6 Italian Cultural Sites You Can Explore From Home

Discover the wonders of Italy, from the ruins of Pompeii to the grand Colosseum

By Google Arts & Culture

A View through Three Arches of the Third Storey of the Colosseum (1815) by C.W. EckersbergSMK - Statens Museum for Kunst

Italy is not only known for its outstanding cuisine and amazing style, but its cultural sites have earned their place on many people's bucket lists. Now you can explore these sites from the comfort of your own home, so sit back and discover the wonders of Italy...

The ruins of Pompeii

Thousands of years ago, these streets would have been bustling with people in the Roman city of Pompeii. Despite being buried under the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, this archaeological site in Naples is still standing today. Click and move around the image to explore Pompeii, or discover a scale model of the ancient city in its full splendour and other treasures of the Naples Archaeological Museum.

St. Mark's Basilica

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark in Venice is famous for its Byzantine, gothic architecture. Built in the 11th century CE, it is also connected to the iconic landmark of the Doge's Palace. Click and move around the image to get up close to St. Mark's Basilica.

Milan Duomo

Did you know that this cathedral took nearly six centuries to build? Once it was finally complete in 1965, the Milan Duomo not only became the largest church in Italy, but the fifth largest in the world! Staircases, passages, and walkways allow visitors to see Milan from the Cathedral’s roof. Click and move around the image to explore the Duomo, or check out other rooftop views from around the world.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning nearly four degrees on its side, this freestanding bell tower has become famous for its tilted structure. You might not be able to get a picture pretending to hold it up from your home but you can click and move around the image to walk around the Leaning Tower. You can also learn all about the work done to preserve this iconic piece of human history.

Venice Canals

While on a virtual tour of Venice, the city's famous canals cannot be missed for their unique water-traffic system, surrounded by Venetian Gothic architecture. Click and move around the image to take a ride down the canal, or take an audio tour of a masterpiece by Canaletto.

Interior of the Pantheon, Rome (c. 1734) by Giovanni Paolo PaniniNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Roman Pantheon

Although the Roman Pantheon is now a church, this building was once a temple dedicated to the Roman gods (“Pantheon” means “honor all Gods” in Greek). Click and move around the image to explore the site which Michaelageno once allegedly said looks like it was built by angels.

The Colosseum

You can't miss this oval amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome. At the time it was built in 70-80 CE, it was the largest amphitheatre in the world, holding 50,000 to 80,000 spectators. Click and move around the image to explore the grand Colosseum, or click here to discover more of Rome’s world heritage.

The Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice (c. 1730) by CanalettoThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Discover more of the wonders of Italy.

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