8 spectacular cities every art lover should visit

Florence, home to Renaissance treasures, is a work of art in itself. Its ancient cathedral and churches are designed and built by artistic icons of the past, from Brunelleschi to Michelangelo. Visitors will feel its creative essence just by walking through its streets.

Most tourists will make haste to the iconic Uffizi Gallery, where masterpieces line the corridors of this world renowned museum. Admire ancient sculptures and paintings, with the greatest collections from the Renaissance era and 14th century. Expect to see pieces by Giotto and Simone Martini, among others.

Another must-visit stop in Florence is the Pitti Palace and the Boboli gardens, housing various important galleries including the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art. Of course, you can't leave the city without seeing Vasari’s The Last Judgment fresco located in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore. 

The high-altitude Colombian capital has been the one to watch in recent years. Famous artists' names emerged from Bogotá in the 20^th century, such as Doris Salcedo and Pedro Ruiz, but for a while the artistic community was kept under wraps in the city. Now, roads and buildings have come to life with politically driven street art, and there is a selection of museums and galleries housing local and international artists.

Head inside of MAMBO – Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, for all your 20^th century art inspiration, as well as Museo de Botero in La Candelaria, where Colombian artist Fernando Botero donated more than 200 works – many of his own, but also a selection from iconic names such as Picasso and Monet.

Read next: How to explore cultural Bogota

Inspiring artists around the world, Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It’s the natural light in this desert town that attracts crowds of creatives, especially as it's positioned at 7,200ft above sea level.

Here, there truly is something for everyone. For first timers, head to Canyon Road for more than 100 galleries to visit. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a great place to start is the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture for selection of story-filled Native art.

For a wackier experience, Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return provides an immersive art installation: expect refrigerators you can walk through, a washing-machine which leads to another world, and trees that glow in the dark.

There’s also contemporary art to explore, and the chance to pay homage to well-known American Modernism artist Georgia O’Keeffe at a museum dedicated to her life and work.

Sure, if you want to see the biggest collection of Pablo Picasso art ever, head to overcrowded Barcelona. But real fans of his work will head south to the Costa Del Sol, the artist’s birthplace and where you can experience Málaga as much more than a beach destination.

Home to more than 35 museums, the port city is rising in ranks for its cultural offerings. The Museum of Picasso opened in Málaga in 2003, which of course, displays more than 200 works by Pablo Picasso and hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Furthermore, the Carmen Thyssen Museum explores 19^th century Spanish paintings. To see art from the 20^th and 21^st  century, the Pompidou Center is the first centre built by the Parisian institution outside of France. It can be found inside the colourful El Cubo, sitting on the city's port.

Read next: The Spanish cities to visit for exhibitions celebrating Picasso

The historic South Korean capital has been up-and-coming in the world of contemporary art, with the Seoul Museum of Art really putting the city on the map. Here, art lovers can explore a range of permanent art exhibitions by regional artists such as the famous Korean painter Chun Kyung Ja, as well as temporary exhibitions from creatives across the globe.

The rapid growth of Korean art culture has been reflected in a number of new projects across the city in past years, for example, the building of the spaceship-like Dongdaemoon Design Plaza as a new cultural centre in the historic district. 

Dubbed the Cultural Capital of Australia, Melbourne’s streets are bursting with creativity. Between the buildings painted with thought-provoking graffiti is a variety of impressive museums and boutique galleries.

The biggest gallery in the city is the National Gallery of Victoria, which hosts exhibitions from artists around the world. It also displays permanent exhibitions of artists closer to home from Australia. However, you may also catch a glimpse of classics from Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Other top spots around the city include the Ian Potter Centre, the ACMI (Australian Centre for Moving Image) for audio-visual shows, and more recently The LUME, the first digital art gallery in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, and a place to experience multi-sensory art.

A trip to San Francisco is not complete without visiting the SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Founded in 1935, this is one of the largest modern and contemporary art galleries in the United States and is solely dedicated to displaying 20^th century art. In 2016, the museum underwent a huge renovation, making the space much larger, and the artwork even more impressive..

That’s not all though. The city is also bustling with smaller galleries such as the Anglim Gilbert Gallery, and if you’re looking for a vibrant arts community, San Fran’s Mission District is painted in brightly coloured murals, drawing in attention to human rights issues and reflecting cultural heritage. 

Cape Town is home to the largest contemporary African art gallery. Zeitz Museum opened in 2017, and is situated on the V&A waterfront, where its concrete and glass structure is a sight to behold. Included in its exhibits are works by South African artists Athi-Patra Ruga and Mary Sibande, along with many other important and influential creatives from across the continent.

But there are plenty of other African art scenes across the city that were here long before the Zeitz Museum. Try the South African National, for example, which was founded way back in 1871 and has a fascinating display of apartheid art.

The Woodstock District also mustn’t be missed. This edgy neighbourhood is dotted with galleries, vibrant wall murals and hipster cafes which are centred round its pastel pink town hall.

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