The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in over 200,000 cases since its initial outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, with most of the cases in the first few months coming in China. Still, the situation has since simmered down there while the virus has spread abroad.
In response to growing infection rates and mounting deaths in the United States and Europe, many governments have imposed social distancing measures. They have encouraged us all, but especially seniors over 60 and those with respiratory problems to self-isolate until further notice.
Why not make the most of your time stuck at home by checking out various virtual tours, some museums and art galleries are making available for free?
And if you have a family member that is over 60, perhaps living in a senior living community, this list will be of interest to them. Be sure to send this article their way!
Here are 5 awesome virtual tours for you to check out during a mandatory self-isolation.
The Guggenheim Museum (New York, US)
New York’s Guggenheim Museum is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been home to various different artwork collections throughout its existence, including the Thannhauser Collection, the Panza Collection, and the Karl Nierendorf Estate.
You can check out some of these collections and many more by taking a virtual tour of the museum via Google Street View.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, (Los Angeles the US)
This California-based museum houses artworks across two separate buildings – the Getty Center and the Getty Villa. It features art from various periods spanning 6,000 years, from ancient to contemporary pieces of art, so it is sure to be a hit for any art fan.
You can check out some of its various art collections via a virtual tour on Google Street View.
The Rijksmuseum, (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
This fine Dutch museum is home to some true tour de forces of the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vincent van Gogh and Johannes Vermeer.
There are close to 2,000 portraits throughout the museum, in addition, hundreds of other artworks for you to peruse.
You can take a virtual tour of the Rijksmuseum and see many of the paintings yourself with Google Street View.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (South Korea)
Off to Asia for the next museum on our list, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is – as you probably guessed – a contemporary art museum, which features dozens of interesting modern artworks by artists from around the world.
It is home to exhibitions on Modern and Contemporary Korean Calligraphy, and even an architecture exhibit. You can browse these exhibits and more via a virtual tour.
The National Museum of Anthropology (Mexico City, Mexico)
Situated in the Mexican capital, The National Museum of Anthropology is by far the country’s largest and most popular museum. It features the largest collection in the world of ancient Mexican art and has ethnographic exhibitions about Mexico’s contemporary indigenous groups. It also has a number of exhibits displaying antiquities from the Mayan civilization.
Experts consider it “a national treasure” of Mexico, and you can check out some of its important exhibits in a virtual tour.
Quick Summary
- The Covid-19 pandemic has caused global disruption and chaos, leading to panic buying and cancellations of sporting events and other public gatherings, such as music festivals.
- Older adults and those with pre-existing respiratory issues, in particular, are being advised to self-isolate in their homes, in light of their increased vulnerability to the virus.
- Meanwhile, seniors living in assisted living facilities and senior living communities are being urged to minimize their contact with others as much as possible.
- Seniors can check out various virtual museum tours to keep themselves entertained while self-isolating and waiting for the situation to improve.
- The museums on our list include art and antiquities museums, featuring contemporary and ancient artworks and antiquities from various important periods of human civilization.
