Travel in Style
9 Beautiful Must-Visit Art Galleries Around The World
Travel in Style
9 Beautiful Must-Visit Art Galleries Around The World
These global art galleries are as beautiful as the works they house.
There are some museums that you pop into on a rainy travel day, and there are others that you go out of your way to visit. From Copenhagen to New York City, don't miss these art galleries on your next vacation.
Uffizi: Florence, Italy
Photo by Alejandro Aznar (left), Enes Akdemir (right)/Pexels
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence houses some of the most famous classical art in the world, including Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and Michaelagenlo’s iconic sculpture of David. Built between 1560 and 1580, the museum famously boasts a vast collection of ancient statues and busts from the Medici family, the most influential family in Florence during the first half of the 15th century.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): New York, New York
Photo by Brett Beyer/MoMA
The MoMA opened in 1939 with “Painting, Sculpture, Prints,” an exhibition featuring celebrated artists, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miró. Today, this sleek art museum in New York’s bustling city centre is home to beloved pieces such as “A Starry Night” and Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s tomato soup print.
Rijksmuseum: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Photo by John Lewis Marshall/Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum opened its doors in 1800, but it wasn’t where it stands now. In fact, the national museum of the Netherlands was originally located nearly 70 kilometres away in The Hague. Today, the Amsterdam museum houses more than one million pieces of art, including renowned paintings and strikingly unique collections, including dollhouses.
The Museum of Islamic Art: Doha, Qatar
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Islamic Art
On a purpose-built island in Doha, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) has one of the largest collections of Islamic art in the world. Designed by I.M. Pei—the architect who led the Louvre's modernization project in the 1980s—it features pieces spanning over 1,800 years and a renowned heritage library with more than 21,000 books.
Tate Modern: London, U.K.
Photo by Bob Jenkin/Pexels
One of the newer galleries on this list, the Tate opened in 2000. This expansive museum in an old power station on London’s Southbank features grand exhibits in vision and stature. The Tate is home to British art from 1500 to today, as well as an array of international works.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Humlebæk, Denmark
Photo by Kim Hansen/ Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Just north of Copenhagen, the Louisiana sits by the shores of the Øresund. It's known for its contemporary art and scenic landscape with picturesque sculptural gardens. The Louisiana also features a large children's wing, making it perfect for family visits.
State Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg, Russia
Photo by Alena Rubtsova/Pexels
Not only is the State Hermitage Museum the top tourist destination in St. Petersburg, but the museum is home to over three million works of art and ancient artifacts. The museum, which adjoins the iconic Winter Palace, was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764. It features the former imperial collections of the tsars, as well as some of the largest collections of Renaissance and Baroque art in the world.
The Louvre: Paris, France
Photo by Shvets Anna/Pexels
Home to celebrated works from the Mona Lisa to the Aphrodite, the Louvre is visited by over nine million people a year. This former palace, characterized by its grandeur and modern glass pyramid, is the largest museum in the world.
The Vatican Museum: Vatican City, Italy
Photo by Corey Buckley/Unsplash
The museum at the Vatican not only features some of the most religiously significant artifacts in Catholicism, but the rooms in the building itself are works of art to be admired. Explore former residences and prayer places of past Popes, the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, and the stunning frescoes (watercolours on plaster) that decorate various rooms.
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