World famous artists have had their work exhibited in Chora thanks to the philanthropy of an Andros-born businessman who established a modern art museum.
The project began when sculptor Michalis Tombros bequeathed work to his hometown. The need to provide a home for the sculptures was met by Basil Goulandris and his wife Elise.
They added work from their own collection and began to accumulate 20th century art by Greek and international artists. Then they built a new wing to the air-conditioned snow-white Museum of Contemporary Art building that overlook the sea.
That’s how a small green island in the Aegean Sea was able to exhibit works usually seen in world famous galleries. Picasso, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Kandinsky, Miro and Rodin are among the household-name artists whose work has been shown.
The Goulandris Foundation also helped finance the setting up of the Andros Archaeological Museum, also in Chora, where displays include finds made on ancient sites on the island.
The island’s Maritime Museum is in one of Chora’s neo-classical mansions in a white marble square where a striking statue of The Unknown Sailor scans the sea.
At the time of writing, the museum was offering guided tours in English on Thursdays at 4.30pm.
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