On our latest trip to Florida, we stuck to smaller, quieter enclaves, beginning in Amelia Island and ending in Sarasota. Along the way, we took in these five museums. Many of them are housed in architecturally distinguished buildings, and all of them have rich collections of art that are very much worth discovering.

The Bass

Following major renovations in 2017 by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and David Gauld, the Bass in Collins Park in Miami Beach has become one of the most cutting-edge museums in the South. Opened in 1964, the museum’s original collection was a gift from Johanna and John Bass, an Austrian-born sugar tycoon, and included 15th- to 17th-century Old Master paintings, sculpture and textiles, including many Flemish tapestries. The vivid 42-foot-tall outdoor sculpture by Ugo Rondinone called Miami Mountain signals that it has added contemporary art to its mission. Indeed, since the launch of the annual Art Basel Miami Beach show for collectors in 2002, the museum has won a reputation for sharply curated exhibits by up-and-coming and established contemporary artists. It has also substantially expanded its contemporary art collections to include works by Allora & Calzadilla, Dara Birnbaum, Abraham Cruzvillegas, John Giorno and James Turrell. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

The Bass
2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Tel. (305) 673-7530