Sundance Film Festival

Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States. The event is dedicated to the art of independent storytelling, and it is produced by the Sundance Institute®, a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves creative space for artists in film, theatre and new media. The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to notable works, including Jordan Peele’s Get Out, John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, among many others. The institute continues to set new standards for supporting provocative and thoughtful motion picture development.

January/February in Park City & Salt Lake City
Extra — Hit the slopes at Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States with over 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.

Tribeca Film Festival

Courtesy of TFF

The Tribeca Film Festival was created to help spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The event was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001. It aims to bring artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music and online work. With its roots in independent film, the festival highlights the strength of the New York City art scene and its dedication to supporting the next generation of filmmakers.

June in New York City
Extra — Spend some time reflecting on the tragic events of September 11, 2001 at the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan.

Fantastic Fest

Courtesy of Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest has a cult following for good reason. It was founded in 2005 by Alamo Drafthouse founders Tim and Karrie League, Ain’t It Cool News founder Harry Knowles, producer Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and writer/director Tim McCanlies. The event is the largest genre film festival in the United States specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi and action films from around the world. With secret screenings and costume-encouraged themed parties, the festival offers a one-of-a-kind movie-going experience. Organizers do a great job of sourcing and spotlighting lesser-known projects, as well as films with unusual provenances in an effort to expand views’ general knowledge and appreciation of cinema.

September in Austin, Texas
Extra — Enjoy the brisket at Terry Black’s Barbecue. Then, head over to the bar at the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt near Rainey Street for a spicy margarita.

AFI Fest

Photo by C. McCain

AFI Fest offers the perfect combination: Hollywood and the American Film Institute (AFI), an organization dedicated to documenting, archiving and celebrating motion picture history. AFI Fest showcases the best festival films of the year and provides a stage for seasoned filmmakers and emerging artists to come together to discuss their process, passion and inspiration. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI Fest as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards®. Don’t miss the  A-list celebrity sightings during the pre-show red-carpet entrances.

October in Los Angeles, California
Extra — Head over to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking.

TCM Classic Cruise

Courtesy of TCM

This is not your typical film festival. For starters, the annual Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Classic Cruise takes place on the open waters. Attendees enjoy five nights of classic film screenings while onboard a cruise ship. Film industry legends are there to share behind-the-scenes stories and answer audience questions. TCM hosts discussions about some of the best films ever made. From outdoor screenings to themed events, this festival cruise is a carefree way to celebrate classic films in style.

October from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico
Extra — Take a dip in the pool and unwind with a book on the sundeck.

For more articles like the Best Film Festivals in the United States, check out other articles about traveling in the United States.

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Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer is at the Mauritshuis, a museum located in The Hague, a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands. The museum holds many of the world’s most precious Dutch and Flemish paintings from the seventeenth century. Built by order of Count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen (1604–1679), the fine art institution has two locations: a city palace on the Plein and the Prince William V Gallery at the Buitenhof – both conveniently situated in the heart of the city.

Photo by C. McCain

Established in 1822, the Mauritshuis features prominent works from the Dutch Golden Age, a period from approximately 1585 to 1702, when Northern Netherlands experienced great advancements in painting, as well as science, architecture and engineering. With more than 800 pieces of art in its collection, the museum features paintings by Dutch Masters, such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Paulus Potter, Frans Hals, Jocob van Ruisdael and Peter Paul Rubens, among others. Works include portraitures, historical paintings, landscapes, seascapes, genre scenes and still lifes.

Photo by C. McCain

Virtual Tour of the Mauritshuis

When visiting Holland is not possible, a virtual tour of the Mauritshuis is a great way to explore the museum. In fact, the Mauritshuis was the first museum in the world to fully digitize its collection using the Gigapixel format, which means that you can virtually walk around the galleries and see each work of art as if you were standing in front of it. Artwork is available in pin-sharp detail making it easy to examine paintings while learning more through text provided by the museum’s curatorial staff.

Photo by C. McCain

You can even book a digital tour at the Mauritshuis with one of their expert guides. Once signed up, you will receive a link that enables you to participate in real-time from your computer. The virtual tours are available in English and Dutch on iPads, iPhones, Androids and AppleTV.

Photo by C. McCain

Collection Highlights at the Mauritshuis

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer. Girl with a Pearl Earring. c. 1665. The Mauritshuis.

Where is the Girl with a Pearl Earring? Known by some as the “Mona Lisa of the North,” Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665), on view in Room 15, is one of the most famous paintings of the seventeenth century. It is one of 34 paintings firmly attributed to Johannes Vermeer and attracts visitors to The Hague from all over the world. Learn More

Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt

Rembrandt van Rijn. The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. c. 1632. The Mauritshuis.

On view in Room 9, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is Rembrandt’s first group portrait painted in 1632 when he was only 25 years old. This oil painting on canvas is considered one of the artist’s early masterpieces and was commissioned for the anatomy lesson given by Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. Learn More

The Bull by Paulus Potter

Paulus Potter. The Bull. c. 1647. The Mauritshuis.

According to the Mauritshuis, The Bull is particularly special because it takes something as ordinary as a bull and presents it on a grand scale – something that had never been done before. It was painted in 1647, and it is considered the epitome of Dutch naturalistic painting. Learn More

The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius

Carel Fabritius. The Goldfinch. c. 1654. The Mauritshuis.

Fans of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt will be familiar with this little gem. On view in Room 14, The Goldfinch (1654) is one of the few surviving works by Fabritius, and it depicts a life-sized goldfinch using oil paint on a panel. Following Fabritius’ death in 1654, the painting was lost for more than two centuries before its rediscovery in Brussels in 1859. Learn More

Ice Scene by Hendrick Avercamp

Hendrick Avercamp. Ice Scene. c. 1610. The Mauritshuis.

On view in Room 16, Ice Scene feels uniquely Dutch as it depicts people enjoying a wintery day on a frozen canal. According to the Mauritshuis, Avercamp was the first painter in Northern Netherlands to specialize in winter landscapes. Painted in 1610, Ice Scene reflects an aerial perspective technique, which refers to the effect the atmosphere has on the appearance of a scene from a distance. Learn More

Virtual Tour of the Mauritshuis: Featured Online Programs

In addition to virtual tours, YouTube videos, workshops and children’s programs, the Mauritshuis website is a treasure trove of content that provides critical context for the museum and its collection. Featured online programs include the following websites, apps and videos.

