One of the oldest Galleries in Athens, the Bernier/ Eliades has brought many internationally-known artists to Greece. Founder Jean Bernier came to Greece from Paris and collaborated closely with the famous art collector Alexander Iolas. Bernier and partner Marina Eliades belive that: "Greece is not only a place charged with the past of its culture, it is also a country of great beauty which artists ought to find out and expirence first hand." Bernier's roster of international artists is vast, however, the also exhibit Greek artists, with the intention of promoting them abroad. In October the gallery re-opens with a the internationally acclaimed British pop and performance art team of Gilbert and George Bernier/Eliades Gallery 11 Eptachalkou Thisseion

Since 1988, the Tounta Center, housed in an old factory near Lycabettus Hill, has specialized in contemporaryart by Greek international artists. The gallery also has a bar-restaurant overlooking a wonderful garden space, as well as a small store. The gallery opens its annual photographic month featuring various artists adress 48 Armaton & Klefton St Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. , 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.am. to 3 p.m. www.art-tounta.gr

The Kappatos Gallery has been exhibiting works by Greek international artists for the past four years. housed in aa historical building in the Omonia-Psyrri area that until 1821 served as the residence of the first German Ambassador in Greece, the Gallery holds an annual exhibit of young artists and curators, acting as a springboard for the artists. Its current show, 00, which runs until the end of September, includes the work of Louis Bourgeois, concidered one of the leading sculptors of the 20th Century, provocative performance artist Marina Abramovic, New York based Greek artist Linda Bengls, and Kara Walker, who recently received a prestigious award from the MacArthur Foundation in the US. Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The first to open in the downtown area Camhi began the trend for galleries to move to what is now becoming an art precinct like the meatpacking district in NYC. After a long stint in Europe and N. Y. , Camhi returned to Greece six years ago opened the gallery "to make things happen." Camhi says she wanted to create an alternative space, which presented artists of all nationalities and encouraged a "more diverse conception of art in Greece." The gallery is situated next to the central market in an old pre-WWII period hotel. Until September, the gallery is showing the work of DeAnna Maganias, a young Greek American artist, who is now living in Greece. Maganias mixed media work uses everyday objects to express mental states. 23 Soflokes St., Omonia hours Wednesday to Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (summer hours) or by apointment. www.rebeccacamhi.com

The first to open in the downtown area Camhi began the trend for galleries to move to what is now becoming an art precinct like the meatpacking district in NYC. After a long stint in Europe and N. Y. , Camhi returned to Greece six years ago opened the gallery "to make things happen." Camhi says she wanted to create an alternative space, which presented artists of all nationalities and encouraged a "more diverse conception of art in Greece." The gallery is situated next to the central market in an old pre-WWII period hotel. Until September, the gallery is showing the work of DeAnna Maganias, a young Greek American artist, who is now living in Greece. Maganias mixed media work uses everyday objects to express mental states. 23 Soflokes St., Omonia hours Wednesday to Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (summer hours) or by apointment. www.rebeccacamhi.com

A newcomber to Athens contemporary art scene, Greek-Australian Steven Makris opened last year in this curry-spiced Bangladeshi street in downtown Psyrri. Makris who came to Greece for a summer holiday 10 years ago and stayed, opened the gallery after years of collecting contemporary art and meeting "fresh, new, and exciting" young artists. During the summer the gallery will be open by appointment only. Makris will re-open in early October with Teo Michail, a young Greek artist schooled in the Netherlands, whoseaggressive and modern work is discribed as "Pulp Fiction" - portraying fast cars and drug dealers 31 Aeschylou St., Psyrri hours: Friday to Sunday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment

A newcomber to the art, The Apartment is housed on the fifth floor of a historical building in the heart of Athens. Owner Vassilis Doumas presents up and coming, cutting edge artists from Europe and the US, as well as a small number Greek artists. Doumas decided to open an alternative art space after returning to Greece after many years in London. The first solo show of young Greek painter Costas Avgoulis, opens June 12 (until the end of September), while British artist David Bachelor's post minimalist sculptures with a pop twist will go on show in October. 21 Voulis St., Syntagma Hours: Thursday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. or by appointment

Greece has one of the highest concentration of archeological sites and ancient monuments per square mile in the world. In addition to the monuments a new high-tech interactive center now allows you to travel back in time and see a glimpse of what it would have been like in ancient Greece. Apart from the Hellenic Cosmos interactive cultural center, the foundation is invilved in numerous other projects, exhibitions, historical and cultural documentaries, and educational programs. These include presenting hellenic history on the internet at: http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/index_en.html Hellenic Cosmos 254 Pireos St, Tavros http://www.ime.gr http://www.helenic-cosmos.gr Summer Opening Hours: monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Wednesday until 8 p.m.), Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.