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Virtual Visits: Ideas from the INTO Family

Case Studies• April 20, 2020

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. Fundem

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. National Trust of Fiji

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.

3. Manx National Heritage

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. National Trust of Australia

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. Heritage Watch Ethiopia

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. The National Trust for Jersey

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. FAI

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.

 

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On #WorldHeritageDay, we invite you all to Italy to visit from the comfort of your own home our @villadelbalbianello. Villa del Balbianello is located on a wooded promontory on Como lake. This elegant, romantic 18th century mansion and its magnificent garden have hosted writers, scholars and travelers, including Count Guido Monzino, mountain climber and explorer, the last owner of the Villa. Villa del Balbianello was bequeathed to FAI by Guido Monzino in 1988. If you want to explore beyond Italy, use the hashtag for a #virtualvisit to other @intoheritage members’ place. . . . #villadelbalbianello #virtualvisit #nationaltrust #italy #italytravel #comolake #comolakeitaly #guidomonzino #fondoambiente

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8. The National Trust for Historic Preservation

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. The National Trust of Korea

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.

 

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• 4월 18일은 세계 유산의 날입니다. 지구와 인류의 역사를 고스란히 담고 있는 수많은 자연, 문화유산을 @intoheritage 와 함께 기념하기 위해 2004년 시민성금으로 지켜진 한국내셔널트러스트(@ntkorea_official ) 시민유산 동강 제장마을을 영상에 담았습니다. 코로나로 지친 몸과 마음, 영상보시고 힐링하세요~ • *0:56 장면은 동강의 텃새였던 먹황새가 70년대까지 살았던 둥지입니다. • • On #WorldHeritageDay, we invite you all to visit our most enchanting place from the comfort of your own home, which was secured through public donations and movements in 2004. Come on a #virtualvisit to Jejang village, located on the banks of the River Dong, in this video that would relieve you of stress and anxiety from the outside world. • *The scene from 0:56 features the nest of a black-headed stork which used to live in the River Dong until 1970s. • • #내셔널트러스트 #nationaltrust #intoheritage #세계유산의날 #worldheritageday #virtualvisit #동강 #동강사랑 #시민유산 #기증 #기부 #힐링 #안구정화 #아리랑 #방구석여행 #먹황새 #할미꽃

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10. The National Trust for Canada

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. Fundació Catalunya – La Pedrera

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. Herita

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. the National Trust Trinidad & Tobago

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. National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

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.

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