Courtesy of the Mauritshuis

Girl with a Blog features Abbie Vandivere, a painting conservator at the Mauritshuis, who explores all aspects of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and its cultural significates through research, expert insights and activities, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and updates. You can learn all the mysteries behind this famous work of art, including details about its subject, worth, materials and more.

A virtual tour of the Mauritshuis also includes information about various aspects of Johan Maurits’ life. Particularly, his role as the governor of the colony Dutch Brazil (1636–1644) to which he was appointed by the Dutch West India Company. Learn more about Johan Maurits’ involvement in the lucrative sugar mills and sugar cane plantations, as well as his role in the transatlantic slave trade between West and Central Africa and Brazil – a part of the Mauritshuis story which is noted for being previously downplayed.

The online exhibition Facelifts & Makeovers offers a glimpse into the world of the museum’s conversation department through the eyes of staff members Carol Pottasch, Sabrina Meloni and Abbie Vandivere. Together, with their team of interns and external specialists, they explore the Mauritshuis collection. From researching materials to restoration techniques, you can learn more about how they keep the artwork in excellent condition.

Courtesy of the Mauritshuis

View the Mauritshuis with Your Ears is a music project featuring songs inspired by paintings in the collection. Videos feature a painting, performer and original song. Musicians include Spinvis, MEROL, Harrie Jekkers, Willie Wartaal and more.

Museum Information

The Mauritshuis
Website: https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/
Phone: +31 70 302 34 56
Email: mail@mauritshuis.nl
Address: Plein 29, 2511 CS The Hague, The Netherlands

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• Art
• History
• Medici
• Science
• City Views
• Day Trip

1st Choice: Art Adventure in Florence 

Uffizi Galleries

The Uffizi Galleries in Florence offer one of the world’s largest collections of paintings from the fourteenth century and Renaissance period, including works by Giotto, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. The building began with architect Giorgio Vasari (1511–1574) and was constructed between 1560 and 1581. Don’t miss The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510), one of the 10 must-see paintings in Europe. It was painted between 1482 and 1486 for the Medici family. The Uffizi collection also includes many impressive ancient statues and busts, including ancient Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures.

Photo by C. McCain

Or Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence houses one of the most famous statues in the world. Standing over five meters tall, Michelangelo’s David was made from a single block of marble between 1501 and 1504. This Renaissance sculpture depicts the Biblical figure of David and symbolizes strength, intelligence and beauty. The museum also features other sculptures by Michelangelo and a large collection of Italian paintings from the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries. The Galleria dell’Accademia was founded by Pietro Leopoldo, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1784. Now, the institution occupies a fourteenth-century hospital, St. Matthew, and a convent, St. Niccolò of Cafaggio.

Courtesy of Galleria dell’Accademia

2nd Choice: History Adventure in Florence 

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, dates back to Roman times and was the only bridge over the Arno River in Florence until 1218. The current bridge was rebuilt using three stone arches after a devastating flood in 1333. The bridge is part of the Vasari Corrido, an elevated passageway that was used by the Medici family as a private crossing between Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. The bridge is lined with little shops – once occupied by butchers and tanners – now home to jewelers and art dealers. Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in the city to avoid destruction during World War II. It is a must-see historic site for an adventure in Florence.

Photo by Ansgar Scheffold

Or Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio, or Old Palace, is a Romanesque building located in the center of Florence that reflects many centuries of history, including three distinct sites: Roman ruins, a Medieval fortress and Renaissance chambers. Construction on the solid fortress began in 1299, and the entire site sits on ancient Roman ruins that date back to the first century A.D. Palazzo Vecchio is a symbol of civil power for the city of Florence; even today, it’s the location of the Mayor’s office. Just to the side of Palazzo Vecchio, visitors can explore the Loggia dei Lanzi, also called Loggia della Signoria, an open-air museum with many great sculptures, like Benvenuto Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa from 1545/54.

Photo by Matt Twyman

3rd Choice: Medici-Inspired Adventure in Florence  

Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens

An adventure in Florence would not be complete within exploring the many sites attributed to the Medici family. The Pitti Palace was named after its first owner Luca Pitti (1398–1472), a Florentine banker. Work on the palace started in 1458 and was left unfinished at the time of Pitti’s death. In 1549, the palace was purchased by Eleonora of Toledo, Cosimo I de’ Medici’s wife, as a ceremonial residence. Work on the palace continued and the structure grew in size. Throughout four centuries, the palace was inhabited by three dynasties: the Medici, the Habsburg-Lorraine and the Savoy. Today, the palace is open to visitors and includes the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, the Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion.

Courtesy of Pitti Palace

Boboli Gardens are situated directly behind Pitti Palace. Established by the Medici family, this beautiful outdoor space includes many impressive ancient and Renaissance statues, as well as grottos, fountains and botanical gardens. The subsequent Habsburg-Lorraine and Savoy dynasties further developed the gardens’ layout and extended the boundaries. It is considered to be one of the world’s most important “formal” gardens and has inspired royal gardens throughout Europe.

Courtesy of Pitti Palace

Or Basilica di San Lorenzo

Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence is one of the city’s oldest churches, and it was the parish church for the Medici family. Said to have been consecrated by Saint Ambrose of Milan in 393, Basilica di San Lorenzo held the title of Duomo in Florence for about 300 years, before the title was transferred to the present day Duomo. In 1419, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici (1360–1429), founder of the dynasty, offered to finance a new church to replace the eleventh-century Romanesque structure, and the project was led by architect Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446). The Medici Chapels hold the funerary monuments of the Medici family. Additional sections were added, such as Michelangelo’s New Sacristy in 1520 and Nigetti’s Chapel of the Princes in the early seventeenth century.

Courtesy of Visit Florence

4th Choice: Science Adventure in Florence

Leonardo da Vinci Museum

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence offers a collection of interactive machines and displays modeled after original sketches by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). Divided into five sections: mechanisms, earth, water, air and fire, the museum examines Leonardo’s universal genius as an artist, scientist, inventor and designer. The museum features machines relating to civil engineering, weaponry, flight and more. Visitors of all ages can learn about Leonardo’s many achievements and his continuous pursuit to push the realm of possibility.

