For a city with such a strong reputation as a place to view and purchase fine art, it’s not surprising that the Naples Museum of Art (5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., 239/597-1111, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tues.–Sat., noon–4 p.m. Sun., closed July–Oct., $8 adults, $6 children) is such an impressive facility. The building is a beautiful three-story 30,000-square-foot modern jewel located on the same grounds as the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, with imposing metal gates designed by Albert Paley.
The museum’s permanent collections focus on modernism and sculpture, and seasonal exhibits are notably well-curated, with a balance of modern works from around the globe and more predictable fare—recently the museum balanced a Norman Rockwell collection with a retrospective of Fernando Botero. Photography, sculpture, and design work also figure prominently into the museum’s ethos, making for an art experience that’s somewhat surprising in such a buttoned-down city.