National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, AU

The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne houses Australia's largest collection of public art, by local and international artists, in two different galleries: the Ian Potter at Federation Square and NGV International at St. Kilda Square.

The NGV St. Kilda houses more than 65,000 works of art by European, Oceaniac, Asian, and American artists, and includes such renowned artists as Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet, Turner, and van Dyck. The Gallery was only recently reopened, as it underwent a major renovation and redevelopment led by architect Mario Bellini.

Just a short walk up the road, the Ian Potter Centre contains more than 20,000 works of art by local Australian artists, both indigenous and non-indigenous, from the Colonial period to the present.

Past blockbuster exhibits at the NGV have included exhibitions of Vermeer and the Dutch masters, Picasso, Caravaggio, and the "Guggenheim Collection." An infamous theft in 1986 of a Picasso painting led to the establishment of an art prize for young people.

Two tours daily offer insight into many of the art pieces in the Gallery, with headsets available for those who wish to have a more individual experience.

There is a café serving food and refreshments at the Ian Potter Centre, as well as gift shops at both facilities, where souvenirs

may be purchased.

The NGV's different galleries have slightly different schedules. The St. Kilda Rd. facility is open every day of the week except

Tuesday, from 10 am to 5 pm, while the Ian Potter Centre is open every day except Monday from 10 to 5. Admission is free.