Opened to the public in 1912, this museum was primarily intended as an educational facility. Coming from the fashion of that time, it houses a lot of the world's art in the form of plaster casts. It also has works by the Old Masters and representatives of various European schools of painting. In 1924 the museum saw the first addition of a picture gallery, to be followed in 1948 by the addition of many works from the 19th century. It’s a manageable museum, but be sure to know which section you are heading. Two buildings sit side by side - the first grandiose structure houses the old plastery cast bit, the impressionists are held in a separate wing for which there is a separate admission charge. Watch out for long queues at the weekends when locals pour in to admire the latest exhibitions.