The innovative project “Immersive Places and Itineraries of Italy” was presented by Archeoclub d’Italia in Rome yesterday.
Using the metaverse to explore Italy
Thanks to the metaverse this digital platform will allow users from all over the world to explore Italy's lesser-known villages and locations. The project is a collaboration between Archeoclub d'Italia and the digital incubator In The Green Future, under the patronage of the Prime Minister's Office.
“The project also offers accessibility to the mobility-impaired”
Rosario Santanastasio, National President of Archeoclub d'Italia, underscored the importance of the project which is an Archeoclub d'Italia and In The Green Future joint venture. “It will give the potential foreign tourist, who lives thousands of miles away, the chance to enter a village in the Apennines and learn about the cultural, archaeological and social heritage of our country's inland areas.” Santanastasio also pointed out that the project is inclusive and able to overcome physical barriers, offering accessibility also to people with disabilities.
With 178 local branches throughout Italy
“We started from a vision, turned it into a project, and then came back to a new vision: this is the message of Archeoclub d’Italua,- said project director Innocente Cataldi. -We mainly address an adult audience, but in recent times we have noticed a growing interest also among younger people. We are mainly present throughout Italy through 178 branches, and we carry out many cultural activities.” A few weeks ago, Archeoclub d’Italia organized ‘La Primavera nei Borghi’ (Springtime in the Villages), with walks and routes led by experts in the area.
“Making culture a truly accessible experience”
The project also involves research institutes, universities and practitioners. Through immersive experiences in virtual and augmented reality, the platform will enhance Italy's cultural heritage, promoting sustainable tourism, especially in inland areas, to the minor islands and coastal areas, combating the depopulation of villages, and encouraging the improvement of local services. We are working on the digitization of territories,- said Raffaello Dinacci, founder of In The Green Future. -Through this new digital platform inspired by the metaverse paradigm and ESG principles, we intend to make culture an immersive, participatory and truly accessible experience.”