Courtesy of Visit Florence

Or Galileo Museum

The Galileo Museum, located in Florence’s Piazza dei Guidici, combines a noted museum featuring scientific instruments with an institute for research, documentation and dissemination of the history of science in the broadest senses. It also features the work of Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), an astronomer, physicist and engineer from Pisa. Notable items on display include Galileo’s objective lens from the telescope he used to discover the Galilean moons of Jupiter, thermometers used by members of the Accademia del Cimento and an extensive collection of terrestrial and celestial globes. The museum also has a library with troves of materials depicting Italy’s technical and scientific heritage.

Courtesy of Galileo Museum

5th Choice: City Views Adventure in Florence

Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

Florence Cathedral, or Duomo di Firenze, is one of the city’s most iconic structures and features the largest brick dome ever constructed. It acts as the centerpiece of Florence and can be seen from hilltops throughout the region. The concept for the cathedral was conceived in 1293, and after a hundred years of construction, the structure was still missing its dome. In 1420, after many technical issues, architect Filippo Brunelleschi began construction on the massive octagonal dome. Today, visitors can climb up the 400+ steps to the dome’s lantern for excellent views of Florence. Piazza del Duomo also includes Giotto’s Campanile and the Baptistery of Saint John with its Gates of Paradise.

Photo by Jonathan Körner

Or San Miniato al Monte

Sunset is the perfect time to take in the views near San Miniato al Monte, a basilica situated atop one of the highest points in the city – even higher than Piazzale Michelangelo. Make time to visit the basilica, which is considered a masterpiece of Tuscan Romanesque architecture. The structure was built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries and includes three naves, an elevated presbytery and crypt. Its marble exterior is decorated with green and white geometric patterns.

Courtesy of Visit Florence

6th Choice: Day Trip Adventure in Florence

Pisa

Pisa is located about an hour by train from Florence making it an easy day trip. Once in Pisa, head over to Pisa Cathedral for a glimpse of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The cathedral’s free-standing bell tower is known for its almost four-degree lean. Scroll around the Piazza del Duomo, also known as Piazza dei Miracoli, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The square is made up of four spectacular edifices: Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistry, the Campanile (Pisa Tower) and the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). Don’t miss the Cathedral Museum, which displays original artwork from the cathedral, baptistery and bell tower.

Photo by C. McCain

Or Tuscan Wine Country

Tuscany, Italy’s fifth-largest region, has been producing some of the world’s best wines for centuries. After Piedmont and Veneto, Tuscany produces the third-highest volume of DOC/G quality wines. Tuscany has 41 DOC wines and 11 DOCG wines, and they are produced across the region’s ten provinces. Sangiovese grapes dominate the vineyards in Tuscany and produce notable wines, such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. For a hassle-free experience, check out all-inclusive wine tours, like Grape Tours, which offer transportation from Florence, tour guides, wine tastings and lunch.

Photo by Reisetopia

If you enjoyed Choose Your Own Adventure in Florence, check out other choose your own adventure articles.

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Virtual Tour of the Getty Villa

About the Getty Villa
In 1968, businessman and philanthropist J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) began plans to build a Roman-style villa near Malibu to serve as a museum. Six years later, the new museum opened to the public and quickly became a cultural landmark. The Getty Villa houses the J. Paul Getty Museum’s extensive collection of antiquities, including 44,000+ objects of which roughly 1,300 are on view. The museum has 27 galleries organized by time period from the Neolithic Era to the late Roman Empire (ca. 6,500 BC to 400 AD).

© J. Paul Getty Trust

Tablinum at the Getty Villa Photo: Elon Schoenholz © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

© 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

Highlights from the permanent collection include Neolithic clay figurines dating back to the sixth millennium BC, marble vessels and figurines from the Cycladic Islands and Cyprus dating back to the Bronze Age and a group of frescoes from the Villa of Numerius Popidius Florus at Boscoreale near Pompeii dating back to the first century AD. Two galleries are devoted to Roman sculpture and feature a number of life-size and larger Roman works, including the Statue of a Female Figure, a life-size bronze eagle, several portrait busts and three cornice blocks from a first-century BC building in Rome.

© 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

© J. Paul Getty Trust

© J. Paul Getty Trust

The Etruscan gallery features sculptures, vases, bronze statuettes and carved amber. Additional galleries are devoted to Athenian pottery, a special strength of the collection, and Greek works from southern Italy and Sicily, including a remarkable terracotta group from 350–300 BC. The Getty’s collection of Roman gold and silver vessels, figurines and jewelry are displayed in the Roman Treasury, along with engraved gems and Roman gold coins on loan from private collections.

The Getty Villa underwent a major upgrade and reinstallation of its antiquities collection in 2017/18. The gallery space was increased by 3,000 square feet to accommodate a number of large objects previously kept in storage. The reinstallation featured a newly renovated gallery on the first floor dedicated to the age of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World (336–30 BC). The centerpiece of this installation is the Victorious Youth, also known as the Getty Bronze. Other notable objects of the same period and style accompany the statue, including a marble head of Alexander the Great.

© J. Paul Getty Trust

The museum’s grounds offer four gardens that blend together 300+ plant varieties, Roman architecture and open-air spaces. The largest garden, Outer Peristyle, is a replica of the one at the Villa dei Papiri with a long pool at the center. The landscaping features plants typically found near the Mediterranean, such as apricot trees, grapevines and lavender. Visitors can stroll around the fragrant gardens while enjoying mosaic floors and colorful trompe l’oeil walls. The grounds also include a dramatic 450-seat outdoor classical theater perfect for hosting open-air performances.

Photo by Tahnee L. Cracchiola © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

Photo: Elon Schoenholz © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

Outer Peristyle at the Getty Villa Photo: Elon Schoenholz © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

Outdoor Theater at the Getty Villa Photo: Elon Schoenholz © 2018 J. Paul Getty Trust

Virtual Visit
From publications to audio tours, the Getty Center and Getty Villa offer plenty of online learning opportunities. Check out the museums’ highlights webpage for learning guides and the online library catalog for art history resources, including thousands of digitized works with detailed descriptions. The museums’ online offerings also include 350+ Getty Publications and 165,000+ art history books from libraries around the world. Many of the Getty Library’s rare books are accessible online featuring nearly 200 titles on alchemy and dozens of examples of some of the earliest photo books ever printed.

