The coronavirus has emptied tourist sites and the images are haunting
As social distancing becomes the new norm, world-renowned historical sites are devoid of people.
Musée du Louvre
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is the world's largest art museum, and normally has crowds of people covering its plaza. On March 15, the museum was empty after closing its doors due to the virus.
PHOTO: Veronique de Viguerie
South Beach, Miami
South Beach, Miami
A beach normally filled with spring breakers and revelers alike looked isolated after the city of Miami closed down the area.
PHOTO: Joe Raedle
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Piazza San Marco, Venice
The main public square in Venice, also known as St. Mark's Square, is shown empty in light of Italy's strict quarantine regulations. The nation has been hit hard by the coronavirus and has implemented some of the strictest quarantines.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
The Piazza del Duomo, featuring the Milan's iconic Duomo cathedral, occupied by pigeons rather than people.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Times Square, New York City
Times Square, New York City
The city that never sleeps is now quiet, as more and more people stay inside to practice social distancing.
PHOTO: David Dee Delgado
The Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
The world-famous landmark was deserted on March 16, complying with Italy's strict quarantines. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
PHOTO: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Spain decreed a state of emergency and entered a lockdown on March 16. Here, the normally crowded seaside promenade at Palma de Mallorca was deserted on the first day of these regulations.
PHOTO: Europa Press News
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Employees of the Fatih Municipality wore protective suits to disinfect Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque. The Turkish government recently shuttered all public spaces to try to contain the virus.
PHOTO: YASIN AKGUL
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan closed amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19. The mosque is one of Pakistan's most iconic sites.
PHOTO: ARIF ALI
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
The Vatican's central landmark remains closed to prevent the virus' spread. On March 16, the Pope spoke to an empty St. Peter's Square and took a pilgrimage around the city, praying for an end to the global crisis.
PHOTO: Mondadori Portfolio
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Schools, museums, bars and entertainment venues are currently closed in Berlin, Germany.
PHOTO: Anadolu Agency
The Imperial Forum, Rome
The Imperial Forum, Rome
Another isolated Italian landmark, the Roman Forum, dates back to 46 B.C.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
In Palermo, Italy, the famed opera house Teatro Massimo, remains empty. Many large gatherings, including performances at the theater, have been cancelled in light of COVID-19.
PHOTO: Tullio Puglia
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
The front lawns of Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India are normally crowded with visitors. But, the 16th century tomb's grounds were empty, as cases of coronavirus rise in India.
PHOTO: Hindustan Times
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City remained empty on March 11.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Mecca's Grand Mosque
Mecca's Grand Mosque
This aerial view shows a white-tiled area around the sacred Kaaba at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site. Attendance at Friday prayers was low, due to protections implemented for the coronavirus.
PHOTO: BANDAR ALDANDANI
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Jockeys raced at an empty area during Chinese New Year Raceday in Hong Kong. The race usually attracts a large audience, but this year was limited due to coronavirus.
PHOTO: Lo Chun Kit
Musée du Louvre
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is the world's largest art museum, and normally has crowds of people covering its plaza. On March 15, the museum was empty after closing its doors due to the virus.
PHOTO: Veronique de Viguerie
South Beach, Miami
South Beach, Miami
A beach normally filled with spring breakers and revelers alike looked isolated after the city of Miami closed down the area.
PHOTO: Joe Raedle
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Piazza San Marco, Venice
The main public square in Venice, also known as St. Mark's Square, is shown empty in light of Italy's strict quarantine regulations. The nation has been hit hard by the coronavirus and has implemented some of the strictest quarantines.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
The Piazza del Duomo, featuring the Milan's iconic Duomo cathedral, occupied by pigeons rather than people.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Times Square, New York City
Times Square, New York City
The city that never sleeps is now quiet, as more and more people stay inside to practice social distancing.
PHOTO: David Dee Delgado
The Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
The world-famous landmark was deserted on March 16, complying with Italy's strict quarantines. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
PHOTO: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Spain decreed a state of emergency and entered a lockdown on March 16. Here, the normally crowded seaside promenade at Palma de Mallorca was deserted on the first day of these regulations.
PHOTO: Europa Press News
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Employees of the Fatih Municipality wore protective suits to disinfect Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque. The Turkish government recently shuttered all public spaces to try to contain the virus.
PHOTO: YASIN AKGUL
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan closed amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19. The mosque is one of Pakistan's most iconic sites.
