See the world’s sites from your sofa with these 14 virtual visits, selected from amongst the responses to World Heritage Day. We asked and you responded, sharing drone-shot footage, online tours and virtual walk-throughs that together show how heritage trusts globally are responding to COVID-19.1 The sun is out for this visit to a Valencian garden, where Spanish INTO member Fundem have prepared a gorgeous tour of the Jardin de L’Albarda. It’s hard not to click when the colours look that good!2 The National Trust of Fiji shared another breathtaking video that will carry you away. It features the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, the Pacific’s largest sand dune system and a National Park. We could watch all day.https://www.facebook.com/FijiNationalTrust/posts/873281083098649 3 Manx National Heritage demonstrate the fruits of their collaboration with Google Expeditions, in order to offer a virtual reality experience to Manx citizens, and now you too. Use the app to visit some of the Isle of Man’s most iconic heritage sites, complete with teacher’s notes and student questions.4 Over in Melbourne, the Victorian branch of the National Trust of Australia have released a virtual tour of the city’s old gaol, where prisoners were locked up from 1842 to 1929. You can explore the building at leisure, visiting all three floors, in this interactive experience.
5 In Africa, one of INTO’s newest members Heritage Watch Ethiopia, shared this vibrant video of historic Addis Ababa . This response to our call for a #virtualvisit includes educational content as well as striking imagery.6 Keeping people busy in the English Channel, The National Trust for Jersey have prepared a full collection of materials to help people explore their island’s heritage. The hub includes virtual tours, podcasts and videos, and we really enjoyed the look around Jersey’s last working watermill.
7 The killer combination of ‘Lake Como’, ‘villa’ and ‘sunshine’ really do all the work for this stunning video. Italian member FAI’s virtual visit allows you to experience this truly spectacular site from home. We recommend watching the video on full screen, you’ll feel like you’re dreaming.8 In the USA, there is real inventiveness being applied to digital engagement, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation are capturing it all in their rundown of 11 American sites to explore. From Nina Simone’s childhood home to a Google Voyager tour of the iconic Route 66, show yourself some American history.
9 Take a moment to relax and fall into your screen in a beautiful video from The National Trust of Korea. A stunning river valley and untouched countryside are your companions for this virtual visit.10 Back in North America, The National Trust for Canada have pulled together a selection of five fascinating virtual options for experiencing Canadian heritage sites. Sick of the view from your sofa? Take your time to wander digitally around the Canadian senate building, or admire ancient rock art in Alberta.11 Catalan INTO member Fundació Catalunya – La Pedrera are satisfying our need for both cultural and natural heritage, with their combined offer. A 360 degree tour of Barcelona’s iconic Gaudi building, or a stunning gorge site protected by the foundation, a tough choice but a good one.12 Another hotbed of European history, Belgian organisation Herita are showing us how to see the sites in their care across Flanders. Sample a castle, cathedral or the coal mine in Genk, now a sprawling contemporary art space.
13 You can also explore sites of religious heritage in this offering from the National Trust Trinidad & Tobago. The church in question has recently been added to Trinidad’s national heritage register, coming under the care of the National Trust there.
14 A list complied for World Heritage Day wouldn’t be complete without some World Heritage Sites. Fortunately, the National Trust has quite a few across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can see them in all their glory in the entries on the blog below, which completes our round up of virtual visits.
We hope that you enjoyed this round up of virtual visits from INTO members, packed with ideas for exploring the world’s heritage from your home. For more content like this, join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @intoheritage. |