Olympic Museum

Charming public gardens, planted with exotic trees and shrubs and displaying bronze statues, lead you up to the museum. Once at the top, one can see the modern building is truly inspired by a Greek temple with its white marble façade. Two rows of white columns at the entrance carry the names of the towns that have hosted the Olympic games and the Olympic flame burns in an ornamental granite bowl illustrating the myth of Prometheus. The exhibition leads you through the history of the Olympic games, starting with Ancient Greece. There are beautifully preserved terracotta figures, gold laurel wreathes and marble sculptures to see. On display are all the torches that have been carried in every event since 1936 and a great collection of stamps, coins and medals bearing images of the Olympics. Huge video screens and stereo sound help the viewer to experience a part of the apprehension, excitement and concentration, the athlete encounters before an event.