1. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and opened to public in 1852, the State Hermitage Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. To this day, it holds the largest collection of paintings in the world by French, English, Dutch, Italian, German, Spanish and Flemish artists.
The main attractions of the museum are two originals pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, and The Golden Rooms. The Golden Rooms hold massive collection of gold, silver and precious gems jewelry from Russia, Europe and Orient. The museum is the home of more than 3 million pieces from the past three centuries and it is definitely worth seeing. Find out more about the State Hermitage Museum.
2. The Prado, Madrid, Spain
Even though the Prado is a significantly smaller museum than Hermitage, it is one of the most visited museums in the world. The very first glance at it will capture you, because its neoclassical façade is absolutely stunning.
The Prado museum houses some of the greatest art pieces of the best Spanish artists. It is the home of the art of El Greco, Goya, Murillo and many other artists. The museum doesn’t only hold paintings, but also drawings, medals, coins and decorative art. For more information about the Prado museum, visit Museo del Prado official website.
Have you been to Madrid already? Madrid has a rich, vibrant cultural life and the best thing about it is that it’s not “mainstream.” Read an article about this beautiful European town.
3. The Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., USA
When you want to dedicate a couple of days to museums and you don’t want to travel from one country to another – visit the magnificent Smithsonian museum. It is the largest museum in the world and it will blow your mind.
The Smithsonian institution and research center is a complex of 19 museums and galleries, and the National Zoological Park. This place holds such a variety that there is no person in this world that won’t find something they will love here. It has everything for those who are in love with art, as well as for those in love with science. Whatever you’re looking for – the Smithsonian has it.
So, put your comfortable shoes on and dedicate a couple of days to visiting this amazing museum. It is definitely one of the best museums in the world and a place that everyone should see at least once in a lifetime. Find out more about the magnificent Smithsonian.
4. Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
Among many wonderful things to see in Egypt, the Egyptian museum is something you must not miss. It is the home of more than 165,000 artifacts dating from ancient Egypt to the Greco-Roman period.
The main sites of the museum are the Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 mummies, the ancient sculptures of the Sphinx and artifacts from the tombs of kings and royalties. As you can imagine, artifacts that belonged to King Tutankhamen draw the biggest attention.
Make sure to book the guide to the museum – you’ll need someone to talk you through all the stuff in there. Tours can be booked either for group or for individual, but unfortunately cameras are not allowed. However, the memories are totally worth it.
5. Le Louvre, Paris, France
It is the most visited museum in the world, especially after the expansion of Den Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Millions of people crowd Le Louvre each year and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be one of them.
The Louvre Palace which became the home of the Louvre museum two centuries ago was built in the 12th century. Today it holds 35,000 objects dating from prehistory to the 19th century. The art of the world’s most famous artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt, are displayed here. Not surprisingly, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the museum.
The Louvre promises to fill the heart of every person in the world who appreciates art. It was voted one of the best museums in the world and it is a place you should visit. Find out more about the Louvre.
Museums carry a lot of history, a lot of art but also a lot of science. No matter what are your preferences, there is a museum in the world suitable for you. Plan a trip to at least one of these five museums on your next holiday. You won’t regret it.
If you’ve already visited one of these, please share your experience.
Good article, informative and interesting to read…