Top Ten Musiums of the World

[Shamim Ansary]

01. 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.

Main attraction: The famed Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

Honorable Mention:
The Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain
Although there are branches of the Guggenheim in New York, Las Vegas, Berlin, and Venice, the one in Bilbao takes the cake in terms of architecture. Designed by North American architect Frank O. Gehry, it is the most significant museum design of the late 20th century. The sinuous stone, glass and titanium curves represent an amazing construction feat as well as a truly distinctive design. Oh yeah, and there's some art in there, too. The permanent collection is composed of works of modern and contemporary art by some of the most significant artists of the second half of the 21st century, such as Andy Warhol.

Main attraction: The building itself.
a slice of history...
Even if you aren't the most "artsy" person in the world, these museums are definitely worth a visit. If you feel overwhelmed by the size of some of these institutions, pick the rooms or collections that interest you most. Try to forget those seemingly endless grade school trips to your local museum; if you stick to what you really want to see, you'll surely find the experience quite enriching.

website link: www.louvre.fr

[Shamim Ansary]

02. The Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy

The impressive Vatican Museums contain 22 separate collections, ranging from Etruscan and Egyptian art to maps and modern religious art. Even if you aren't religious in the least, you will undoubtedly be blown away by the sheer beauty and grandeur of Michelangelo's dome and Bernini's spiral columns.

Main attraction: The renowned Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms are not to be missed.

[Shamim Ansary]

03. 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.

Main attraction: The magnificent domed grandeur of the Reading Room, which was recently restored and now contains a modern information center.

Website Link: www.british-museum.ac.uk

[Shamim Ansary]

04. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

05. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

06. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

07. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

08. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

09. 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.

[Shamim Ansary]

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.




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