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Celebrating International Museum Day: A Guide to the World's Best Museums

International Museum Day is a global event that takes place every year on May 18th, with the aim of raising awareness about the role of museums in the development of society. Since 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has been coordinating this initiative, which involves thousands of museums from over 150 countries. Each year, a different theme is chosen to highlight a specific aspect of museum work. In 2023, the theme is "Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing", which focuses on how museums can contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, from supporting climate action and promoting inclusion to combating social isolation and improving mental health.

On this special day, many museums around the world offer free admission and organize various activities for all audiences, such as workshops, concerts, guided tours, conferences, performances and shows. It is also an opportunity to visit some of the most famous and prestigious museums in the world, which house invaluable collections of art, history, science and culture. Here are some of the main museums that you should not miss on International Museum Day:

  • The Louvre Museum in Paris, France: The largest and most visited museum in the world, the Louvre displays over 35,000 works of art from ancient civilizations to the 19th century, including the iconic Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

  • The Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain: The main Spanish national art museum, the Prado showcases over 8,000 paintings from the 12th to the 19th century, with a strong emphasis on Spanish masters such as Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. It also features works by other European artists such as Bosch, Rubens and Titian.

  • The British Museum in London, UK: The first national public museum in the world, the British Museum houses over 8 million objects from all continents and periods of human history and culture, such as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the Sutton Hoo helmet.

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, USA: The largest art museum in the United States, the Met contains over 2 million works of art from various cultures and eras, ranging from ancient Egypt to modern America. Some of its highlights include the Temple of Dendur, the Cloisters and the Costume Institute.

  • The Vatican Museums in Vatican City: The museums of the Holy See display some of the most important religious and artistic treasures of Christianity, such as the Sistine Chapel with its frescoes by Michelangelo, the Raphael Rooms and the Gallery of Maps.

  • The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy: One of the oldest and most renowned art galleries in the world, the Uffizi exhibits some of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance painting by artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.

  • The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia: The second largest museum in the world after the Louvre, the Hermitage consists of six buildings that contain over 3 million items from various cultures and epochs. It boasts a remarkable collection of Western European art by masters such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Picasso.

  • The National Museum of China in Beijing, China: The largest museum in Asia and one of the largest in the world, the National Museum of China showcases over 1 million artifacts that illustrate the history and culture of China from prehistoric times to the present day. It includes relics such as oracle bones, bronze vessels and terracotta soldiers.

These are just some of the many museums that you can visit on International Museum Day. Whether you are interested in art or history or science or culture or anything else you can think of there is a museum for you. Museums are not only places to learn and enjoy but also to connect and share with others. They are spaces that foster creativity diversity dialogue and understanding. They are sources of inspiration education entertainment and wellbeing. They are essential for our society and our future. So don't miss this chance to celebrate International Museum Day and discover or rediscover these amazing institutions that enrich our lives.

If you want a guide to help you on your visits, we recommend our collection of books "Great Museums", including "The Prado Museum, Art Guide", the essential artistic guide to discover and learn the essentials of the greatest works, artists and styles in the Prado Museum.

You can find this and other books from the collection, like the "Orsay Museum Art Guide" or the "Louvre Museum Art Guide" on Amazon.