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Attraction >Museum
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Description and Basic Information ::
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 (Admission displayed above is suggested donation.)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located at 5th Avenue and 82nd Street, is itself a beautifully arranged, magnificently displayed work of art. It is the largest art museum in the northern hemisphere and features more than three million works of art, some of which date back to the Paleolithic Era. Any tourist or art aficionado will be overwhelmed by the scope of the art treasures inside, making a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art an essential part of any trip to New York.
The Museum first opened its doors in 1880, ten years after it was founded. Although it has undergone several structural and architectural changes over the years, it has remained aesthetically beautiful and is still awe-inspiring today. Visitors who enter from 5th Avenue will find themselves in the Great Hall, an enormous chamber that has been declared a national landmark. From there, take the elegant marble staircase up to the European galleries, which showcase priceless works from Rembrant, Botticelli and others.
Some highlights of the museum include the Greek and Roman galleries, both located on the first floor. These galleries include statues and wall paintings taken from the region of Mount Vesuvius, in addition to more typical oil and canvas paintings, relics, artifacts, weaponry and more. This exhibit is particularly stirring because it truly gives the visitor a sense of history and what it was like to live in these ancient times. It is difficult to believe some of these wall etchings and ornate pottery date back thousands of years.
Equally, if not more, impressive is the Met’s renowned Egyptian collection, also located on the first floor. Highlights of the collection include a fully assembled Temple of Dendur, complete with a faithful recreation of the Nile. The Armana Art Galleries located near the Temple, add to the atmosphere of the collection by showcasing interesting Egyptian paintings and sculptures. Life-size statues, a mummy, countless jewelry items and tombs also add to the intrigue. |
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:: New York City >Uptown :: |
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