For more interactive programs, check out the Getty’s YouTube channels for access to hundreds of art history lectures, art-making activities and artist interviews. Popular videos include tutorials on how illuminated manuscripts are made, how tapestries are woven, how ancient Egyptians were mummified and how ancient sculptures are restored. The Getty’s two podcasts, Art & Ideas and Recording Artists: Radical Women, provide even more opportunities to learn about art and culture.

Contact Information
Address: 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Website: http://www.getty.edu
Email: visitorservices@getty.edu
Phone: (310) 440-7300

If you enjoyed Virtual Tour of the Getty Villa in California, check out other art-inspired articles.

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10 Best Travel Books, Shows and Movies

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (2021–2022)

Searching for Italy Courtesy of CNN

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy is a six-part CNN Original Series that uncovers the tastes and smells of Italy’s most popular dishes. From Rome to Sardinia, Tucci talks to locals about their family recipes and why they are so important to the region’s culture. This show is sure to inspire a trip to Italy or at least a visit to your favorite Italian restaurant.

Lonely Planet’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe (2022) 

Lonely Planet’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe is the perfect book for those who want to learn more about the show travel movement. The guide provides detailed descriptions and itineraries to help plan a trip across Europe on rails. This hassle-free mode of transport is also eco-friendly, which makes it a win-win. Buy Now

The Trip (2010)

The Trip, 2010

Michael Winterbottom’s The Trip is a British show starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalized versions of themselves on a restaurant tour of the Lake District in northwest England. Also made into a feature-length film, The Trip captures plenty of improvised performances, including Coogan and Brydon’s celebrity impersonations of Michael Cain, Anthony Hopkins and Dustin Hoffman, among others. In addition to the restaurant tour, the film follows the two men as they walk in the footsteps of some of the great Romantic poets of the early nineteenth century. If you’re a fan, don’t miss The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2016) and The Trip to Greece (2020).

Great Cities Through Travellers’ Eyes (2019)  

Great Cities Through Travellers’ Eyes by Peter Furtado is a must-read book for any armchair traveler. It offers fascinating observations made by travelers, writers and historical figures who have visited some of the world’s most dynamic cities, such as Alexandria, Beijing, Venice and Rio de Janeiro. Chapters feature a compilation of straightforward travel descriptions that read like diary entries written over centuries. Buy Now

36 Hours: World (2015)

36 Hours: World is the perfect coffee table book that includes the crème de la crème from the New York Times travel series. Editor Barbara Ireland curates 150 bite-sized itineraries into an A–Z showcase of the world’s most captivating cities, from Barcelona to Bogotá, New Delhi to New Orleans. The latest version features 26 new stories, including Amman and Nairobi. Contributors act as armchair guides, foreign correspondents, travel writers, food writers and photojournalists. The book brings together insider knowledge and in-depth research, which provides fresh insight into even the most popular destinations. Buy Now

La Dolce Vita (1960)

La Dolca Vita, 1960

Federico Fellini’s masterful film, La Dolce Vita, features a celebrity cast and an adoring yet critical eye toward Rome in the 1960s. Set over seven decadent days, the film follows Marcello Mastroianni’s character as a philandering journalist who is pursuing happiness that is always just out of reach. The iconic Trevi Fountain scene is as effective today as it was 60 years ago.

Frederico Fellini talking to Costanzo Costantini in Fellini on Fellini (Faber and Faber, 1994):

Costantini: [Actress Anita] Ekberg immersed herself in the Trevi Fountain without difficulty?
Fellini: Ekberg came from the North, she was young and as proud of her good health as a lioness. She was no trouble at all. She remained immersed in the basin for ages, motionless, impassive, as if the water didn’t cover her nor the cold affect her, even though it was March and the nights made one shiver. For Mastronianni it was a rather different story. He had to get undressed, put on a frogman’s suit and get dressed again. To combat the cold he polished off a bottle of vodka and when we shot the scene he was completely pissed.

Constantini: How long did you take to shoot that scene?
Fellini: It took eight or nine nights. Some of the owners of the surrounding houses would rent out their balconies and windows to the curious. At the end of each take the crowd would cheer. A show within a show. Every time I look at the picture of Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain, I have the sensation of reliving those magic moments, those sleepless nights, surrounded by the miaowing of cats and the crowd that gathered from every corner of the city.

Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Darjeeling Limited, 2007

Darjeeling Limited is a comedy-drama directed by Wes Anderson. The film tells the story of three brothers, played by Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, as they attempt to reconnect their family bonds while traveling by train through India. With much of the film shot in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, the distinct Indian landscape is expertly captured on film in Anderson’s signature style.

A Year in Provence (1989) 

A Year in Provence is a best-selling memoir by Peter Mayle (1939–2018) about his first year living in France. Mayle and his wife bought a two hundred-year-old farmhouse in the Lubéron Valley, and the book chronicles their forays into local gastronomy, regional customs and rural life. From mastering the local accent to discovering the finer points of boules, Provençal charm is captured with great ease in this accessible story about moving abroad. Buy Now

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013–2018)

Parts Unknown, Courtesy of CNN

When talking about the 10 best travel books, TV shows and movies, the list would not be complete without mentioning Parts Unknown. The CNN original series Parts Unknown follows Anthony Bourdain (1956–2018), world-renowned chef and bestselling author, as he travels the globe to uncover the little-known and seemingly-familiar parts of the world in a celebration of their diverse foods and culture. Known for his curiosity, candor, wit and cultural references, Bourdain takes viewers off the beaten path of tourist destinations – including some war-torn parts of the world – and meets with a variety of local citizens to offer a window into their lifestyles. He also makes a point to meet up with internationally lauded chefs along his journeys. Highlights from the twelve seasons include Bourdain eating noodles with President Obama in Hanoi, traveling by riverboat on the Congo and food tasting with legendary chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud in Lyon.

Motorcycle Diaries (2004) 

Motorcycle Diaries, 2004

Motorcycle Diaries is a biopic about 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara, who later become known as the Marxist guerrilla leader and revolutionary Che Guevara, and his friend Alberto Granado. The film recounts Guevara’s 1952 journey through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. Directed by Walter Salles, this coming-of-age story is the ultimate road trip film. The views of South America are sure to satisfy any armchair traveler.

