When visiting a new city, tourists always want to know more about its culture, the way people live, how and where to spend their party time, where to eat… But, one of the best ways to meet city’s history and way of life is by visiting the city’s most famous museums. In this article we would like to share some interesting details about some of the most famous museums around the world.
Le Louvre, Paris, France
This museum used to be a medieval fortress and a castle in which the French kings spent their winters. But it turned out that it was too big for a place for living, so it was turned into a museum 200 years after it was built. The entire collection of the museum goes from early Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian art, to antique Greek and Roman pieces to some of the most famous paintings from the Renaissance, like Mona Lisa. It is said that if you spend at least two minutes in front of every piece, it will take you 3 years to see everything.
The Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
When you walk inside, the transparent floor lets you walk over the ancient history from where everything started. Here you can see the old Hellenic artwork, architecture, sculptures and practically the entire city of Athens that is situated below the museum.
State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
One of the museums with rare and wonderful collection of some of the most authentic and magnificent art work from around the world. There are six buildings of the museum, which is located by the River Neva, and the entire thing is built in the glorious Baroque architectural style. The place was finished in 1764 and was a favorite and main residence for the emperors of Russia. Catherine, the Great herself got around 255 paintings from Berlin and donated to the museum. There are 120 rooms filled with European art from artists like Titian, Leonardo Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Goya and many more. A must see place, if you go to St. Petersburg.
The British Museum, London, England
This is the largest museum in England, a place of great collection of wonderful archaeology and ethnography. Some of the most amazing Egyptian artifacts are carefully kept in this museum, like the Roseta Stone, which was carved in 196 B.C
The Metropolitan Museum, New York City, USA
This is the biggest and the richest art museum on the American Continent and in the Western Hemisphere in general. There are over two million pieces in here, from different time periods, from antiquity to the modern times. Some people claim that there are certain areas in the museum that can stand as museums on their own. The museum is a home to paintings of some of the most famous painters like Rembrandt, Botticelli, Degas, Rodin, as well as the ancient Egyptian collections are here.
The Vatican Museum, Vatican City
Here you can see the original art work of some of the greatest Italian artists like Michelangelo, whose magnificent lifetime work – the Sistine Chapel can been seen. The place is full with antique Roman artifacts, Egyptian collections, Etruscan Collection and the famous Pinacoteca (picture gallery).
The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
You will lose your breath here, because this is the most famous home of the early Renaissance art. The museum carefully keeps one of the most famous and most beautiful paintings – The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.
The Egyptian Museum
As you guess, here you will see some of the most magnificent artifacts that belonged to the early Egyptian kingdoms. Mummies, golden items, sarcophagus and other famous artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The Prado, Spain
Located in Madrid, Spain, this museum includes sculptures and drawings and the strongest collection is, of course, of Spanish masterpieces by Goya, El Greco and Velazquez.
- MOMA, USA
This is the most important modern art museum in the world. Located in New York City, it covers the late 19th century to the present day. Here you can see Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon or Van Gogh’s Starry night. If you ever happen to go to New York City, this should be on your must visit list.
