The greater Tampa Bay area is blessed with at least two spectacular art museums; I’m sure there are more, but we visited the two most well known. The Dali is in St. Petersburg and the other is part of a sprawling estate of the Ringling family in Sarasota.

The Ringling Museum of Art is built upon John and Mable Ringling’s love of Rubens paintings. They had the rooms specifically designed to complement the enormous paintings. Their first collections were of Rubens, but later collected other painters and sculptors, mostly from the pre-Renaissance and Renaissance periods throughout Europe. Here are some photographs of the museum itself.

The Rubens collection is magnificent as these photos show:

There were paintings and sculptures from Asia (an entire wing) and Contemporary Art as well, although not as prominent. Remember, the Ringlings were collectors.

The Salvador Dali Museum is as diametrically opposed to the Ringling as one can get. We went to these a day apart. This houses the largest collection of his works outside of Spain, his native land. There was no shortage of huge canvas paintings here as well.

Salvadore Dali made a remarkable impression on civilization. His sense of wit and the icons of his art and life (melting time pieces, handle bar mustache) almost take a life of their own at the museum.   Visit the gift shop and see this reflected in ties, coffee cups, napkins, etc. Even the spiral staircase mirrors these themes.

The building itself is dramatic. A central spiraling staircase takes you to the top floors and galleries.  The museum uses technology to help make an indelible impression of his life and art.  When we reached the top we took the offer to tour a painting immersed in goggles and earphone which created a compelling virtual reality. I felt as if I was having a lucid dream where I could explore the landscape as I wished. The museum also lends out earphones and smart phones (or you can use your own) to give commentary on Dali’s vision.

Dali’s art has common themes. His family and wife, Gala, are mirrored again and again in many of his works, not only in portrait but dissected and transformed into symbols and allegorical figures. The museum has made delightful use of this technique in creating the Gala restaurant both from an architectural point but from a food display as well. My meal was visually stunning as well as delicious. Of course, the food was inspired from Spain.

Above is the portrait he did of his dead brother, Salvador. He died as an infant. Salvador imagined what his brother would be like as an adult.

The above painting takes up a gigantic wall in the museum on its own. It must be viewed from the far opposite wall to be able to see that it is a portrait of our President. His wife Gala is also depicted in the painting.

Both museums were great to visit on each day. We both highly recommend that everyone who enjoys seeing masterful works of art should put them on their bucket list.