The Innocents Abroad, or the New Pilgrims’ Progress (1869) 

“We bid it good-bye, now – possibly for all time. How surely, in some future day, when the memory of it shall have lost its vividness, shall we half believe we have seen it in a wonderful dream, but never with waking eyes!” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

The Innocents Abroad is a travel book that chronicles Mark Twain’s pleasure cruise on board the chartered vessel ‘Quaker City’ through Europe and the Holy Land with a group of religious pilgrims. Twain makes constant criticisms of various aspects of culture and society he meets while on his journey, some more serious than others, which gradually turn from witty and comedic to biting and bitter as he progresses closer to the Holy Land. Buy Now

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What do you think attracted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to the Isle of Wight?

The quiet and privacy of the Isle of Wight attracted Victoria and Albert. It was away from the official worries and cares of state that they had to deal with in London or Windsor. It was another world, somewhere apart. The development of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century meant that they could get to the island from London in about 4 hours. The use of their own private train and yacht did help to shorten the journey time … no boarding a public ferry for them!

Detail of Portrait of Queen Victoria on Papier Mâché Face Screen, 1840. Courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust.

What makes Osborne House unique compared to other royal residences in the UK?

Osborne is unique as a royal residence because it was created from scratch by Victoria and Albert. It was the first home they made together, when they were both in their mid-twenties, already with a young, growing family. Victoria and Albert spent around 4 months a year at Osborne and it is a monument to their love, taste as collectors and a vibrant insight into their lives.

Courtesy of English Heritage

Can you describe Osborne House and its size?

Osborne was designed by Prince Albert and built by Thomas Cubitt. It is in the Italianate style and with its terraced, formal gardens, it takes advantage of a spectacular setting, overlooking the Solent. It has around 250 rooms and has four distinct, though connected, parts; the Pavilion in which Victoria and Albert had their own rooms; the Household Wing used by the member of the royal household who travelled with Victoria and Albert; the Main Wing where the royal children had their rooms; and the Durbar Wing which was a late addition to the house which was built to provide a large entertaining space. The outside of the house has two distinct towers, very much as one would see in any old public square in Italy, one for the clock and one for flying the royal standard. The Osborne estate was around 2,500 acres – it is now around 600 acres after parts of the estate were sold after Victoria’s death.

Courtesy of English Heritage

How much time did Queen Victoria and her family spend at Osborne House?

Queen Victoria and her family spent around 4 months of each year at Osborne. They always celebrated their birthdays at Osborne and after Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Victoria always went to Osborne for Christmas.

Can you describe design trends that influenced the style and evolution of Osborne House?

The Italianate style of architecture – a style inspired by the architecture of the classical world – was popular in the mid-nineteenth century and this was Albert’s choice.

Courtesy of English Heritage

Can you describe a few major changes made to Osborne House during Queen Victoria’s lifetime?

The most noticeable change was the addition of the Durbar Wing in the 1890s. This was built to provide Queen Victoria with a large dining/entertaining space as well as an apartment for her daughter Princess Beatrice, her husband and children. The size of the estate and the number of buildings (farm buildings, servants’ cottages, etc.) increased during Victoria’s time.

Courtesy of English Heritage

What is your favorite room at Osborne House? And, why?

My favourite room is the Queen’s Sitting Room with its floor to ceiling windows that open out onto a balcony where there are spectacular views across the terraced gardens, down to the private beach and over the Solent towards Portsmouth. It is quite a thought that in this modest room Queen Victoria and her ministers controlled a mighty empire.

Courtesy of English Heritage

How did Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children prefer to pass the time at Osborne House?

The royal family preferred to spend as much of their time out of doors in the fresh air. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert swam off their private beach (Queen Victoria using her bathing machine which can still be seen on the beach today) and all their children were taught to swim in a large floating bath that Prince Albert designed. They walked and rode a lot around the estate and went on excursions on the water around the island on their yachts. Queen Victoria did a lot of painting in watercolours in the gardens and around Osborne, many of which are still in the Royal Collection.

Courtesy of English Heritage

What is your favorite piece of artwork on display at Osborne House? And, why?

My favourite art work is a life-size marble statue by J. Edgar Boehm of “Noble”, one of Queen Victoria’s favourite collie dogs. The sculpture was done when the dog was 14 years old and it sits in the Grand Corridor alongside many sculptures in the classical style. The fact that it is so prominently displayed shows Victoria’s great love of her pets. She commissioned many images of them, just as many in fact as she did of her family. A bronze cast of the marble sculpture at Osborne was put over Noble’s grave at Balmoral, Victoria’s home in Scotland.

Are there any items on display that offer clues about the royal couple’s relationship and/or parenting style?

By all accounts Victoria and Albert had a passionate relationship and many of the artworks at Osborne have an erotic charge. For example, the large painting by France Xaver Winterhalter that Victoria gave Albert as a birthday present one year shows an abundance of naked female flesh … and it hangs directly opposite their writing desks in Victoria’s sitting room. The bronze statue of Andromeda that stands in the middle of a fountain in the garden shows a beautiful young girl, in a very sensual pose, chained to a rock waiting to be rescued by Perseus. The statue was bought by Victoria and Albert at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and placed at Osborne soon afterward. Queen Victoria has a bad reputation as a mother but the fact that the nurseries at Osborne are immediately above her own rooms indicates that she wanted to have the children close by rather than pushed off into a completely separate part of the house. Although the children were in the care of staff nevertheless she and Prince Albert were able to see as much of their children when at Osborne as possible.

Courtesy of English Heritage

What might surprise visitors about Osborne House?

Visitors might be surprised by the intimate, family feeling that Osborne still has. The rooms are comparatively modest by royal standards. Unlike other residences associated with Victoria and Albert that are open, Osborne is the one that gives an intimate glimpse into their lives.

Have there been any recent updates to the visitor experience at Osborne House?

The most recent major addition to the visitor experience was the opening a few years ago of the private beach. There is also a recent exhibition about Victoria and Albert’s birthdays at Osborne and the gifts they gave to each other, many of which can be seen in the house.

Courtesy of English Heritage

Visitor Information
Click here for more information.

