Historic Porto Empedocle Branch Station

The former freight warehouse at Porto Empedocle Central station, along the historic “Railway of the Temples”, has been transformed into a multimedia space that celebrates the local area and enhances its cultural and scenic heritage through an installation that combines original content with a system of synchronized projections on specially designed mobile screens.

The project merges visual storytelling and technology to offer visitors a fully immersive and engaging experience. A four-wall projection leads the audience along the historic railway route, through panoramic and point-of-view footage captured from a vintage rail cart, interwoven with evocative ground-level shots and stunning aerial views. The visual journey highlights the strong connection between the railway and its surrounding landscape, showcasing landmarks such as the Valley of the Temples and the Scala dei Turchi.

An original short film takes the audience on an emotional journey through the historical atmosphere of the railway line, while a scientifically accurate 3D reconstruction reveals what Porto Empedocle station looked like in the mid-1800s, complete with buildings, tracks, trains, and human figures brought to life through immersive sound design and a custom-composed musical score.

The narrative is completed by an animated map and a graphic representation of the route, which retrace not only the sections of the railway that are still in use today but also the decommissioned lines—offering a comprehensive view of the line’s original extension all the way to Selinunte.

The installation enhances the tourist train experience with a high-impact immersive stop, turning the station into a meaningful meeting point between memory and innovation.