Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Best museums of the world

Best museums of the world
 Best museums of the world.A great museum can transport you to a different era, inspire you with beautiful artwork and educate you about the brilliance of other cultures. Celebrate International Museum Day today by taking a look at the best museums from across the globe. Take a visual tour of museums around the world.
 Kunsthistorisches Museum
 Where is it? Vienna, Austria

What's in it? The Kunsthistorisches Museum features the historical art and artifact collections of the Hapsburgs, which include "Summer" by Giuseppe Arcimboldo and "Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress" by Diego Velázquez. 
 The Louvre

What's in it? Within the Louvre resides an extensive collection of artwork from ancient times through to the 19th century. Perhaps the most famous piece featured at the Louvre is a mysterious oil painting  by Leonardo da Vinci. 
 British Museum
 Where is it? Cairo, Egypt

What's in it? The British Museum  explores the journey of human culture from ancient times through to the modern era. The museum hosts an extensive collection of antiques and artifacts, including the famous Rosetta Stone, the Benin Bronzes and the Elgin Marbles.
 Egyptian Museum
 Where is it? Cairo, Egypt

What's in it? Some of the most famous artifacts residing in the Egyptian Museum are those that were found in the tomb of a powerful king.  The gold mask of his mummy on display at the museum has become an iconic symbol of ancient Egypt.
 Metropolitan Museum of Art
 Where is it? New York

What's in it? The Metropolitan Museum of Art features a range of artwork from all periods of history. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the museum hosts a large collection of artifacts including numerous musical instruments and costumes worn by this famous rock group, and other celebrities.
The National Gallery
 Where is it? London

What's in it? The National Gallery in London  is host to thousands of paintings dated from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum features several classic paintings, such as da Vinci's"Virgin of the Rocks,"van Gogh's "Sunflowers," and "The Water-Lily Pond" by Monet. 
 The Uffizi Gallery
 Where is it? Florence, Italy

What's in it? The paintings and sculptures found in the Uffizi Gallery are some of the world's most famous pieces of classical artwork including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Dürer and Raphael. Perhaps the most recognizable painting in the gallery is "The Birth of Venus"by Sandro Botticelli.
 
 Vatican Museums
 Where are they? Rome, Italy

What's inside? Located in the world's smallest country, the Vatican Museums feature an extensive collection of architectural works, sculptures and paintings collected throughout history by the Roman Catholic Church. The most famous feature of the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel with its ornate ceiling mural "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo. 
 Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
 Where is it? Amsterdam

What's in it? The Rijksmuseum  features a range of artwork with a particular focus on the Dutch Golden Age.Visitors to the museum can see a large collection of Rembrandt paintings and the works of Vermeer, including "The Milkmaid."
 Smithsonian Institution
  Where are the museums? Washington DC

What's inside? Included among the 19 Smithsonian museums is the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Zoo. One of the most famous attractions at the National Zoo is the giant pandas
 The State Hermitage
 Where is it? St. Petersburg Russia


What's in it? The State Hermitage museum contains the largest collection of paintings in the world. Among the artwork featured in the museum are works of prehistoric art, paintings from the Italian Renaissance era, Russian art, and modern pieces from artists such as Henri Matisse and André Derain
 Museo del Prado
Where is it? Madrid, Spain


What's in it? The Museo del Prado features European artwork from the 12th to 19th centuries. Some of the most famous paintings in the museum are "Las Meninas" by Spanish painter Diego Velázquez and "The Three Graces"by Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. .
 Musée d'Orsay
Where is it? Paris, France


What's in it? The Musée d'Orsay is host to the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world. It is a major tourist landmark as it features many world famous paintings including "Starry Night Over the Rhone Arles"by van Gogh and "Apples and Oranges"by Paul Cézanne.
 Museum of Modern Art
Where is it? New York


What's in it? The Museum of Modern Art has been groundbreaking in bringing contemporary artwork into the public eye. The museum's collections include a range of photography, paintings, film, books and architectural works. One of the most famous paintings in the museum is "The Persistence of Memory"by Salvador Dali.
Guggenheim
Where is it? Bilbao, Spain


What's in it? The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has only been around since 1997, but is already recognized as one of the world's finest art museums. The building itself is revered as one of the greatest architectural achievements of the past three decades. Inside the museum the ever-changing exhibits showcase Avant-garde and abstract artwork.