Fancy a trip to Venice without the flight? The Smithsonian has you covered.
The famed museum’s travel program, Smithsonian Journeys this week launched Smithsonian Journeys: Venice in partnership with The Great Courses. As you’d expect, then, this isn’t just a series of picturesque 360 degree videos but a comprehensive app that offers five virtual tours covering different aspects of the city. On your journey you’ll be accompanied by Professor of History and Renaissance Studies Kenneth R. Bartlett of the University of Toronto as your personal guide.
Over the course of 30+ minutes of 3D, 360 video you’ll take a walking tour of the city, enjoy a boat ride on the Grand Canal, take a trip to Murano Island, visit Piazza San Marco and take a gondola ride through the canals, too. Bartlett will explain the history of locations as you travel, visiting Marco Polo’s house, the first Jewish Ghetto, the Bridge of Sighs, the Basilica San Marco, the Rialto Bridge and more.
It’s a pretty good example of how the Smithsonian is getting to grips with VR.
Best of all? It’s free and available on the Oculus Rift and Gear VR right now and other platforms may come later down the line.
