Calatino: identity and innovation

Digital tools for the cultural and tourism promotion of the Calatino Inner Area

Telling and promoting the widespread heritage of the Calatino Inner Area through innovative digital tools: this is the goal of the project led by the Municipality of Caltagirone together with the other seven municipalities of the area – Grammichele, Licodia Eubea, Mineo, Mirabella Imbaccari, San Cono, San Michele di Ganzaria, and Vizzini – and carried out by the consortium headed by Space S.p.A. – ETT Group.

The initiative has created an integrated system for cultural and tourism promotion that combines a website, mobile app, totems, immersive installations, and multimedia content, forming a cohesive and constantly updated digital ecosystem

At its core is the multilingual portal visitcalatino.it, available in four languages and featuring around 100 geo-referenced points of interest. Visitors can explore the area in two ways: by browsing the attractions of each municipality, or through the “What to See” section, where POIs are organized by category and thematic itineraries. An interactive map supports trip planning, while a centralized CMS ensures continuous content updates and powers five dual-sided totems distributed across the territory, which promote the area with information, news, and visual content.

The digital infrastructure is complemented by a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android, fed with the same content as the portal. The app offers thematic itineraries showcasing festivals, fairs, notable figures, and local traditions, with geolocation features and direct integration with Google Maps to plan personalized routes. Each point of interest is enriched with video clips, while a real-time news section keeps users up to date with local events.

Technology also enhances the museum experience, turning visits into engaging narratives. At the Museo e Pinacoteca Civica “Luigi Sturzo” and the Museo dell’Immaginario Verghiano in Vizzini, two AI-powered talking avatars bring to life Don Luigi Sturzo and Giovanni Verga, giving them a voice and expressions to share stories and traditions.

For younger audiences, interactive touch tables installed in all eight municipalities host an educational game inspired by the traditional Game of the Goose, offering a playful way to discover the history and landmarks of the Calatino.

At the Immersive Room of the Agape Museum of the Calatino Territory in Caltagirone, a striking three-wall multiprojection narrates the Holy Week of the Calatino, with images, sounds, and faces captured during Easter 2024. The installation conveys the intensity of a tradition officially recognized in 2019 in the REIS – the Register of Intangible Heritage of the Sicilian Region.

The immersive journey continues with 11 Virtual Reality headsets, one for each municipality, featuring eight 360° videos filmed both on the ground and by drone, showcasing archaeological sites, churches, squares, and rural landscapes.

Finally, six thematic videos projected on monitors explore different aspects of Calatino’s identity – from spirituality to cinema, literature, and ritual practices – composing an audiovisual mosaic that blends information with emotional storytelling.