Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum in Palermo , Sicily
Up until the second half of the twentieth century , Opera dei pupi ( Sicilian puppet theater ) was a cherished and respected art form throughout Sicily . When former surgeon and anthropologist Antonio Pasqualino saw its popularity waning , he began collecting scripts , puppets , and theater equipment in hopes of preserving the craft for future generations . Visitors can peruse thousands of puppet-related artifacts , as well as watch live theatrical shows , which often debut contemporary artists and musicians .
Jim Thompson House in Bangkok , Thailand
Situated in central Bangkok , the Jim Thompson House exhibits Southeast Asian art once belonging to American businessman , textile baron , and architect , Jim Thompson . The gallery displays everything from Buddhist statues to Thai-inspired paintings constructed of wood and cloth , and blue porcelain handcrafted in China . The museum itself is also worth admiring , as it ’ s nestled on a scenic canal and possesses traditional architectural features dating back to the mid-20th century .
War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Reflect on the horrors of the First Indochina and Vietnam wars at the War Remnants Museum . Visitors have the opportunity to examine military equipment , detention chambers , defused bombs , as well as exhibits about the effects of Agent Orange and war crimes such as the My Lai massacre . The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions , which have historically included photographic displays of survivors .
Red History Museum in Dubrovnik , Croatia
The Red History Museum houses rare , retro artifacts that provide an interactive window into 45 years of Communism in Croatia . From furniture and film posters to old music records , the collection offers insight into the events between World War II and when the country gained independence in the early 1990s . Film buffs will also appreciate the most celebrated exhibit : the Yugo car driven by Bruce Willis in Die Hard 3 .
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao , Spain
With its audacious and innovative design , the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao provides a stunning example of 20th-century architecture — courtesy of Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry . The museum mostly houses large-scale installations by contemporary artists ; however , exhibitions rotate often . The only permanent exhibit is The Matter of Time , a series of seven steel sculptures designed by artist Richard Serra .
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