We are all so lucky to live in this time (trust me…I home school my son and we’ve been reading the history of the world…and boy do you want to live NOW…yikes!). I know it has it’s downfalls, and the time that we are in at the moment is obviously difficult, but what we have available at our fingertips on a daily basis is incomparable to any other time. I am old enough to remember when there was’t internet or any sort of online world so I definitely don’t take it for granted. I still get excited about the fact that I can get online and ask any question and there is an answer. That I can see the world up close and personal on Google Earth. That I can play any song I want at any time. That I can watch almost any movie I want with few clicks. That I can order something within minutes of looking for it and have it at my door step in a few days. That I can see my sister’s face over a morning cups of coffee when we live so far apart. It is all very magical!

Of course, with everything in life, there must be a balance. This virtual world that we have access to isn’t magical if there isn’t something to keep you grounded to this earth. If we are going to be on a screen so much then we must also walk in the grass, get our hands dirty in the garden, cook good healthy food and laugh and play with our families. We must flip through books and magazines with our fingers…and sing, dance and snuggle with our bodies. We must live and be fully present outside of that virtual world for it to mean as much as it should.

So do all of the balancing above and then get ready to sit down (glass of wine in hand) and get online because we are going to explore Italy virtually…. right from the comfort of your own couch…or bed if you are needing to change it up a bit at this point :) I know it isn’t the same as being there in the flesh, but you have to admit….it’s pretty incredible and definitely second best to the real thing!

Let’s start with the museums

The Vatican Museum - Rome, Italy. Go to “Collections” and then “Museums”, and then click on the “360” to the right of the screen for a list of the 360 degree virtual rooms.

unnamed (7).jpg — The Uffizi Gallery

La Galleria Degli Uffizi - This isn’t a 360 degree tour but it is a HD tour of some very breathtaking artwork from some of the worlds most famous painters and sculptors. The Uffizi is the home to Bottecelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and
”Spring” (you’ll know them when you see them) and to my most favorite painting in the world, Angelo Musicante - Musical Angel (pictured), by Rosso Fiorintino.

The Uffizi Gallery - Florence, Italy. Along with the HD tour of the Uffizi, here you can also see some great pictures of Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. You can also take a quick video tour of the Vasari Corridor which is the walkway that goes over the Ponte Vecchio and connects the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti. Pretty incredible!