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The Ringling, Sarasota

4.7
#1 of 1,263 in Things to do in Southwest Gulf Coast
Art Museum Garden
Florida's official state art museum, The Ringling includes over 20 galleries filled with European, Asian, and American paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs. Among the 10,000 objects housed here, you can see a world-renowned collection of paintings by Rubens, Velazquez, Veronese, Bernini, Poussin, and Gainsborough. The campus also includes a circus museum, which boasts a huge collection of handbills, posters, costumes, props, parade wagons, and other equipment. The adjacent learning center houses a scale replica of a 1930s circus, claiming status as the largest miniature circus in the world. End your visit with a cup of coffee or tea at the museum cafe, or sit down for a gourmet meal at the on-site restaurant. Put The Ringling into our Sarasota trip planner to see other points of interest to visit during your vacation in Sarasota.
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The Ringling Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5
6,297 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By francisco f
    For those who have been fans of the classical circus is a delightful experience above all see the miniature representation of the gigantic mobilisation involving moving what once was called the world's largest entertainment
    View original
  • By Donna T
    Be sure to visit all the museums, including the art museum, the circus museum (both of them). Touring inside the house would be a separate visit since the grounds are expansive and you need time to ex...  more »
  • By sophiav165
    What a pleasant surprise at the Ringling. I grew up during the later part of the circus but never knew the story behind the family and legacy. The art work, grounds, and castle is just breath taking. ...  more »
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