Bata Shoe Museum (The), Toronto

We just love the concept of telling the history of civilization and technology through shoes—and that’s what the 13,000-item Bata does. Avid shoe collector Sonja Bata has always been steps ahead of the crowd—even in heels. She started collecting in the 1940s and put her foot down in 1979 when her collection outgrew her private storage space, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the museum found its permanent home. Fascinating exhibitions range from shows on Inuit footwear to Renaissance Chopines to Baroque Heels. The museum’s “Star Turns” collection doesn’t have hand or footprints—it has the real thing. Bata has famous footwear from John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, and Pablo Picasso.  Don’t miss these or the permanent collection, All About Shoes—4500 years of the history of footwear.

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