Thanks to technology, you can now admire in virtual tour some of the world’s most famous artworks from the comfort of your home. Explore the Uffizi Gallery, the Pinacoteca di Brera, and the Vatican Museums with their fascinating virtual tour that bring these cultural treasures right to your fingertips.

Here I am again, sharing stories about places, people, and journeys. My virtual tours continue, making my time at home—still long for all of us—a lot lighter and more interesting. I had a different plan, but the ongoing emergency situation made me change my schedule.

So today, I’m taking you on an exciting virtual visit to museums in Milan, Florence, and Rome—all just a click away. You can explore them whenever you like, choosing the sections and artworks that interest you the most. From Leonardo da Vinci to Caravaggio, each museum offers a unique experience, allowing you to explore the collections in an interactive, detailed way, getting up close with the masterpieces in a way never seen before.

In this article, I’ll provide you with some suggestions for virtual visits to Italy’s great museums: Pinacoteca di Brera, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Vatican Museums.

Let’s dive into this virtual art journey!

All images featured in this article are courtesy of the respective Italian Museums, with credits in each caption.

“The Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio – in the Masterpieces of Brera section, Pinacoteca di Brera

Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

First up on our virtual tour of Italy’s most famous Museums is the Pinacoteca di Brera: let’s start here to admire some fantastic paintings. Once on the website, you’ll feel like you’re in the rooms of this extraordinary collection. Here are a few must-see highlights:

• Check out the Masterpieces page. You’ll find an overview of the most important works displayed, with multimedia content that tells their history and restoration efforts. Be sure to check out The Dead Christ in the Tomb and The Lamentation by Mantegna.
• Head to the Collectios section. You can select works by artist and period, exploring them in their dedicated sections.
• Don’t miss the Drawing Cabinet and make sure to take a look at The Assumption by Guido Reni.
• For something really cool, visit the Restoration section and see how our talented restorers have worked to bring these paintings back to their original glory.
• Finally, explore a fascinating section where paintings are reproduced in ultra-high-definition. You can zoom in to discover even the tiniest details of each artwork, which would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. The Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio is one example you shouldn’t miss.

In all the sections of the virtual tour, you can download high-definition photos of the paintings and read their stories and descriptions.

“The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli – in the Works section, Uffizi Gallery

Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence

Next, we’ll head to the heart of the Italian Renaissance in Florence to visit Uffizi Gallery . Organizing a virtual tour in one of the world’s most famous and art-rich places is quite tricky. I won’t bore you with a standard tour, though. Instead, I’ll give you a few interesting pointers that you can explore further based on your own interests while navigating the site independently.

Easter as Told by Paintings

Since we’re approaching the Easter period, I suggest starting with an amazing themed tour on Easter. Go to the dedicated section and you’ll find a collection of paintings from different eras that will take you through the Last Supper, the Passion of Christ, and His Resurrection. Each piece is described simply and briefly, following the various moments of the Gospel story.

Dante and His Work

Another interesting themed tour focuses on Dante Alighieri. This poet and father of the Italian language inspired artists throughout history to represent characters from his epic Divine Comedy. Here, you’ll find depictions of the poet and some of the most famous scenes from his masterpiece.

For a more personalized tour, head to the homepage of Uffizi Gallery where you’ll find all the sections of the museum. You can explore painting, drawings, architecture, sculpture, and antique books. Don’t miss Botticelli’s works and the Italian Renaissance paintings.

“Sacred Family” (Tondo Doni) by Michelangelo Buonarroti – in the Works section, Uffizi Gallery

The Vatican Museums in Rome

The Vatican Museums—another gem of Italy’s most famous museums. In the virtual tour, you can wander through actual museums, villas, gardens, and archaeological areas.

I highly recommend the most stunning and traditional visit: the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. There’s nothing more representative of our culture and Michelangelo’s passionate work—along with Leonardo da Vinci—who shaped art and world progress during the Italian Renaissance.

From the “Explore” section, access the museum area and go straight to the virtual tours. There are many options to choose from. I recommend the virtual tour of the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. I’ve never seen anything so amazing—it was so emotional!

By using the commands at the bottom of the screen, you’ll get a whole new, up-close view of these two places. As for the Sistine Chapel, the ceiling and the Last Judgment are literally at your fingertips, letting you see tiny sections that weren’t cleaned during recent restorations. All virtual tours are accompanied by multimedia content and descriptions.

For more in-depth exploration, go to the homepage, click “Explore,” and choose from a variety of options.

“The Laocoön” attributed to Agesander, Polydorus, and Athenodoros, Pio Clementino Museum,
Vatican Museums

I believe technology is incredibly valuable during such a special time. It offers extraordinary interactive experiences that enrich our knowledge—experiences that will come in handy when we finally get the chance to visit these places in person.

Go on traveling!

Lety goes on

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