Popular places before and during the COVID-19: what happens when everyone stays home
APR 01, 2020 AT 02:24 PM
There’s a lot of chaos going on in the world with the COVID-19 pandemic spreading. This madness isn’t the only thing it’s brought – natural sights and historical landmarks, worldwide, have experienced a dramatic change, too.
Check out these pictures of famous places that are normally filled with tourists but are now empty and in their natural state of beauty. If you’ve ever wondered what these celebrated historical places look like now-a-days, without crowds, then continue reading!
The Steps of Trinita' dei Monti, Rome, Italy
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According to TripAdvisor, of over 2,000 things you can do in Rome, visiting the Trinita' dei Monti is in the top 200. Meaning, it’s one of the most popular places to visit and take some fun selfies along one of the 138 steps!
Unfortunately, as we all know, the Coronavirus has hit Italy harder than any other country so far, and their quarantine restrictions have become more and more strict as time goes on. This has given photographers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to document this special area and it’s staircase in all its “ordinary” beauty and glory, without all the chaos and people.
The Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
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Making a wish and then throwing coins into fountains is a tradition practiced by millions of people from all over the world. It’s been estimated that about 1,200 people visit the Trevi Fountain in a single hour! Wild, right?
Now, the mythical fountain looks more beautiful than ever. Additionally, we can all now enjoy some calm, clean waves without a mass of people throwing their change in every few seconds.
Gran Via, Madrid, Spain
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According to TripAdvisor, out of over 14,000 fun things to do in Madrid, visiting the street of Gran Via in Madrid, Spain is in the top 10!
What was once a street full of urban local life and picturesque tourism is now a quiet, and gorgeous ghost town.
Chinatown, London, England
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Since the ‘50s, this area has been known to have some of the best food in the city, inviting both locals and tourists to flock around the vibrant area. From Cantonese cuisine, to Malaysian meals, to traditional Asian treats, thousands of people raid these delicious restaurants, daily. However, that was before the quarantine restrictions went into effect.
For now, the residents of the block are the ones who get to enjoy the peace and quiet of a deserted Chinatown London.
Piccadilly Circus, London, England
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Piccadilly Circus is one of the most popular plazas in London for people to meet up for a fun afternoon or night out on the town.
Packed with thousands of people on the street until the late hours of night, the popular Piccadilly Circus has, now, been completely deserted. With fewer locals out and about, and less people exploring the city, that means the hustle and bustle of cars, tour buses, and public transportation has significantly reduced, too.
The London Underground
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Since the amount of people using and riding the famous London tube has condensed due to the new regulations and restrictions of the pandemic, the amount of electricity being used and consumed has also reduced. To give you a more realistic perspective, there are almost 300 train stations on the tube, and London’s Government official website stated that 2 million people utilize the tube on a daily basis! Talk about another win for Mother Earth.
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
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There’s no denying the Big Apple has been under strict regulations these days, and these pictures of Rockefeller Plaza are here to prove it. There very well might be millions of people living in Manhattan, but for now, the streets have been significantly less hectic than what you might be used to seeing on TV and movies.
Rockefeller Center is notably known to be open 24-hours a day, but they’ve put into place a complete shut-down to keep citizens safe and secure from any spread of the virus.
Fifth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York
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So, what does one of the biggest urban sprawls on the globe look like when it’s a ghost town?
With the halt in action in New York City, we’re sure the residents are happy to get a couple weeks of calm, quietness to refresh themselves during this time of overt stress.
The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada
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The University of Las Vegas reported over 47 million travelers passing through the international airport, alone in 2016, talk about hustle and bustle!
What about now? You can see it on the “after” picture that not a single soul is getting all the presents Sin City has to offer. Such a picture isn’t going to be taken for decades to come—we hope.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
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With millions and millions of people visiting the legendary Eiffel Tower in Paris each year, in more recent weeks, it’s safe to say that things have gotten a lot more intimate at this romantic landmark – that is, until further notice.
It has definitely changed the traffic on the streets and made this incredible plaza a lot more private.
Grand Place, Belgium, Brussels
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The “Grote Markt” also known as “Grand Place” or “Grand Square” is an important landmark in Belgium, Brussels and has been for centuries now.
But the square that was once crowded with tourists that were obsessed with seeing beautiful flowerbeds, amazing architecture, and almost 100 different museums has taken a break for the time being.
Overall, without all the extra set-ups, outside of the buildings, it provides a landscape that's similar to how it was back in the day. How historic!
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
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It’s well known, that some people are known to break off pieces of The Colosseum and take them home as souvenirs. That being said, now that it’s closed, the majestic architectural arena can take a breather from all that wear-and-tear. Let’s hope this is preserving human-kind and a piece of history.
Supermarkets Across the United States
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It might be surprising to see supermarkets on the list, but fascinatingly enough, it’s one of the most crucial and frequently-visited places to go in the United States.
As we’ve transitioned from isolation of patients, to quarantining air travelers, to going on a full lock-down and self-quarantine in certain cities and countries around the world, we’ve all felt the stress of going to the supermarket. The results of this panic become clear in the “after” picture.
Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
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Back in January 2020, “The Forbidden City” closed its gates to millions of people until further notice for their own safety and protection from the pandemic. That’s right, according to The Wallstreet Journal, about 19 million people visited the sprawling, majestic landmark in 2019, calculating to over a million people in just one month.