Philadelphia Museum of Art houses more than 300,000 works.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, a grand Greek revival edifice that dominates the northwest end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, has great art. But it's best known for its cameo appearance alongside Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky." It's hard to resist pausing atop the famous steps to prance around with your arms raised in imaginary triumph, but once you get that out of your system, head inside for a much more soulful cultural experience.

Founded in 1876 in conjunction with the city's celebration of the U.S. Centennial, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has grown into one of the nation's largest and most important art museums, with collections encompassing thousands of years of artistic styles from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Highlights of the permanent collection include significant works by Van Gogh, Cezanne and other Impressionist and Post-impressionist painters, and the world's leading collection of paintings by Philadelphia artist Thomas Eakins, who lived from 1844 to 1916.

The Rodin Museum, a separate facility a few blocks away from the main museum, houses an unparalleled collection of works by 19th-century French sculptor Auguste Rodin.