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Day One

Morning – Cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge

Start your day with a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, a stunning Art Deco suspension bridge from 1937. You can rent a bicycle at Get Your Guide in Fisherman’s Wharf. The bridge cradles the 101 highway that connects San Francisco to Marin County. It’s an iconic structure that offers incredible views of a fog-covered city. The bike ride takes approximately three hours, depending on your pace. Once across the bridge, descend into the quaint town of Sausalito. Spend some time walking around before taking the ferry (with your bicycle) back to San Francisco.

Afternoon – Get a taste of the local food 

Once you’re back in San Francisco, spend some time exploring the Ferry Building, which offers gourmet goodies from several independently-owned vendors. Visitors can enjoy fresh oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company, artisan bread from Acme Bread Company and micro-roasted coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee. It’s the perfect spot for snacking your way through lunch. The building has served as the central hub for ferryboat transportation in the Bay Area since it opened in 1898. Today, ferry services take passengers to Larkspur, Sausalito, Vallejo and Alameda.

Courtesy of Hog Island Oyster Company

Evening – Explore the Mission District

The Mission District is a lively neighborhood known for its live music venues and cocktail lounges. For decades, the Mission has been the center of the Latino community in San Francisco. Visitors can walk along narrow streets with colorful street art and shop for antiques and second-hand goods. It’s also home to some of the city’s best bars and restaurants, including local favorites like Delfina and Tacolicious.

Courtesy of Tacolicious

Day Two

Morning – Take a stroll in Golden Gate Park

Start your day with a stroll through Golden Gate Park, a spacious urban oasis that is 20% larger than New York’s Central Park. This green slice of heaven is bookended by the Haight Asbury to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. A visit to the park can be a peaceful way to start your second day. From rollerskating troops to Tai Chi masters, the park is filled with many interesting sights and sounds.

The de Young Museum, located towards the park’s eastern end, offers one of the best art collections west of the Mississippi River. The building, which reopened in 2005, was designed by Swiss architects Herzog and De Meuron. Its facade consists of perforated copper, which will continue to change in color as it oxidizes over time. Check out the de Young’s ninth-floor observatory to see how perfectly the structure blends in with its surroundings. This unique vantage point can be accessed for free and offers one-of-a-kind views of the park and outlying neighborhoods. Before you leave the park, take a walk through the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Afternoon – Ride on a cable car through Chinatown

Make your way downtown to explore Chinatown, the home of the fortune cookie. From there, hop on a cable car and end up in Fisherman’s Wharf for some world-class chocolate at Ghirardelli Square and one-of-a-kind sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery. Then, finish the day with an Irish coffee at Buena Vista.

Courtesy of Boudin Bakery

Evening – Experience the opera

San Francisco has had a love affair with opera for more than 150 years. Between 1851 and the earthquake of 1906, nearly 5,000 opera performances were given in San Francisco at 26 different theaters. San Francisco Opera, near Civic Center, offers top-notch performances and beautiful architecture. Be sure to book your tickets in advance, since many performances sell out quickly.

Courtesy of San Francisco Opera

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Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Photo by C. McCain

About the Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection’s artwork was collected by the first four Marquesses of Hertford, as well as Sir Richard Wallace who was believed to have been the fourth Marquess’ illegitimate son. Sir Richard became the fourth Marquess’ secretary and agent and ultimately, inherited the house where the Wallace Collection resides today, as well as a truly remarkable art collection.

Bust of Sir Richard Wallace. Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Sir Richard Wallace died in 1890 and left everything to his wife, Julie Amelie Castelnau, otherwise known as Lady Wallace. Sir Richard had expressed the wish that his collection might become a museum after his death, but it was Lady Wallace who left almost all of the artwork to the nation as a museum when she died in 1897. Lady Wallace chose the name, The Wallace Collection, presumably as a fitting memorial to her late husband. The museum opened to the public in 1900. According to Lady Wallace’s will, no items are to be added to the collection or removed from it, so it has largely remained as Sir Richard left it.

The museum was closed and the artwork was evacuated during both world wars. In 1917, the air raids prompted the entire collection to be removed and stored at the Post Office tube at Paddington Station. On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the entire collection was evacuated, this time to centers outside London. In May 1940, Sir Winston Churchill famously said of the nation’s art treasures: “Hide them in caves and cellars, but not one picture shall leave this island.” Thankfully, there was only minimal damage to the building when a high explosive bomb detonated in the front lawn during the air raids of September 1940. The works of art returned from the countryside in 1945, and the collection re-opened to the public in July of that year.

Highlights from the Wallace Collection

From landscapes to portraits, the Wallace Collection offers many excellent European paintings, including old master paintings from Titian, Rubens, Fragonard, Gainsborough and Canaletto, among others. Highlights from the painting collection include The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals, Titus, the Artist’s Son by Rembrandt and Lady with a Fan by Diego Velázquez. Many remarkable sculptures, ranging from c. 1200 to 1900, are also displayed throughout the museum. Highlights from the sculpture collection include eighteenth-century works by French artists, including Bertrand, Coysevox and Houdon, as well as works from the Renaissance by Italian artists, including Giambologna and Torrigiani.

Photo by C. McCain

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Frans Hals. The Laughing Cavalier. c. 1624. The Wallace Collection

In addition to paintings and sculptures, the museum has an outstanding collection of decorative arts. Many of the objects are from eighteenth-century France and the medieval and Renaissance periods. Each piece has a fascinating, and sometimes mysterious, story to tell, such as the chest-of-drawers delivered to Louis XV’s bedroom at Versailles and the Bell Shrine of St. Mura, which was said to have descended from heaven.

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Photo by C. McCain

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Photo by C. McCain

The museum also features princely arms and armour – many considered to be some of the finest works in the collection. Although some objects were meant for combat, many are beautiful examples of the armourer’s art and were made for rulers and nobles across the world, including Shah Jahan, Mughal Emperor and Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Courtesy of the Wallace Collection

Virtual Tour of the Wallace Collection

From collection talks to musical performances, the Wallace Collection makes it easy for people to virtually experience the museum from the comfort of home. Through the museum’s website, online visitors can access free, family-friendly activities, high resolution images, tours, lectures, courses and more.

Check out the Wallace Collection’s blog featuring art and objects from throughout the museum, including paintings, furniture, ceramics, arms and armour. Articles explore the collection from a variety of perspectives with fun, interactive content. The blog also provides news and updates about the museum’s programs and events.

