NEW YORK-Whether it's the Louvre, the Metropolitan or the
Tate, some of the world's top art museums have become destinations in
themselves, with online travel site TripAdvisor compiling a list of the world's
top 10.
The list was compiled based on traffic to the attractions on
tripadvisor.com and is not endorsed by Reuters:
1. Musee du Louvre, Paris, France
The Louvre is now the world's most famous museum, renowned
for some of the finest pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo
and the Mona Lisa.
2. Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy
Spanning nearly nine miles, the Roman Catholic Church's
Vatican collection is one of the largest and most stunning in the world.
Estimated to have more than four million visitors annually, the Vatican museums
feature the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and, of course, Michelangelo's
ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
From Picasso to Pollock, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on
New York City's Museum Mile, is one of the world's largest museums with over two
million pieces of artwork and enough variety for any enthusiast. Peruse the
Greek sculptures, admire the armory or browse the 2,000 European paintings, all
contained in a magnificent Beaux-Art facade building.
4. J. Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, California
The Getty features a remarkable collection, including the
works of Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. The museum's structure is a piece of art
in itself, and the grounds also feature beautiful gardens, and views of Los
Angeles.
5. Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Enjoy Van Gogh's "Starry Night," inside the Musee D'Orsay, a
former train station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, with a dramatic
glass roof. Specializing in 19th and 20th century artwork, the museum displays a
striking collection of Impressionism, including famous works by Monet, Manet,
Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas.
6. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Experience (or at least admire) Botticelli's "Birth of
Venus," in the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in the world featuring
works from Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Florence.
7. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Located on Chicago's Loop, The Art Institute of Chicago
boasts extensive Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including
more than 30 pieces by Monet. Visit France from afar through Monet's "Haystacks"
and spending time "At the Moulin Rouge," one of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec's famous
paintings.
8. Tate Modern, London, England
Enjoy the electric art at the Tate Modern, displayed in a
former Bankside Power Station, with views of the Thames River and Millennium
Bridge. Remember the "Forgotten Horizon," one of Dali's many masterpieces and
part of one of the largest collections of Surrealism in the World.
9. Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
One of the largest and most impressive collections in the
world, not surprisingly, the Prado Museum is most famous for its assortment of
works from Spanish artists such as Goya, Velasquez, Murillo, and El Greco.
10. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Gallery of Art
is comprised of an east and west building, and features a sculpture garden
surrounding a large fountain. Modern art fans should head to the east building,
where works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol are displayed.
-Reuters
