptothek – Art gallery in the Kunstareal in Munich
Categories: Sightseeing, Cultural and History
The Kunstareal in the Old Town of Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide) is one of the culturally most significant places in Germany. This relatively small district in the center of Bavaria’s capital houses some of the most spectacular art galleries and museums worldwide. One of them is the Glyptothek, which focuses on Greek and Roman Antiquity.
The beautiful Neoclassical museum was build from 1816 to 1830 and commissioned by the Bavarian King Ludwig I to house his collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. The eccentric art lover and so—called Dream King
envisioned a German Athens
, in which the ancient Greek culture would come to life again. Due to great expenses he managed to assemble one of the most magnificent collections of antique Greek and Roman sculpture within only a few years. The Glyptothek contains sculptures dating from the archaic age (ca. 650 BC) to the Roman era (ca. 550 AD). Some of the most important sculptures include the Medusa Rondanini (440 BC), which is considered as the best late Hellenistic Roman marble copy of the head of Medusa, as well as the Barberini Faun (220 BC), a life—size statue of the Roman mythical creature.
If you like to find out more about the history of the many sculptures on display, the museum offers guided tours on a daily basis. Additionally, in the summer there are theater performances in the backyard of the Glyptothek every afternoon.
[ source: wikipedia ]
Location, Map, and Driving Directions
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Opening Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm
- Thursday from 10am until 8pm
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About this Article
This travel guide has been written by Kathrin Wagner.
She grew up in a small town in Bavaria and then studied Media studies, Literature and History in Erlangen and Munich. As a student she already spent half a year in London and moved back there after graduation in 2006. She is still living in London, where she works in publishing.
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