There are thousands of museums around the world, many of which are worth visiting. However, you probably don't want to spend your entire vacation looking through endless collections of paintings and sculptures, created by artists you've never even heard of. You want the famous stuff, right?
The following museums are among the most popular and important museums in the world due to the importance of their collections, their famous works of art or their architecture. Even if you're clueless when it comes to art, you will undoubtedly be impressed by these renowned institutions.
1.The Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
The Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani), in Viale Vaticano in Rome, inside the Vatican City,
are among the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries, including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.
Pope Julius II founded the museums in the early 16th century. The Sistine Chapel and the Stanze della Segnatura decorated by Raphael are on the visitor route through the Vatican Museums. They were visited by 4,310,083 people in the year 2007.
2.Le Louvre, Paris, France
Without a doubt the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre was a medieval fortress and the palace of the kings of France before it became a museum two centuries ago. Even the modernization of the plaza with the addition of a glass pyramid in its centre takes nothing away from the historical allure of the Louvre Palace. The museum's collections, which range from the birth of the great antique civilizations to the first half of the 19th century, are among the most important on the planet. You will find pieces by some of the most famous artists in history, such as da Vinci and Rembrandt.
3.The British Museum, London, UK
Founded in 1753, The British Museum is now one of the greatest museums in the world. With its large collection of ancient art from all points of the compass (it houses seven million artifacts, four million of which are on display), it attracts more than six million visitors each year. If you can't make it to the Egyptian Museum, you can view the largest and most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian material outside Cairo, right here.
4.The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York, NY
Created in 1870, the Met now has more than two million works of art from around the world and from ancient through modern times. You will find everything from Islamic art and European paintings to collections of arms and armor. For example, you can find daggers and swords made by Rai Kunitoshi, one of the most famous Japanese swordsmiths. Although there are many great museums in New York, such as the Guggenheim and the MoMA, the Met is the quintessential municipal museum.
Main attraction: Adam and Eve , a well-known engraving by Albrecht Dürer, is only one of the impressive pieces you will discover at the Met.
5.The Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) estimates that 60% of the world's most popular artworks are in Italy, with over half of them located in Florence. Although the pieces in the streets of Florence are impressive enough (check out Cellini's Perseus and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabines in the Piazza della Signoria as you head to the Uffizi), this museum will blow your mind. It is definitely one of the finest collections of paintings and sculptures on the planet, boasting works by Renaissance masters like da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and many more.
The Main attraction: The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.
6.Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
In 1835, the Egyptian government established the "Service des Antiques de l'Égypte" in an attempt to halt the plundering of archeological sites and to arrange the exhibition of collected artifacts. In 1900, the Egyptian Museum as we know it today was built and now houses over 120,000 objects from the pre-historic era to the Greco-Roman period, including ancient sculptures of the Sphinx. If you're visiting Egypt, you shouldn't miss it.
Main attraction: Artifacts from the tombs of kings and royal families, particularly those belonging to King Tutankhamun.
7.The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian Institute is the world's largest museum complex and research organization. Composed of 16 museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo, it has over 142 million objects representing the country's most important memories, so you'd better prepare for a long day of walking (wear comfortable shoes). Obviously, it is impossible to see everything in a single visit; the best plan is to select a theme and stick to it; you can choose from the Air and Space Museum, the African Art Museum, the IMAX theatres, and much more.
Main attraction: The National Museum of American History's exhibition commemorating the events of September 11th includes personal stories, photographs and artifacts from the attacks.
8.The Prado, Madrid, Spain
Despite the fact that its collection is relatively less impressive, The Prado is one of the most respected and visited museums in the world. The greatest strength of The Prado is Spanish art; it houses works by Velasquez, Goya, Murillo, El Greco, and many other notables. Although it specializes in paintings, it also exhibits large collections of drawings, coins, medals, and decorative art. The neoclassical façade of the museum is typical of the city's 18th century architecture.
Main attraction: The Three Graces by Rubens, a painting of three naked women dancing in a circle, is instantly recognizable.
9.The State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
Despite Russia's isolation from the great art centers of Europe, the Hermitage has acquired a stunning collection composed of three million objects over the past three centuries. In fact, it presents the development of world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. In its Western European Art section alone, it covers French, English, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, German, and Flemish art. In particular, the Hermitage possesses two of the ten or twelve original works by Leonardo da Vinci known in the world today ( Madonna with a Flower and Madonna Litta ).
Main attraction: The Golden Rooms, which house an enormous collection of jewelry fashioned from gold, silverware and gems by Russian, European and Oriental craftsmen.
10.Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
With almost one million objects, the Rijksmuseum houses the largest collection of art and history in the Netherlands. It is internationally renowned for its paintings by 17th century Dutch masters, including 20 Rembrandts and many other highlights of this period. Established in 1800, the museum also displays art from the Middle Ages and the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as a vast collection of sculptures and applied art.
Main attraction: The Night Watch by Rembrandt. This famous painting depicts a group of militiamen in action.