PHOTO: ARIF ALI
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
The Vatican's central landmark remains closed to prevent the virus' spread. On March 16, the Pope spoke to an empty St. Peter's Square and took a pilgrimage around the city, praying for an end to the global crisis.
PHOTO: Mondadori Portfolio
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Schools, museums, bars and entertainment venues are currently closed in Berlin, Germany.
PHOTO: Anadolu Agency
The Imperial Forum, Rome
The Imperial Forum, Rome
Another isolated Italian landmark, the Roman Forum, dates back to 46 B.C.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
In Palermo, Italy, the famed opera house Teatro Massimo, remains empty. Many large gatherings, including performances at the theater, have been cancelled in light of COVID-19.
PHOTO: Tullio Puglia
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
The front lawns of Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India are normally crowded with visitors. But, the 16th century tomb's grounds were empty, as cases of coronavirus rise in India.
PHOTO: Hindustan Times
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City remained empty on March 11.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Mecca's Grand Mosque
Mecca's Grand Mosque
This aerial view shows a white-tiled area around the sacred Kaaba at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site. Attendance at Friday prayers was low, due to protections implemented for the coronavirus.
PHOTO: BANDAR ALDANDANI
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Jockeys raced at an empty area during Chinese New Year Raceday in Hong Kong. The race usually attracts a large audience, but this year was limited due to coronavirus.
PHOTO: Lo Chun Kit
Musée du Louvre
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is the world's largest art museum, and normally has crowds of people covering its plaza. On March 15, the museum was empty after closing its doors due to the virus.
PHOTO: Veronique de Viguerie
South Beach, Miami
South Beach, Miami
A beach normally filled with spring breakers and revelers alike looked isolated after the city of Miami closed down the area.
PHOTO: Joe Raedle
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Piazza San Marco, Venice
The main public square in Venice, also known as St. Mark's Square, is shown empty in light of Italy's strict quarantine regulations. The nation has been hit hard by the coronavirus and has implemented some of the strictest quarantines.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
The Piazza del Duomo, featuring the Milan's iconic Duomo cathedral, occupied by pigeons rather than people.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Times Square, New York City
Times Square, New York City
The city that never sleeps is now quiet, as more and more people stay inside to practice social distancing.
PHOTO: David Dee Delgado
The Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
The world-famous landmark was deserted on March 16, complying with Italy's strict quarantines. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
PHOTO: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Spain decreed a state of emergency and entered a lockdown on March 16. Here, the normally crowded seaside promenade at Palma de Mallorca was deserted on the first day of these regulations.
PHOTO: Europa Press News
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Employees of the Fatih Municipality wore protective suits to disinfect Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque. The Turkish government recently shuttered all public spaces to try to contain the virus.
PHOTO: YASIN AKGUL
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan
The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan closed amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19. The mosque is one of Pakistan's most iconic sites.
PHOTO: ARIF ALI
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
The Vatican's central landmark remains closed to prevent the virus' spread. On March 16, the Pope spoke to an empty St. Peter's Square and took a pilgrimage around the city, praying for an end to the global crisis.
PHOTO: Mondadori Portfolio
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Schools, museums, bars and entertainment venues are currently closed in Berlin, Germany.
PHOTO: Anadolu Agency
The Imperial Forum, Rome
The Imperial Forum, Rome
Another isolated Italian landmark, the Roman Forum, dates back to 46 B.C.
PHOTO: Marco Di Lauro
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo
In Palermo, Italy, the famed opera house Teatro Massimo, remains empty. Many large gatherings, including performances at the theater, have been cancelled in light of COVID-19.
PHOTO: Tullio Puglia
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi
The front lawns of Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India are normally crowded with visitors. But, the 16th century tomb's grounds were empty, as cases of coronavirus rise in India.
PHOTO: Hindustan Times
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City remained empty on March 11.
PHOTO: NurPhoto
Mecca's Grand Mosque
Mecca's Grand Mosque
This aerial view shows a white-tiled area around the sacred Kaaba at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site. Attendance at Friday prayers was low, due to protections implemented for the coronavirus.
PHOTO: BANDAR ALDANDANI
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Chinese New Year Raceday 2020 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Jockeys raced at an empty area during Chinese New Year Raceday in Hong Kong. The race usually attracts a large audience, but this year was limited due to coronavirus.
PHOTO: Lo Chun Kit
As social distancing becomes the new norm, world-renowned historical sites are devoid of people.
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, more and more nations must mandate quarantines and recommend social distancing. In the midst of this crisis, haunting photos have emerged of some of the world's most famous cultural sites now eerily empty.