Le Monde des Arts de la Parure review: our verdict
Under an octagonal shaft of light, three levels of jewelry, headdresses, and ceremonial garments tell the story of how we adorn ourselves from one end of the world to the other. Le Monde des Arts de la Parure showcases nearly 3,000 pieces, selected from the 7,000 gathered over decades by collectors Marlène and Paolo Gallone, hailing from more than 50 countries: goldsmith belts, embroidered costumes, bridled horses, and tribal regalia.
The staging makes the difference: many pieces are displayed without glass cases, up close, in brick and wood rooms with yellow, blue, or turquoise walls. You come as a couple, with curious friends, or as a family with teenagers, and you finish on the roof, a suspended garden where the Shams restaurant serves Levantine and Mediterranean cuisine. This is not a quick stop between two souks: the route is dense.
The best time slot: late morning, then lunch on the roof; the museum is air-conditioned, precious in the height of summer. The good tip: don't miss the basement and its temporary exhibitions. The trap: coming on a Monday, it's closed (Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5:30 pm).
