Tampa, 6 Other Florida Cities Voted Among Top 25 Favorite Arts Places

Seven Florida cities, including Tampa, made it to the American Style Magazine’s list of the Top 25 Favorite Arts Destinations in 2011. The cities, known for their arts museums, were among the top choices by readers of the magazine, which is on its 14th year of holding the annual readers’ poll.

In the mid-sized cities category, Tampa was seventh in the ranking. Additionally, Florida has more reasons to be proud, as another Florida city, St. Petersburg, was the one which topped the list. Miami was tenth.

St. Petersburg is enjoying a remarkable arts year as its new Dali Museum, which cost $36 million to build, opened in a grand celebration in January this year. The arts museum is named after Spanish painter Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dali I Domenech, whose works are the focus of the museum.

The museum’s entrance and exterior are already works of art as they feature the Avant-Garden and the geodesic glass structure called Glass Enigma.The Avant-Garden is formed by three features: a patio created with stone pavers showing the harmony of the rectangle, a grotto with a pond that sustains samples of Florida’s subtropical flora, and a hedge labyrinth.

The Glass Enigma is unique as it’s the only one of its kind in the North American continent. It incorporates more than 900 unique triangular glass panels, with no two panels identical. Inside the museum, the helical staircase that leads to the third floor resembles a DNA strand that gives off energy and shows in an astounding way how mathematical precision can create art.

In the city of Tampa, the premier art museum is the Tampa Museum of Art, which has been collecting, preserving and exhibiting 20th-century and contemporary fine art by U.S. and international artists for over 30 years. It’s also notable for its remarkable collection of Roman and Greek antiquities. Its downtown location along the beautiful Hillsborough River and its various educational programs for the public have heightened its popularity.

Another is the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, which is also located downtown and whose focus is on photographic arts that highlight contemporary culture. It also offers photography classes and learning tours to adults and children.

The other Florida cities in the Top 25 Arts Cities list are the following cities, which made it to the Small Cities category:

In summary, the three mid-sized cities in the Top 25 Arts Destinations list are:

Aside from its arts museums, Tampa is also known for its beautiful lakes, beaches, parks and planned communities. Contact Tampa4U to explore Tampa planned communities.