Don’t miss Meet the Expert, which features monthly, themed programs hosted by members of the museum’s curatorial department. Each month begins with a short, online Gallery Trail highlighting a handful of unmissable objects from the Wallace Collection. Works in Context is a longer article explaining the meaning of the featured objects within a larger social or historical context, and it sets the scene for Expert’s Choice, a short film that delves deeply into the story behind the art. The month-long program is then wrapped up with an online lecture available to the public for free on the third Thursday of each month.

Featured Online Programs at the Wallace Collection

–Inside the Museum: 45 Years in just 88 Minutes features a bespoke virtual tour of the Wallace Collection by David Edge, former Head of Conservation. The video includes unseen library and archive materials, as well as Edge’s favorite stories and anecdotes from working at the museum since 1975.

–Ada de Wit, Curator of Works of Art and Sculpture, looks at the concept of Kunstkammer (cabinet of curiosities) and how this Renaissance tradition of collecting exceptional treasures from around the world was interpreted in the late nineteenth century by collectors, such as Sir Richard Wallace. Learn more about Kunstkammer with a free, online lecture titled Collecting Treasures: Grünes Gewölbe in Dresden and the Wallace Collection.

–The Wallace Collection has one of the most important holdings of Riesener furniture in the world. Online resources provide details about the furniture at the Wallace Collection, revealing secrets about Riesener’s working methods, materials and techniques, as well as his life and his work for the royal French court.

–The Wallace Collection presents Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company, guest curated by writer and historian William Dalrymple. Online visitors can explore, room-by-room, works by Indian master painters commissioned by East India Company officials in the late eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.

The Wallace Collection
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Website: https://www.wallacecollection.org/
Phone: +44 (0)207 563 9500
Email: enquiries@wallacecollection.org

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Paris Opera Ballet

The Paris Opera Ballet, part of the Paris Opera, was founded in 1669 making it one of the oldest national ballet companies in the world. It has inspired the start of many other companies now located around the globe. Its repertoire embraces both romantic ballet and contemporary creations. In addition to their performances at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, the Paris Opera Ballet also features digital performances on 3e Scène (3rd Stage). Highlights include:

• 3e Scène with original works by artists and creators
• Classic clips from the stage, including performances by Rudolf Noureev, William Forsythe, Mikhail Fokine and Jerome Robbins, among others
• World Ballet Day videos
• Training clips
• Performer interviews (available with English subtitles)
  Watch Now

American Ballet Theatre

Located in New York City, the American Ballet Theatre is revered as a living national treasure since its founding in 1939. It has commissioned works by many of the choreographic geniuses of the twentieth century, including George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp, among others. Each performance honors more than 80 years of innovation, diversity and dynamism in American ballet. Highlights include:

• Pas de Deux, a limited, four-episode documentary series, exploring the intersection of dance and other diverse art forms with two artists that delve into each other’s process in a conversation that culminates in new creations
• Back stage videos featuring a new generation of ballet dancers
• ABTKids Daily with videos and activities perfect for family-friendly audiences
• Moving Stories, the American Ballet Theatre’s first-ever film festival, hosted by principal dancer Misty Copeland and Emmy Award-winning producer Leyla Fayyaz, which features eight short films created by company artists
• ABT Us featuring a weekly dancer spotlight
• Virtual classes with ABT dancers and ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School faculty members
  Watch Now

Royal Ballet

Based at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, the Royal Ballet offers world-class dancers with an outstanding orchestra, as well as leading choreographers, composers, conductors, directors and creative teams. The company’s extensive repertory embraces nineteenth century classics, as well as a new canon of work from world renowned choreographers. During a typical season, the Royal Ballet welcomes more than one million people through its doors, and a further one million people enjoy their work in cinemas, at free screenings and through streamed and televised performances throughout the UK. Highlights include:

• Seasonal, full-length performances with free and ticketed options
• Classic footage from some of the best ballet performances staged in London
• World Ballet Day videos
• Rehearsal videos, including clips from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty
  Watch Now

Bolshoi Ballet

The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow has been operating for more than 200 years, and it is one of the largest ballet companies in the world. Its combines great classical traditions with ever-evolving styles. The Bolshoi Ballet celebrates its rich history with ballet legends, such as Galina Ulanova, Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plisetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova, and it is known for being the first ballet company to stage Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Minkus’ Don Quixote. Highlights include:

• Scenes from Ticket to the Bolshoi, a film dedicated to the celebration of 180 years since the birth of P.I. Tchaikovsky; the Bolshoi Ballet explores the role it played in the life of Tchaikovsky and its deep appreciation for his work through staff conversations (available with English subtitles)
• World Ballet Day videos
• Steps to Success capturing the soloist N.A. Elchin Azizov with trainees from the Bolshoi Theater Opera
• Exclusive interviews with artists, dancers, choreographers, directors and other theatrical figures
• Footage from Alexander Vetrov’s ballet class
• Clips from new ballet productions, as well as archival footage
  Watch Now

The Australian Ballet

For almost 60 years, the Australian Ballet has been inspiring, delighting and challenging audiences through the power of its performances. Based in Sydney, the Australian Ballet performs classical ballets and commissions new works annually. It typically presents more than 250 shows and 1,700 educational and audience engagement events each year. In addition to 80 dancers, the Australian Ballet employs master craftspeople and leaders in injury prevention, dance education, marketing and philanthropy, as well as an orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, with more than 60 musicians. This year is David Hallberg’s inaugural season as artistic director and will offer plenty of digital performances, including much-loved story ballets, twentieth century classics and exciting new works. They offer a new At Home with Ballet TV digital season, which features premium-quality productions online for free. Highlights include:

• Cinema-quality, full-length performances (each with a limited run)
• A New Era with 2021 season previews
• Dancing with David featuring ballet exercises with director David McAllister
• World Ballet Day videos
• Meet the Team with exclusive interviews
  Watch Now

Featured Image: Don Quixote at the Bolshoi Theatre. Maria Alexandrova as Kitri. Photo by Damir Yusupov.

