There are thousands of museums in the world which have not only attracted the history lovers but also tourists who are enthralled by the rich history that these museums consume. Some of the very best museums from around the world are…
1. The Louvre, Paris, France
The Musée du Louvre is one of the world’s largest and most visited museums which opened in 1793 and the famous glass pyramid which serves as the main entrance was completed in 1989. The museum exhibits more than 380,000 objects including 537 paintings with Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa being the most famous of all.
2. The British Museum, London
Established in 1753, this museum houses the largest permanent collection of about eight million artefacts which originate from all continents. The exhibits here narrate the story of human culture from its origin to the present. It is the third most visited museum in the world.
3. Vatican Museums
This museum was founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century. Displaying some of the most important pieces of the Renaissance period, it has 22 separate collections. The beautiful and grand dome of the Sistine Chapel designed by Michelangelo, the Raphael rooms and the spiral staircase are its main attractions.
4. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
One of the three largest museums in the world with a collection of more than two million works divided among seventeen curatorial departments. Established in 1870, the main attraction of the Met is a well-known engraving of Adam and Eve.
5. Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
Built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, it houses over 120,000 items of ancient Egyptian antiquities and has an extensive collection of papyrus and coins. Its main attractions are the artefacts from the Tomb of King Tutankhamun and the Royal Mummy room containing 27 royal mummies.
6. Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
Having one of the largest collections of paintings in the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. It has acquired a three million object collection in the past three centuries including two of the twelve Leonardo da Vinci originals.
7. The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
Established in 1846 “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”, is a nucleus complex of nineteen museums, nine research centres and a zoo, administered by the U.S. Government. This Institute admits thirty million annual visitors without any charge.
8. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
The 16th-century Palazzo degli Uffizi houses this gallery which features works of Renaissance masterminds like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and many more. One of the best works on display here is The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.
9. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
One of the most respected museums in the world which exhibits one of the finest collections of European paintings, drawings, coins, medals and decorative art. The speciality of Prado is its Spanish art.
10. National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Located in the Forbidden City in the People’s Republic of China, this art museum has a collection of 693,507 pieces of ancient Chinese artefacts and artworks collected over 8,000 years by China’s ancient emperors.
Even if we are clueless when it comes to history or art, these museums are definitely worth a visit at least once in a lifetime.