PARIS is a haven for art aficionados worldwide.
There is a hidden piece of art in every cornerstone of the city — from food, music to Parisian culture.
And perhaps one of the most iconic art symbols of the city is the Musée du Louvre or simply, the Louvre Museum.
Created in 1793, the museum has become one of the major tourist attractions of Paris.
Deemed one of the world’s largest museums and a historic monument, the Louvre stands as a central landmark located on the right bank of the Seine River.
Since its inception, the museum has become a home to some of the most coveted pieces of art in the world, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
There are eight curatorial departments in the museum, spanning from Egyptian Antiquities, near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan,and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings.
For $F40, a day-long ticket will be issued to see all exhibitions.
Courtesy of a Fiji Airways and French Embassy sponsored trip, I was able to fulfil a lifelong dream of visiting the Louvre and ticking another item off my bucket list.
Braving the 4°C chilly conditions, the Fiji media group took a 10-minute walk from Hotel Cayré to the Louvre.
Upon arrival, it became evident that the Louvre wasn’t just a place for a single age group, race or gender.
People from all walks of life lined the entrance to get a ticket, including the locals.
The Louvre Pyramid, a giant 21.6 metre tall glass and metal pyramid, serves as the entrance of the grand museum and it is a sight to behold.
Completed in 1989, the pyramid triggered controversy after its design was deemed too modern for the Louvre’s traditional architecture.
Setting foot inside the pyramid, onlookers will be greeted with a unique juxtaposition of the modern and traditional world.
Lined with escalators and stairs to help people access the different floors of the museum, the Louvre is a world in itself.
Here, one can find department stores, cafeterias and bookshops with a range of souvenirs to choose from.
And because the Louvre is so big, one day isn’t enough to explore every square inch of the place.
With time not on our side, we decided to scour and see some of the very famous paintings and sculptures at the museum.
The Mona Lisa topped the list.
Situated on the first floor, the Renaissance painting is the most visited work of art in the world.
Created by Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th Century, the Mona Lisa is believed to be based on Lisa del Giocondo, a member of the Gherardini family in Florence and Tuscany in Italy.
It has been situated in the Louvre since 1797.
Encased in a glass case, the Mona Lisa is protected by bullet-proof glass almost two centimetres thick and also contained in a special sealed box to protect it from vibrations and humidity.
It is also the only painting ever to have been stolen from the Louvre in 1911, and then recovered.
The Mona Lisa measures 77 by 53 centimetres.
Today, it has become a norm for people from all over the world to visit the famed painting and take “selfies”.
Other famous works at the Louvre include Liberty leading the People by Eugene Delacroix and the sculpture of the Greek Goddess Nike, the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
