• The Vatican Museum has one of the world's finest collections of art.rome image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  There are an awe-inspiring number of art museums in Italy. Trying to visit them all would be an overwhelming challenge for even the most resolute art lover. Enrich your experience by carefully choosing which Italian museums to attend to save yourself hours in long lines or wandering second-rate galleries. Rome has the greatest number of world-class museums, with the Vatican Museum being the most formidable; Florence's Uffizi Gallery is home to the largest collection of Italian and Florentine Renaissance art in the world, and Venice features Italy's finest modern art collection in the Guggenheim Museum Venice. These museums are family-friendly and fully accessible.
  
  

Uffizi Gallery

• Michelangelo's David is just one of the many masterpieces you'll see during your visit to the Uffizi Gallery.Florence image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
  
  Designed for the Granduca Francisco de' Medici, son of Cosimo I, the Uffizi Gallery was built in 1581 by architect Giorgio Vasari. The museum houses the largest collection of Italian and Florentine Renaissance art in the world. Here you'll see Leonardo da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi," Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus," Caravaggio's "The Sacrifice of Isaac," Lippi's "Coronation of the Virgin," and other works by masters such as Raphael, Titian, Michelangelo, and Giotto. The galleries are grouped by influential artistic schools or periods showing the advancement of general European and Florentine art, beginning with the post-Byzantine work of Giotto and ending with contributions from Rubens, Tintoretto and others.
  
  Uffizi Gallery
  Piazzale degli Uffizi
  50122 Firenze FI
  Toscana
  Italy
  uffizi.com
  
  

Vatican Museum

• The Vatican Museum is a 'must see' for any art lover.Basilica San Pietro a Natale image by fabdippo76 from Fotolia.com
  
  One of the world's largest collections of art can be found in the Vatican Museum complex. Begun in the 16th century, the museum complex was one of the first opened to the public. You'll find Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, medieval, and Renaissance works along with the legendary Sistine Chapel. This is a "not-to-be-missed" collection. As of May 2010 the complex is open until 11:00 p.m.
  
  Vatican Museum
  Viale Vaticano
  Rome
  Italy
  00165
  011-39-06-698-84676
  mv.vatican.va
  
  

Galleria Borghese

• The National Estruscan Museum has some of the finest Etruscan works found to date.museo romano 001 image by marbo from Fotolia.com
  
  The Villa Borghese includes the Borghese Gallery, Spada Gallery, Open Museum of Tridente Barberini, Palace Corsini Gallery, Palazzo Ducale di Urbino, Venezia Palace, Musical Instruments, and Rocca Demaniale di Gradara. See works from Barberini, Raphael, Rubens, Caravaggio, Bernini, and many other masters. The National Etruscan Museum features some of the finest Etruscan art found to date, while the Spada Gallery has an impressive collection of statuary.
  
  Galleria Borghese
  Viale San Paolo del Brasile
  Rome
  Italy
  00197
  galleriaborghese.it
  
  

Guggenheim Museum Venice

• Along the Grand Canal you'll find the Guggenheim Museum Venice featuring early 20th century modern art.venice image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  Located on the Grand Canal in Peggy Guggenheim's former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important collections of early 20th century European and American art in Italy. Inaugurated in 1980, the Guggenheim Museum Venice features Peggy Guggenheim's personal collection of 20th century art, masterpieces from the Gianni Mattioli Collection, and the Nasher Sculpture Garden, as well as temporary exhibitions.
  
  Guggenheim Museum Venice
  704 Dorsoduro
  Venice
  Italy
  I-30123
  guggenheim-venice.it