The Permanent Exhibition of Archaeological Finds at Athens International Airport (AIA) is the ideal introduction for visitors to the country, offering a timeless overview of Greek civilisation. It includes 172 objects dating from the Neolithic and Early Helladic eras to the Post-Byzantine period, giving travellers a taste of history from the moment they arrive.

Finds from Mesogeia

Spanning 200 square meters, the exhibition houses treasures unearthed in the wider Mesogeia region, primarily during the construction of the airport. The project was realised with funding from AIA in close cooperation with the relevant Ephorates of Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture.

A Journey through Time

Before or after your flight, you have the opportunity to embark on a captivating journey through history:

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  Prehistory: Admire stone tools and coarse pottery finds from the Bronze Age settlement on Zagani Hill, as well as a physical model of the settlement.

  
  
  



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  Geometric & Classical Eras: Notable exhibits include vessels (9th–8th century BC) from the cemetery at the northern edge of the airport, and a replica of the Sphinx of Spata (6th century BC). The finds reveal the dense road network of Attica in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, which was a prerequisite for the functioning of Athenian democracy.

  
  
  

A Crossroads of Civilisations

The exhibition highlights the region's character as a passage for conquerors. Slavs, Latins, and Arvanites crossed and settled here. Exhibits from the eras of Roman and Frankish rule, rural farmsteads, and the Catalan presence compose a lesser-known image of Attica. The historical thread reaches the Post-Byzantine era with the small Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which was moved 340 meters west to accommodate the construction of the western runway.