The Eternal City launches a virtual reality tour that allows you to see what its most important monuments were like in the imperial era
Those who, when visiting Rome, complain that monuments such as the Forums are nothing more than a heap of broken stones are no longer justified. From this Wednesday it is possible to book tickets for a very peculiar tourist route: it is a minibus that, by means of a 3D virtual reality system, allows you to admire directly from the vehicle windows how some of the of the great architectural jewels of Ancient Rome, such as the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Palatine, the Theater of Marcello and the aforementioned Forums. For a cost of 15 euros and with a duration of half an hour, the visitor takes this route on a journey through time in which he enjoys a multisensory experience, since in addition to sight, smell is also stimulated, since in the vehicle can be perceived some of the fragrances of Ancient Rome.
“It is something extraordinary. Thanks to a technology that had not been used until now, images can be viewed with perfect synchronization, seeing not only what the monuments and their colors were like, but also their surroundings in the 3rd century after Christ”, he explained in the presentation of the project the mayor of the Italian capital, Roberto Gualtieri. Miguel Gotor, Councilor for Culture of the City Council, stressed that this initiative has the support of the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome, which guarantees that the 3D reproductions of the monuments conform to the studies of the experts. “All the images have been validated by archaeologists,” said Gotor, for whom this immersive experience will be a new attraction to attract tourists to the Eternal City and help them understand the greatness of the ancient imperial capital.
Rome’s ‘VR bus’ (virtual reality bus) does not require users to use 3D glasses or any other type of device, since all the technology is contained in transparent screens that go up and down through the windows as a curtain and allow you to observe the virtual scene faithfully reproduced on the current image. The experience is as fascinating as it is educational. To give it greater realism, this system is equipped with satellite geolocation, so that the projection is synchronized with the movements of the bus. The curves, braking, acceleration and even potholes are reflected in the images, thus increasing the degree of realism and giving a full sensation of moving through the streets of Ancient Rome. The music and the use of fragrances typical of the time contribute to increasing the emotionality of the experience.
Giorgio Capaci, CEO of Invisible Cities, the company that has launched the project, stressed that Rome is the first city in the world where you can enjoy this initiative, which he hopes will soon be extended to other tourist destinations. “Virtual reality will be a new way of communicating,” he ventured, highlighting the difficulty of including all this technology in a minibus that, at first glance, is no different from a normal one. Tickets can be purchased through the website
vrbusroma.it.
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