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10 of the Most Famous Paintings in Europe

The Raft of Medusa by Théodore Géricault, 1819
Louvre Museum in Paris, France

Raft of Medusa by Théodore Géricault, 1819

The Raft of Medusa by Théodore Géricault (1791–1824) is known for bridging two district artist movements: Classicism and Romanticism. The painting depicts the wreck of a French frigate, La Méduse, and its passengers who were left to perish off the coast of Senegal in 1816. The painting’s powerful and emotive scene still seems to transcend the canvas – more than 200 years after it was created. The Raft of Medusa hangs in the Louvre Museum, one of the most visited fine art institutions in the world. The museum offers eight departments including Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, as well as modern collections featuring paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, prints and drawings, among others. There are more than 35,000 pieces of art on display at the Louvre Museum, including Winged Victory of Samothrace, Seated Scribe, Mona Lisa, Rebellious Slave and Napoleon III Apartments.

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, 1482/86
Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, 1482/86

The Birth of Venus by Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi (1445–1510), known as Sandro Botticelli, is one of the most revered paintings in the world. The painting depicts Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, emerging from the sea in a shell. She is being blown by the wind to the shores of Cyprus. The Hora of Spring is there to receive Venus in a floral cloak. Venus stands in the contrapposto pose, and her nude appearance was something of a shock for the times. The Birth of Venus is located in the Uffizi Palace and Gallery, a museum offering one of the world’s largest collection of paintings from the fourteenth century and Renaissance period, including works by Giotto, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raffaello, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, among others. The museum also boasts an impressive collection of ancient statues and busts from the Medici family collection.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, 1907/1908
The Belvedere in Vienna, Austria

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, 1907/1908

The Kiss, also known as Lovers, by Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) is considered to be one of Austria’s most celebrated paintings. Klimt, a Symbolist painter and member of the Vienna Secession Movement, completed the painting at the height of his “Golden Period.” The Kiss is said to explore the connection between the human existence and feelings of love. The painting has been in the Belvedere’s collection since 1908. The museum resides in an historic building complex that consists of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery and the Palace Stables. Including the Kiss, the museum has more than 20 of Klimt’s paintings in its collection. Other museum highlights include notable works from the Middle-Ages, Baroque and Classicism periods.

Guernica by Pablo Picasso, 1937
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain

Guernica by Pablo Picasso, 1937

Guernica by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is a powerful piece of artwork – one that sticks with people long after viewing it. The large painting is Picasso’s response to the atrocities of war, particularly the 1937 bombing of Guernica, a Basque Country town in northern Spain. Guernica is done in Cubist style using narrative symbolism. The painting is located in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, or Museo Reina Sofía, in Madrid. The museum’s collection features Spanish artists from the twentieth century, among other international artists. In addition to Picasso, the collection includes work by Dalí, Miro, Gris, Chillida and more.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo, 1508/12
Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo, 1508/12

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475–1564) is considered to be one of the best examples of Renaissance art in the world. The ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel was commissioned by Pope Julius II, the head of the Catholic Church from 1503 to 1513. Michelangelo’s skills as a sculptor influenced the poses of the figures, which pay tribute to classical Roman and Greek sculpture. The artwork depicts nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the Creation of Adam. Ten medallions portraying scenes from the Old Testament complement the main panels. The ceiling is part of the Vatican Museums, which features works from the collection of the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries. With more than 20,000 works on display, the museums offer exceptional examples of Roman sculptures and Renaissance paintings. Collection highlights feature artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Bellini, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and Veronese, among others.

Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, 1872
Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France

Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, 1872

Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet (1840–1926) is thought to have inspired the name of the Impressionist art movement of the nineteenth century. The painting was first shown in Paris at an independent exhibition in 1874 alongside other works by Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The painting depicts a scene from a window overlooking the harbor in the city of Le Havre. Monet used visible brushstrokes, an open composition and an emphasis on depicting light – elements that became synonymous with the Impressionist Movement. Impression, Sunrise is located in the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris. The museum offers one of the world’s leading collections of works by Claude Monet, as well as important works by Morisot, Degas, Manet, Pissarro and Renoir, among others.

The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642 
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642

The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) is one of the most well-known paintings from the Dutch Golden Age of the seventeenth century. Known for its large size, the Night Watch was painted at the height of Rembrandt’s career. The painting depicts a captain of the guard with his lieutenants, as well as symbolic figures. The painting is regarded for its use of light and shadow to call attention to particular elements, such as the captain’s gesturing hand and the young girl. The Night Watch attracts visitors from all over the world to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The museum’s collection celebrates the history of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the present. Other notable works in the museum’s collection include works by Vermeer, Asselijn, Hals and Codde, among others. Don’t miss the museum’s collection of Delft Blue pottery, as well as the Cuypers Library, the oldest art history library in Holland.

Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent van Gogh, 1890
Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent van Gogh, 1890

Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) is one of the artist’s final paintings. It was painted in Auvers-sur-Oise within weeks of the Van Gogh’s suicide. The painting depicts a landscape with dark storm clouds, menacing crows and a dead-end path. In a letter to his brother and sister-in-law, Van Gogh referenced the scene and wrote, “…I didn’t have to put myself out very much in order to try and express sadness and extreme loneliness. I hope you’ll be seeing them shortly since I’d like to bring them to you in Paris as soon as possible.” Wheatfield with Crows is located in the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of artworks by Van Gogh. The museum’s collection is made up of more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings, including famous works like Sunflowers, Almond Blossom and the Potato Eaters.

Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais, 1851/1852
Tate Britain in London, United Kingdom

Ophelia by John Everett Millais, 1851/1852

Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais (1829–1896) is one of the most iconic works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English painters, poets and art critics. The painting depicts the death of Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ophelia includes an array of detailed symbolic associations, particularly with regards to the flowers and foliage. It is said that Elizabeth Siddall, English artist, poet and artists’ model, used the bathtub in Millais’ studio to pose for the painting. Ophelia is part of Tate Britain’s collection. The museum holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day, as well as international modern and contemporary artworks. Other collection highlights include works by Rossetti, Bacon, Blake and Turner, among others.

The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1893
The National Gallery in Oslo, Norway

The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1893

The Scream by Edvard Munch (1863–1944) is one of the most famous paintings in all of modern art. The painting depicts the essence of human fear and anxiety. Munch used bold colors and undulating lines to express intense emotions. It is said that the painting was inspired by a panic attack that Munch suffered from in 1892. The Scream is located in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design is Oslo, which is scheduled to reopen in 2021 with a new building. At that time, the museum will be the largest in the Nordics. Its collection contains 400,000 objects ranging from antiquity to the present day and includes paintings, sculpture, drawings, textiles, furniture and architectural models.

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