Being stuck at home was apparently the motivation we needed to discover that many world-class museums have extensive digital collections that let you explore their works and wares from your couch. So sanitise your keyboard, grab a blanket, and curl up as you discover treasures in Florence, Mexico City, St. Petersburg, and beyond. (Bonus points if you count all the art that should be returned to Africans…)
GALERIA UFFIZI – FLORENCE
Known for its Italian Renaissance collection, this museum is one of the most frequented art museums in the world (including a visit paid by the Sicilian Mafia in 1993, but fortunately with relatively minimal damage done). Their digital collection is extensive and detailed, and it includes a recent exhibit on the presence of Black African figures in the museum. #GETiN here!
HERMITAGE MUSEUM – ST. PETERSBURG
This museum is enormous, and its website lets you tour it room by room. If you, like us, have literally nothing left to watch on Netflix, this could absolutely take up your day instead.
PRADO MUSEUM – MADRID
The Prado hosts 9 incredibly high-resolution images online, allowing you to study the paint texture. This famed Spanish museum also makes countless other works from its collection available digitally, (still in high, but not quite so high, resolution).
VATICAN MUSEUM – ROME
Skip the line and aggressive hawkers — the Vatican provides photographic and video tours of its myriad museums and magnificent chapels online.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM – NEW YORK
The Metropolitan Museum (or “the Met” as it is known) has an extensive, multi-media collection that allows you to engage with its exhibits and curates. You could EASILY kill an afternoon — it sure beats scrolling through your Insta feed for the 15th time today.
FRIDA KAHLO MUSEUM – MEXICO CITY
Frida Kahlo was many things — a magical realist, a member of Mexico’s Communist Party, the first Mexican to be featured at the Louvre. Her work was rooted in indigenous Mexican and feminist themes. Discover her work online — shown from her family home in Mexico City.
RIJKSMUSEUM – AMSTERDAM
This home to Dutch and international (although mostly Dutch) artists allows you to take a detailed tour of its exhibits digitally. It aspires to make all of its 1M+ pieces available in high resolution online.
MUSEO NACIONAL DE ANTROPOLOGÍA – MEXICO CITY
Mexico’s national museum displays an extensive collection of Mexican art and artifacts before wypipo people arrived.
ACROPOLIS MUSEUM – ATHENS
Wind your way through Ancient Greek ruins (warning: requires moderate- to advanced-level Google Maps navigation skills — stick with it!)
BRITISH MUSEUM – LONDON
Spend hours navigating the overwhelming collection of the British Museum, home to centuries of culture-defining artifacts (mostly from cultures that are not British — but hey, they’re still cool to look at).