Cultural Attractions to See During Your Visit

There is a lot to love about staying on Anna Maria Island. Some of the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see, magnificent sunset, local shops and restaurants. What some may not realize is how many cultural attractions the Tampa Bay area has to offer.

The Ringling Museum of Art

Officially called the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida and is overseen by Florida State University. The museum has 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities and Asian, American, and contemporary art. It is also home to a world-renowned collection of Peter Paul Rubens paintings. Wrap up the day with a tour through Ringling’s Venetian Gothic-style waterfront home Ca’ d’Zan (the House of John). This fully restored home is an example of luxury living in the 1920s and 1930s. The Ringling is located at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243  Visit their website for more information.

Salvador Dali Museum

A short drive to St. Petersburg brings you to the Salvador Dali Museum. The museum is home to more than 2,000 works, more Dali masterpieces than any other in the world other than the museum Dali himself created in Spain. The collection is housed in a surrealism-inspired museum structure that was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The Dali Museum is located at 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Visit their website for hours and ticket information.

Tampa Museum of Art

Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art houses modern and contemporary art and is considered one of the most prominent museums in the region for the art of our time. It is also home to one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States. Like the Dali Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art building is unique. A 14,000 square-foot LED installation of Leo Villareal’s Sky (Tampa) is displayed on the south façade and the Museum’s 23-foot tall cast iron sculpture Laura with Bun by Jaume Plensa silhouetted in front of the north façade. The Museum is located at 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602. Their website has information on the museum, times and admission.

The Florida Orchestra

Not all cultural attractions will be art. The Florida Orchestra is recognized as the largest professional symphony orchestra in Florida, and one of the most vibrant and innovative orchestras in America. The Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony merged in the 1960s to form the Florida Orchestra. The orchestra performs at various locations around the region, so visiting their website events calendar is the best way to find the next performance. Fun fact: The music for the iconic performance of the Star-Spangled Banner by Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV was performed by this orchestra.

Sarasota Art Museum

The Sarasota Art Museum is one of the newest art museums in the area. Housed in the old Sarasota High School building, the museum opened to the public in 2019 and is part of the Ringling College of Art and Design. The 15,000-square-foot facility is the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art. One favorite exhibition is Barbara Banks’ Worker. It celebrates the individuals who lent their talents to remake the building that is now Sarasota Art Museum. The Museum is located at 1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236. Visit the Museum website for more information.

If you truly want to experience all the beauty the area has to offer, a visit to one of these cultural attractions may help. If you need more information about these attractions or for other suggestions, contact us. Our local experts would be happy to help make your stay with us a memorable one.