Tactual Museum
Forbidden NOT to touch
The Tactual Museum was founded in 1984 by the Lighthouse for the
Blind of Greece, to give visually impaired people the opportunity
to come in touch with ancient Greek Culture. Tactual Museum is
housed on a two-floor neo-classical building, on Doiranis Street
198, Kallithea, donated by Empeirikos to the Lighthouse for the
Blind of Greece. The entrance to the museum is on 17, Athinas
Street in Kallithea.
The
main difference between the Tactual Museum and other Museums is
the opportunity for all visitors to touch all the exhibits that
are copies of the originals displayed in other museums of the
country. 
The
exhibits in the Tactual Museum, - statues, vessels, sculptures
and useful artifacts - are exact replicas of the originals
which are displayed in the Museums of Greece such as the National
Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia, Heraklion
Museums and the Museum of Cycladic Art, dated back to the
Cycladic, Minoan, Geometric, Archaic, Austere Rhythm, Classical,
Hellenistic and Roman periods.
On
the ground floor there is an exhibition about the Olympic
Games and the Paralympics as well as a Byzantine section which
consists of wood carved temple, several religious artifacts,
epitaphs and icons and a model of a Byzantine church. In addition,
Tactual Museum has sculptures of the blind sculptor Petros
Roukoutakis and works of art made by visually impaired individuals
at the Ceramic and Sculpture Studio of the Lighthouse for
the Blind.
The
Museum is accessible to people with mobility problems. To help
visitors obtain the information they require regarding the exhibits,
an automatic tour guide has been created in both Greek and English.
There are also descriptive signs written in Braille and enlarged
letters for partially sighted individuals.
Educational
programs for children aged 6-12, can take place upon request.
The children are urged to touch and feel the exhibits and try
to conceptualize the sculptures by touch. The use of masks during
the educational games help the sighted children have a better
understanding of the problems visually-impaired individuals encounter.
Educational programs are also available upon request on weekends.
Opening hours and admission
198, Doiranis Street - Kallithea
Visitors entrance: 17, Athinas Street - Kallithea 
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