The project for the enhancement of the archaeological site of Tremona-Castello is the result of many years of work and an intense and fruitful collaboration between various actors, including the Cantonal Cultural Heritage Office, which supported the city of Mendrisio and the Mendrisiotto Archaeological Research Association (ARAM) with the aim of creating the first cantonal archaeological park. In September 2016 the city of Mendrisio thus inaugurated the first Ticinese archaeological park on the Tremona-Castello site and a dozen tables with short texts and drawings illustrating the life of the medieval village were laid within its perimeter. These are the main information related to an important tourist-cultural attraction that was, first of all, realized thanks to the work of the volunteers of ARAM and then by the will of the city of Mendrisio, which was able to complete and financed this important project, directing the work of a working group made up of the aforementioned partners, as well as the regional tourism organization and the patriciate of Tremona, owner of the fund.
Since September 2016, the archaeological park has already been visited by many people, but for the working group it is clear that the project is far from being finished. In May 2016, the Regional Tourist Organization presented the film of the medieval village of Tremona-Castello, a 3D reconstruction, created with the aim of making the “invisible visible” and arousing the public's attention for the park. The idea of the OTR, however, was to create a real tourist experience on the site, using new technologies, to support visitors in discovering the park. This vision of his has been fully embraced by the work group and in particular by the city of Mendrisio, which has understood the importance of transmitting scientifically correct information, but also images that simplify the messages and that are able to convey true emotions, thus achieving the purpose. to create a real tourist attraction. Archeology and innovation, a combination on which UBC and ARAM also agreed, aware of the importance of attracting a large public to Tremona and not just a specialist or niche public.
The quality of the images reconstructed to make the 3D movie is the result of the skill of the graphic designer Elia Marcacci and the scientific advice of ARAM. It was therefore a precious material that it was believed could be the basis for the structuring of an innovative and courageous “augmented reality” project, the first of its kind in Switzerland. To transform the vision into reality, the working group therefore sought a partner who mastered skills related to technological fields and storytelling, recognizing in Capital Culture / ArtGlass the partner of renowned international importance who is able to translate the idea into a real offer, a real tourist-cultural product. This company, which has already collected excellent successes with the implementation of virtual reality projects in different places, was therefore entrusted with the task of transforming the vision into reality and creating a story board with images and narrative texts that accompany the visitor experience at the park, wearing the special technological glasses.
The project is absolutely innovative and the only one of its kind in Switzerland. In fact, the ambition now is to attract, in addition to the public interested in the park, also those curious and attentive to the technological proposals in the tourism sector which could therefore turn out to be a new public for an archaeological park. It is therefore a great opportunity to disseminate the interesting scientific contents of the park, a springboard that projects this visit into the panorama of "experiences" to be lived.
From 25 May it will therefore be possible to visit the archaeological park of Tremona in solum, supported by the educational panels on the site, accompanied by a guide that can be booked by contacting the OTR, or by renting EPSON glasses that can be rented at the InfoPoint that will be open. to the public at the former municipal house of Tremona.
The glasses available are 25 pieces and after having collected them at the Infopoint, which is located just before the path that climbs towards the park, they will be worn starting from the point where the first didactic panel is located. From here and wearing glasses, the visit will be accompanied by images and information that will overlap with what anyone can still see when entering the perimeter of the park.
The duration of the visit with glasses is about 120 minutes and is recommended for adults. The software inside the glasses will allow visitors to discover and see with their own eyes much of what is no longer visible today, helping them to return to the Middle Ages to understand how people lived in the village. The scientific contents of the glasses were created under the supervision of ARAM and UBC, while the reconstructed 3D images are those provided by the OTR and the technology of Capitale Cultura / ArtGlass.
The Infopoint at the former municipal house of Tremona will be open regularly on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11.00 to 18.30, from 25 May to 31 October 2017. It will also be open continuously every day during the holiday periods included in the period. which run from 13 July to 20 August, from 5 to 22 October and from 26 to 31 October.
For further information tel. 058 688 32 02 or www.parco-archeologico.ch
