Travelling Europe is an art lovers dream. But it can be overwhelming AF. Maybe there's pieces you've been dreaming of seeing for years (Mona Lisa ammirite?), or maybe you don't know that much about art, but feel like it'd be a waste not to check it out while you're in the area!
One of the greatest things about art, is that you don’t need to know anything about it for your opinion to be valid. Art is subjective, and it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. But it’s a cool way to look at the culture and society it was made in, and be fascinated by the way others see and then want to reflect their views on the world. In this regard, checking out the local art scene will tell you a lot about the place that you're visiting - whether it's history (through classic art) or it's present (with street art).
One of the greatest things about art, is that you don’t need to know anything about it for your opinion to be valid. Art is subjective, and it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. But it’s a cool way to look at the culture and society it was made in, and be fascinated by the way others see and then want to reflect their views on the world. In this regard, checking out the local art scene will tell you a lot about the place that you're visiting - whether it's history (through classic art) or it's present (with street art).
Admission: I have a
degree in Art History, so I’m a bit of an art nerd in general. However – I’m not
an art snob, and I think you can find something for any taste if you know where
to look.
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| The East Side Gallery, Berlin |
With art there’s 4
ways that I divide things: Classic/Modern, and Museum/Street. In general I
would describe Classic is anything pre 20th century/pre
Impressionist, Modern is everything afterwards. Museum and Street art is,
simply put, about where you’d find this work.
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| Bernini brilliance in the Villa Borghese |
If you’re into classic
works of art, then Italy is the place to go. Home of the Renaissance, the
Baroque and my favourite sculptor Bernini.
In Rome
you should visit the Villa Borghese,
an incredible little museum filled with masterworks by Bernini (you may
recognise his name from the Dan Brown Angels and Demons books). This man made
marble look like flesh, and his work is honestly so beautiful. Just know, that you will
have to book tickets in advance!
For some bonus (free)
Bernini, I would recommend checking out the Fountain of the Four Rivers in
Piazza Navona.
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| Venus of Urbino, The Uffizzi |
In Florence
the place to go is The Uffizzi, an
incredible museum in the old home of the Medici (a family worth looking up – and also
to thank as the main patrons of the Renaissance outside of the Vatican). My
personal favourite is Boticelli’s Birth of Venus (I like to recommend museums
where you don’t have to be an art nerd to recognise things!)
For some bonus (free)
Florentine Renaissance work, look no further than the Piazza della Signoria outside – the massive centre of Florence is
filled with classic Renaissance masterpieces, including a (very good) copy of
Michelangelo’s David in the place he originally stood, and my personal
favourite: Perseus by Cellini.
Then you can pop to
the nearby (warning: super busy) All
Antico Vinaiao for one of their legendary sandwiches.
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| Hang out with Monet in l'Orangerie |
If you want to go a
bit more modern, then my next recommendation is Paris, the place that
tagged in as the tastemaker of Europe under the reign of Louis XIV. This is
where you can see the beautiful works of the Impressionists – guys like Monet (waterlilies),
Van Gogh (sunflowers), Degas (ballerinas), and lesser known hero of mine
Caillebotte. The Musee d’Orsay
should be your first stop – it’s across the road from the Louvre, and carries
on chronologically from where the Louvre ends. It’s an old train station on the
Seine river filled with masterpieces, and afterwards you can cross the river to
visit l’Orangerie to visit the
iconic installation of Monet’s waterlilies. It’s such a beautiful and serene
room, one of my favourite spots in Paris.
Also while you’re in
Paris, keep an eye out in the streets for the mosaic street art of Space
Invader – who has left his mark of 80’s video game inspired mosaics all over
Paris. Once you spot one, you’ll start seeing them everywhere! There’s one very
close to Angelina, which incidentally
is also a fantastic place to try one of their legendary hot chocolates. My tip:
Get it (and a pastry) to take away – you skip the long line, and can enjoy it
in the Jardins Tuilleries.
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| Spotted in Shoreditch, London |
For modern art, you
can’t go past London, which is home to a fantastic amount of absolutely free
museums and galleries – including my favourite: The Tate Modern. The space alone is a great place to kill some
time, and get out of the hustle and bustle of London. Check out the Rothko
rooms for an experience that can’t really translate into photos, but will be
strangely peaceful in person. The other great thing about London is its street art in East London. Centred
around Shoreditch (hipster central and home of fantastic fried chicken place Mother Cluckers), you can book a walking
tour online, or just wander around yourself and take the instagram shots as you
please. I recommend wearing a cool hat while you do so.
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| Found in Berlin |
My other favourite cities for street art are Berlin and Edinburgh. The great thing about street art is that it’s so unrestrained and can be so aesthetically pleasing. It usually has something interesting to say, and if not – at least it looks super cool. Also, no museum entry fee – you can just wander around the city and find random acts of creativity (or can do your research beforehand online and specifically hunt places out). Another emerging street art mecca is Lisbon – check out the LX Factory in particular!
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| The LX Factory in Lisbon |
