During the pandemic, most museums and art galleries have been closed to the public to abide with government restrictions and regulations. But art lovers can still visit their favorite museums at home, comfortably sitting on a couch or lying on the bed. With no doubt, visiting a museum online is not the same experience as doing it physically. However, it can be a good compromise that can satisfy your thirst for art during this challenging time. Here is a list of the best museums you can visit online.
1. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
The Van Gogh Museum is home of the largest collection of artworks by the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. The wide collection includes over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 letters. The virtual experience offers something for everyone, even for children. On the official website, it is possible to explore Van Gogh’ s artworks, learn about his life, read his letters, and even take online art classes and watch YouTube videos.
2. British Museum, London
Founded in 1753, the British Museum of London is one of the greatest history museums of the world. The online tour allows you to discover two million years of human history and culture through an enhanced virtual experience. Indeed, the Museum is also the world’s largest indoor space on Google Street View. The official website offers additional online resources, such as virtual galleries, podcasts, and digital learning resources for kids and adults. There are also audio tours available on Apple Music and YouTube Music, a YouTube channel with interviews and tutorials, and a blog.
3. Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Located in the Vatican City, the Vatican Museums host one of the largest and most important art collection of the world. The museums display artworks that have been accumulated by the popes throughout the centuries. The Vatican Museums opened back in the XVI century and nowadays are visited by more than 6 million tourists each year. Now that the museums are closed, you can still enjoy 360-degrees virtual tours that can be accessed from the Musei Vaticani website, including a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel, decorated by the worldwide famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti.
4. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Opened in 1959, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City is home of Solomon Guggenheim’s eccentric art collection. In 2019, it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The museum exhibits a collection of European painting of the 20th century and of American painting from the second half of the century. The collections are hosted in an innovative building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The structure has a spiral shape, and the interior space of the exhibition consists of a spiral ramp of six stories, that surrounds an open central space lighted by a glass dome. It is possible to visit the museum online through Google Street View, or take advantage of numerous online resources, including blogs, virtual performances and talks, online art classes, and virtual group tours.
5. Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
The State Hermitage Museum is one of the most popular attraction of Saint Petersburg, Russia. The museum boosts a collection of more than 3 million items, featuring European, Russian, and Oriental artworks. The main venue is the Winter Palace, the former residence of the Romanov Tsars; but there are other several annexes throughout the city. Among many other outstanding master pieces, the Hermitage Musuem includes also two paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, a sculpture by Michelangelo, and the largest collection of Rembrandt’s paintings outside the Netherlands. Virtual tourists can access the collection from the official website, where they can explore the main museum complex, as well as all other venues, galleries, and exhibition projects.
