International Museum Day

Celebrated annually on May 18th, International Museum Day pays tribute to the educational power of museums all around the world. It was created by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977 to encourage dialogue, to promote awareness and to bring people together. The theme differs each year, ranging from sustainability and tourism to globalisation and inclusion. 

This year, the theme is ‘Museums, Education, and Research’. The focus lies on highlighting the importance of sharing ideas and knowledge for a more informed society. 

By Giulia Daniele @sleeponthesofa

There aren’t many things that ground me more than museums and art galleries do, with their strong roots and powerful messages. So, if you love them as much as I do, these are some you need to visit at least once in your lifetime! 

1. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid

No place does justice to Spanish history better than the Reina Sofía. Opened in 1992, the museum is named after Queen Sofía and houses a 20,000-piece collection by Spanish masterminds like Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. The latter’s most famous work – Guernica – is the museum’s centrepiece, regarded as the most powerful anti-war oil painting of all times.  

2. Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Florence is an open-air museum itself, but the Uffizi Gallery takes it to another level. It welcomes you to a world of priceless masterpieces, mainly from the Renaissance, including Michelangelo, da Vinci and Giotto. But we all know what the real highlight is. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, nobody can prepare you enough for it. Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus will steal your heart. 

3. The Louvre, Paris

Initially built as a fortress to protect Paris, the Louvre then served as a royal palace for the monarchy until it moved to Versailles. The museum as we know it today opened in 1793 and quickly became among the world’s very best. The exterior alone is worth a visit, but the inside will make you want to come back for more. It houses da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, for one, and a wealth of other incredible masterpieces, including Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss and Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.

4. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York 

Boasting an enviable location in Midtown Manhattan, the MoMa is America’s first-ever modern art museum. Established in 1929, just days after the Wall Street Crash, the glass-fronted architecture is studded with invaluable collections. It contains over 150,000 individual pieces, along with 22,000 films and 4 million film stills. Some of its highlights include Matisse’s Dance (I) and van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

5. The British Museum, London 

The world’s first public national museum, the British Museum hosts over 8 million works documenting from the beginning of human history to the present day. It was established in 1753 when Sir Hans Sloane passed on 71,000 items to King George II and first opened to the public in 1759. The Greek Revival-style building is a work of art in its own right, with a beautiful staircase and reading room. The museum’s highlights include the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone.

6. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Amid the charming canals and vibrant cobbled alleys, Amsterdam hides one of the world’s most famous museums – the Rijksmuseum. Founded in 1798, it’s entirely dedicated to Dutch arts and history, boasting a collection of 1 million pieces from 1200 to 2000. Masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer steal the scene, including The Night Watch and The Milkmaid, making the gallery an unforgettable experience

for 17th-century art lovers (and pretty much everyone else!).

So, did you include any of them in your bucket list? I hope you did! They truly offer one of life’s finest experiences.

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