Experiences of cultural heritage and tourism have been enhanced by the development of digital technologies. In light of this, this paper focuses on the importance of immersive storytelling experiences to encourage visitors’ engagement through VR and the evocative and emotional storytelling of events and contexts. After an introduction to the best practices from Italy and abroad in recent years, the paper focuses on the VR immersive storytelling of the 1693 earthquake, which destroyed 70 cities in south-eastern Sicily. The survivors, revealing great resilience, soon rebuilt their cities. The well-known Baroque city of Noto, a UNESCO site since 2002, was rebuilt on another site, so abandoning the destroyed one (Noto Antica). Through an immersive film in VR (25 min.), commissioned by the Noto Municipality, the last moments of the city are recounted, creating a “digital bridge” between generations to regain awareness of their ancient roots. The VR project stands out for its participatory production process involving a commission of experts and 3D casting of its modern citizens, and the tragic nature of the event, recounted through the emotional and evocative account of a recent earthquake and the solution adopted following the COVI-19 pandemic (in situ, on YouTube VR and Vimeo).
Noto: The Day of Fear (1693). A VR immersive project about the legacy of resilience
Bonacini E
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2021-01-01
Abstract
Experiences of cultural heritage and tourism have been enhanced by the development of digital technologies. In light of this, this paper focuses on the importance of immersive storytelling experiences to encourage visitors’ engagement through VR and the evocative and emotional storytelling of events and contexts. After an introduction to the best practices from Italy and abroad in recent years, the paper focuses on the VR immersive storytelling of the 1693 earthquake, which destroyed 70 cities in south-eastern Sicily. The survivors, revealing great resilience, soon rebuilt their cities. The well-known Baroque city of Noto, a UNESCO site since 2002, was rebuilt on another site, so abandoning the destroyed one (Noto Antica). Through an immersive film in VR (25 min.), commissioned by the Noto Municipality, the last moments of the city are recounted, creating a “digital bridge” between generations to regain awareness of their ancient roots. The VR project stands out for its participatory production process involving a commission of experts and 3D casting of its modern citizens, and the tragic nature of the event, recounted through the emotional and evocative account of a recent earthquake and the solution adopted following the COVI-19 pandemic (in situ, on YouTube VR and Vimeo).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
