You Can Virtually Tour the Taj Mahal From Home
You Can Virtually Tour the Taj Mahal From Home
In the time of quarantining and self-isolating, virtual tours have become a sort of staple for exploring the world from home. House Beautiful has provided virtual tours of historic homes, gardens, museums, and now, historic sites around the world. Our list includes a range of extraordinary places in various parts of the world, so you can check off bucket list items from Paris to Peru without leaving the sofa. Happy [virtual] travels!
1) The Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal’s construction began nearly 400 years ago, in 1632, and lasted until 1653. The cost of building this structure was approximately 32 million rupees, which would translate to over $900 million today. Roughly 20,000 craftsmen helped to create this astonishing mausoleum, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
2) The Eiffel Tower, France
Named for engineer and architect Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel tower was designed and constructed by his company over 130 years ago. The tower served as the entryway to the World’s Fair in 1889. The famed structure was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the French Revolution. Though it was protested by many for its modern shape at the time of construction, it's now become a de facto symbol of the city of light—and France as a whole.
3) Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is an Inca fortress that was built in the 1400s. Centuries later, in the 1980s, it became both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary. It is located in southern Peru, in the Eastern Cordillera, high above the Urubamba River. It is believed that Machu Picchu was the estate of Pachacuti, who served as the Incan emperor for over 30 years, from 1438 until 1471.
4) The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
There are around 80 ancient Egyptian pyramids that still stand today. The majority of these pyramids acted as tombs for pharaohs and their servants during the Old and Middle Kingdoms. As for the pyramids of Giza, they include some of the biggest edifices in existence, with the Pyramid of Khufu ranking as the greatest in size out of all of the Egyptian pyramids.
5) The Palace of Versailles, France
The Palace of Versailles is filled with incredibly opulent rooms left and right, including the Hall of Mirrors, which you can virtually tour thanks to Google Arts & Culture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this remarkable French palace was built between 1631 and 1634, over 385 years ago. Versailles was a royal residence for over 100 years, beginning with the reign of Louis XIV in 1682 and ending with the last King of France, Louis XVI, in 1789, marking the start of the French Revolution.
6) Tower Bridge, England
Built between 1886 and 1894, Tower Bridge is one of two famous bridges in the city of London, with the other being London Bridge. Tower Bridge is located on the River Thames, and it is the only bridge run by the Bridge House Estates that does not join London with the South Bank. On this virtual tour, you will get a detailed look at the two castle-like towers on either end of the bridge, built in the Victorian Gothic style of architecture.
7) The Statue of Liberty, New York
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States in 1885. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed this historic neoclassical sculpture, while Gustave Eiffel constructed the pylon structure that was used as a framework for the statue. Lady Liberty is modeled after the Roman goddess, Libertas, and she is holding in her hand a tablet that is dated, in Roman numerals, July 4th, 1776, which is when the United States Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress.
8) Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), Italy
Given that the Duomo di Milano took close to 600 years to reach completion, it only makes sense that it is one of the largest churches in Europe and the world. Construction on the Cathedral began in 1386 and ended in 1965, and the resulting building can hold up to 40,000 people. This celebrated cathedral is a work of Gothic architecture that was worked on by nearly 80 architects in total.
Plus, more historic sites you can tour without leaving the couch.