Vacationers or travelers will tell you that there is no other place in the world that holds a vast collection of diverse culture and history in museums than Europe. Whether you need to catch up on history or be regaled with famous works of art, the spectacularly designed and curated museums in Europe is the place to go.
If you need to explore the world of arts and intriguing history, here the top eight famous art museums in Europe, and perhaps the world at large:
- LOUVRE Paris, France
The Louvre is perhaps the most famous museum in the world and is home to the Mona Lisa and other famous paintings. It was originally constructed as a fortress for Philip II. But in 1989, the famed glass pyramid, I.M. Pei was added to the main structure. At the time, this event caused a commotion. The museum records almost nine million visitors annually. The massive grounds on which the Louvre rests is also extremely vast that it can take up to three months for anyone to go through the entire space.
- THE BRITISH MUSEUM London, United Kingdom
This is the largest and most popular museum in the United Kingdom and it houses the royal collection of ethnography and anthropology. You can explore various sections of this gigantic exhibition hall at will. But many visitors opine that spending time in the Egyptian Gallery will expose you to the finest ensemble not found anywhere else except in Egypt itself.
- RIJKSMUSEUM Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rijksmuseum is home to more than 900,000 artworks; paintings made by famous local masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Halls, Ruysdael, and Johannes Vermeer. The Night Watch, made by Rembrandt is the most renowned work of art in this exhibition hall.
- MUSEO NACIONAL EL PRADO Madrid, Spain
It was built, first of all, as a museum of natural sciences. But it has evolved over time and is now home to extensive collections from the royal families of Spain as well as unique and impressive masterpieces by Ribera, Zurbarán, Goya, and Velázquez. The most famous painting behind the walls of the El Prado house was made by Rubens and is known as “The Three Graces.” Despite the largeness of this expansive museum, you can take multiple routes that will allow you to focus on different pieces of art.
- SAMMLUNG BOROS Berlin, Germany
Sammlung Boros, which is housed in a former World War II bunker – which was first of all transformed to fruit storage and then to a techno club – has two different sections. The first section contains a private collection of contemporary art while the second section is a private residence where the owners live on the top floor.
Every four years, the art collection is substituted for new ones. At presents, impressive works of art by Awst & Walther, Alicja Kwade, and Ai Weiwei are showcased there. However, you can only view these private collections of artwork by appointment only.
- THE VATICAN MUSEUMS Rome, Italy
The Vatican Museums comprises twenty-two collections. The most popular are as follows:
- The well-known Sistine Chapel
- The Raphael Rooms (giant wall paintings or murals by Raphael)
- Museum Pio-Clementino (classical sculptures)
- The portrait gallery of Pinacoteca (precious stones from medieval and Renaissance paintings)
- THE NATIONAL GALLERY London, United Kingdom
You will find this imposing museum at Trafalgar Square and has continually played host to frequent gatherings of community and political events. The National Gallery is London’s most celebrated public art museum and has more than 2,300 paintings. These paintings belong to the legal residents of the United Kingdom; for that reason, entrance is on the house i.e. free of charge. The art collections are categorized or structured like an encyclopedia and highlight remarkable artworks such as:
- The Water Lily Pond (by Claude Monet)
- The Virgin of the Rocks (by da Vinci)
- Sunflowers (by van Gogh)
- GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM Bilbao, Spain
This building is almost as famous as the extraordinary modern paintings it houses. The Guggenheim museum is believed to be one of the most iconic and important structures of the modern age. You will come across artworks created from mid-20th century to this day and age. The major focus of these works of art is on postwar sculptures and paintings from Europe and America. The largest hall in this museum is taken up by the “Snake,” created by Richard Serra. You will also come across various large-scale pieces of installations and artworks for your viewing pleasure.
There you are: the top famous art museums in the world at present. Therefore, spice up your vacation or business trip by visiting any of these renowned edifices to share in the rich culture and diversity that makes Europe what it is today!
