Although travelling to the beautiful country of Italy is not an option right now, you can still explore some of its most popular destinations thanks to immersive Italy virtual tours.
Here, we take a look at three Italy virtual tours you can take during lockdown, so you can enjoy Italian history, art, and architecture from the safety of your sofa.
Virtually visit the Vatican
The Vatican is a city state and papal enclave located in the centre of Rome. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, and home to the Pope, it’s unsurprising that this destination welcomes around 5 million visitors each year! One of the highlights of the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel, which can be found in the Vatican Palace. Despite not looking too impressive from the outside, seeing the inside of the Sistine Chapel (virtually or otherwise) is bound to amaze you. Boasting 6 arched windows and a vaulted ceiling, the chapel’s walls and ceiling are decorated with stunning artwork from a number of Florentine Renaissance artists. Perhaps the most noteworthy areas are the west wall and ceiling which were painted by Michelangelo.
Another must-see is Saint Peter’s Basilica, which is one of the largest churches in the world. Created in Renaissance style, the basilica was named after Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, who was executed in Rome and is buried on the spot where the church stands. The most well-known feature of Saint Peter’s Basilica is its impressive dome, which has inspired the design for many other cathedrals across numerous countries. Inside the church, you’ll find a number of artworks and sculptures, including one of Peter with a foot that’s been worn away by the touch of visitors over the years.
Until the time comes when you can visit the Vatican and its mesmerising buildings in person, you can enjoy the interactive Vatican and Sistine Chapel Virtual Tour with Licensed Guide. This tour takes in Saint Peter’s Basilica too, and combines photos, videos, and polls to ensure that you get the most out of your experience. The virtual tour will be taken by a Vatican expert, so you’ll come away with plenty of knowledge about this fascinating place. Plus, there’s a live Q&A session at the end, so you can ask any burning questions that you’re left with once the tour is over.
Explore Florence from your front room
The gorgeous Italian city of Florence is simply bursting with things to see, and fans of art, history, and architecture are sure to be amazed by what they find there. As the capital of the Tuscany region, tourists travel to Florence from far and wide to immerse themselves in Italian culture, particularly to admire its wealth of Renaissance art and architecture. One of the city’s most famous attractions is its cathedral, Duomo. What makes this building so impressive is its giant terracotta-tiled dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which is actually the largest brick dome in the world! It took two centuries until the Duomo was deemed to be complete, and work on it began way back in the 13th century, showing just how much time and effort went into its creation.
Another highlight of Florence is the Uffizi Gallery – the best Renaissance art gallery in the world. Housing works by a range of well-known artists, including Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo, this gallery is an absolute must-visit for those seeking a culture fix. Florence is also home to the Accademia Gallery which welcomes visitors who want to see Michelangelo’s David. Created between 1501 and 1504, this 14ft marble statue depicts biblical figure David in the nude before his battle with Goliath, and carries the slingshot used to defeat him over his shoulder.
Of course, seeing these amazing highlights of Florence in person would be amazing but, for now, you can enjoy them from the safety of your front room by taking part in the Florence: Live Webinar with Expert Guide. Watch as your guide takes you on a 60 minute live tour of Florence, and see the Duomo, museums, impressive piazzas, and the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. Once the virtual tour is over, you can ask your guide any questions that you have about Florence, so that you’re fully prepared when you can visit the city yourself.
Discover Rome from home
As the capital of Italy, Rome is packed full of amazing things to see and do, with loads of famous landmarks just waiting to be explored. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Colosseum, an oval amphitheatre located in the centre of the city. With the capacity to hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, this arena hosted a whole range of entertainment types – perhaps the most well-known of which was gladiatorial battles. These days, you can visit the Colosseum as a tourist and dive into its fascinating history, including seeing beneath the arena floor where gladiators and animals would be held prior to their battles.
Palatine Hill is another fantastic landmark in Rome, and is one of the oldest parts of the city. Said to be the place where Romulus killed Remusin Roman mythology, Palatine Hill is at the centre of the seven hills of Rome, and is believed to have been inhabited since 1000BC. Home to hundreds of ruins, this landmark is a must-see for those interested in Roman history, as it really will transport you back in time. If you’re still craving more history after this, you might also like to see the Roman Forum. Created by Julius Caesar, this plaza is surrounded by important government buildings from the ancient past.
Rome has stood for many years and will still be their once lockdown is over and we can travel again. In the meantime, get your history fix on a Virtual Tour of Ancient Rome. During this fantastic tour, you’ll be told all about Rome’s history, and shown some of its monuments, through photos, videos, and polls, plus there’s a live chat function for all of your burning questions too!
We hope that this has given you the inspiration needed to try out some of these Italy virtual tours, and look forward to being part of your journey to this wonderful country in the future.
