This is seriously pretty neat, and if you can stand the long load time you should definitely check it out: Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel.
I’ve embedded a video of what the experience looks like if for some reason you can’t load it.
Check it after the jump… and if you’re interested in the background music I’ve been able to harvest the meta-data out of the mp3 for people interested…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaiOzJHKaRQ
Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli – 5. Benedictus
Artist: Simon Preston: Westminster Abbey Choir
Album: Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli – Allegri: Miserere
Time: 3:11
Martin Hathaway says
I am sure you could achieve something (kind of) similar using custom tiles on Google Maps, or using Microsoft’s awesome PhotoSynth service.
Virtual church tours are well within the reach of regular churches and I would love to see them used more often.
Martin Hathaway says
Another upcoming tool to look out for…
TED 2010: Bing Maps Takes Panoramas Indoors
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/bing-maps-moves-panoramas-indoors/
Stephen Bateman says
Good work Vatican, that’s pretty cool. AND it really makes me want to go to Rome ya know?
Andy Darnell says
Nice. As a father of a homeschooler, this could be useful in some way.
Vy says
Are those renders or actual photos?
Vy says
Or maybe renders made from photos?