From a close-up view of the Mona Lisa, to a live-stream of otters at feeding time, organisations around the world have opened their doors to the virtual world, offering the locked-down masses the chance to step inside, from the comfort of their living rooms.
We’ve compiled a list of places offering virtual experiences - some with unprecedented access.
The world is at your fingertips.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
California’s famous aquarium is live-streaming several of their well-known exhibits over the lockdown, and one of the cutest by far is the sea otter cam. If you can’t make it for the live-stream (which goes live daily at 6pm AEST), there are hours of relaxing pre-recorded footage of otters happily floating on their backs to best access the fish as they’re tossed in. The aquarium also streams the Kelp Forest, which shows sharks and sardines swimming through giant, gently swaying kelp.
If you are after something to clear your mind after a tense day of reading the news, we recommend the Moon Jellies. Nothing comes close to being as mesmerising as these deep sea beauties.
Andrea Bocelli performing live in Milan cathedral
Italian opera sensation Andrea Bocelli, will be performing from an empty Duomo Cathedral in Milan on Easter Sunday, and streaming live to the world. Bocelli will be accompanied only by the cathedral organist, Emanuele Vianelli, who will be playing one of the world's largest pipe organs. The unique performance will include the well-loved Ave Maria setting by Bach/Gounod and Mascagni’s Sancta Maria – all chosen carefully to reflect upon a day symbolic of new life.
“I believe in the strength of praying together; I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone – whether they are believers or not – truly needs right now. The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model, engine of a renaissance that we all hope for. It will be a joy to witness it, in the Duomo, during the Easter celebration which evokes the mystery of birth and rebirth,” said Andrea Bocelli.
This special concert can be streamed here, on Andrea Bocelli’s Youtube page, on Monday 13 April at 3am AEST.
The Louvre
Always wanted to go to Paris and soak in the art? The Louvre may be empty of people right now, but it’s full of characters and they’re online. The Louvre offers virtual tours for a few big exhibits, including the ‘Egyptian Antiquities’ - a huge exhibition spanning over multiple floors and featuring ancient items from the Pharaonic period. In late 2019, the Louvre released an immersive VR experience centred around the infamous Mona Lisa, which is available in an app, for free. And surely, that has to raise a smile.
Versailles
We’ve all got a bit more time for home cooking these days, and the Palace of Versailles might be just the place for some culinary inspiration. Multiple exhibits like A Place at the Royal Table are available to explore online, or wander through the Palace and gardens with the purpose built VR tour, which even allows you to decide where priceless works of art are displayed, and peek at what’s behind the curtain on the king’s bed.
Sydney Opera House
Sydney’s great dame of concert halls has recently released a huge digital offering, with concerts, talks, and behind the scenes content. Each Tuesday, the Opera House will announce a new schedule of videos, sound recordings and articles to be released daily every Wednesday through Sunday. On March 28, the Opera House celebrated Piano Day by gathering a formidable program of talks, performances and streamed it on YouTube. You can catch up here.
Wiener Staatsoper
Can’t get enough of operas? Another famous opera house, Vienna’s Wiener Staatsopher is streaming not only operas but ballet, too. They are even, as much as possible, keeping to what was scheduled for 2020. This is available free, and only requires downloading the app. The view from the cheap seats has never looked so good.
Sistine Chapel
Current global lockdowns have meant many will be unable to attend a place of worship this Easter, with numerous faithful having to abandon plans to travel to and attend services at the Sistine Chapel. However, the Vatican has made tours of their museums available online. You can virtually explore an empty Sistine Chapel here. Other museums have also been given the 360° treatment, and you can marvel at the opulence and beauty of the Vatican here.
British Museum
The British Museum has a great interface to explore - would-be museum attendees enter via an enormous timeline, and can click on coloured dots representing areas of the world, which take them to items of that era and area. There are collections with accompanying research for over four million items, and the museum has made available virtual tours through some exhibits, such as the Oceania and the Prints and Drawings. They’ve even included educational resources, which are categorised into suitable age-range.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The koala sanctuary has streaming cams focused not only on koalas but other native Australian fauna too, such as dingos, platypus, birds and lizards. There is one camera directed on a spot the owners have affectionately dubbed “koala cuddle train,” because koalas are often found snuggling together there, especially on chilly mornings. The good people at Lone Pine have also included a high-light reel capturing the best moments of the resident dingos, when they were puppies.
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