The Oldest Museums around the World

Travel back in time by visiting some of the oldest museums around the world.

4. Uffizi Galleries

The Uffizi Galleries are one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world. Located in Florence, they are also home to a large collection of art from the Italian Renaissance.

A sculpture in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence [ IG: @clay.banks ] — Photo by Clay Banks / Unsplash

The Uffizi Galleries were founded in 1581 by Cosimo I de' Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. They were originally built to house the offices of the Florentine magistrates (uffizi means "offices" in Italian). Over time, the Medici family expanded the Uffizi's collection of art with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli.

Annunciation painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1472

The Birth of Venus painted by Sandro Botticelli in 1483-1485

Doni 'Tondo' painted by Michelangelo in 1506-1508

5. Kunstkamera

The Kunstkamera is the first museum in Russia that was established by Peter the Great in 1727. It is located on the Universitetskaya Embankment in Saint Petersburg and houses the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.

Photo by Ad Meskens - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Kunstkamera was established in order to study the natural and human world. It contains a wide variety of items, including human remains, animals, plants, minerals, and ethnographic objects. The museum is a unique cultural institution that provides insight into the history and development of Russia.

Celestial Boat Mechanical Toy early 18th century

6. Brukenthal National Museum

The Brukenthal National Museum is located in a historic building in the old city centre of Sibiu, Romania. It was established in 1817 by Samuel von Brukenthal, the Governor of the Transylvanian Principality.

Photo by 7castle - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

It is the oldest museum in Romania and one of the first museums in Europe. While the Brukenthal National Museum houses a collection of over 800,000 items, including paintings, sculptures, coins, books, and ancient weapons. It is one of the largest and most important art museums in Romania.

Museums are home to a wealth of art and history, and provide visitors with a unique insight into the cultures that created them. Now, let's travel back in time together!

Find it out more:

4. Uffizi Galleries

5. Kunstkamera

6. Brukenthal National Museum

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