My violinist friend once told me about these really old violins in a museum which she said she'd love to play as they have the most beautiful sound in the world.
Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

The Ashmolean in Oxford has some wonderful old violins including the Messiah Strad, which is pristine as it has hardly ever been played. Also the Royal Academy in LOndon has some fine instruments which I believe DO get played (Hurrah).

They sound better for being played

Thanks, I think the Messiah Strad was what she was talking about because I remember her saying it was more then 200 years old. thanks.

They also have some of the oldest violins surviving, made by Andrea Amati for Charles IX of France. Some authorities think that these instruments came to England at the Restoration, Charles II having been impressed by Louis XIV's "24 Violons du Roy" (typically 6 violins, 12 violas of three different sizes, 6 'cellos). One of the violins has a label with the date 1564, and may be the oldest surviving violin. Another candidate, with an identically dated label, is in the Tullie House Museum.

Andrea Amati was the founder of a family of violin makers and an important innovator in the development of the violin family. His grandson, Nicolo, taught Stradivari and Guarneri and is regarded as the most refined workman of the family.

Wow, are they intact, in good condition?
Going back to the Messiah Strad, is it one instrument or a pair, my friend mentioned a pair of them I think.

The Ashmolean has a web site that appears to be under development, with spaces for illustrations, but the illustrations have not actually been provided yet, so perhaps one needs to go to Oxford.

Only one violin of that name. I believe they have a bass viol and a guitar by Stradivarius.