Nature, History, and Interactivity
The Falvaterra Caves and Rio Obaco Natural Monument has been revolutionized by the "Immersive Caves" project, a cutting-edge initiative presented by the Municipality of Falvaterra and completed in 2024. This ambitious project has transformed the visitor experience into an interactive and deeply engaging multisensory journey, thanks to a series of digital, structural, and accessibility interventions, all carried out in full respect of the integrity of the natural context.
"Immersive Caves" redefines the perception of the Falvaterra Caves, offering an integrated model that combines technological innovation, universal accessibility, and environmental sustainability, to provide every visitor with a stimulating and unforgettable adventure.
HI® Human Interface: Michela Manzi and the Interactive History of the Monument
At the Visitor Center, the immersive journey begins with the interactive HI® Human Interface installation. Here, a full-figure virtual guide, personified by the celebrated speleosub Michela Manzi, welcomes visitors. Michela Manzi, a pioneer in the exploration of the Caves, is not just a historical figure but becomes an interactive narrator who reveals the history, peculiarities, and wonders of the Falvaterra Caves and Rio Obaco Natural Monument. Thanks to a touch and voice interface, visitors can interact directly with the guide, delving into specific topics through animations, multimedia content, and visual effects, with the possibility of accessing information in multiple languages (Italian/English) and with subtitles for people with hearing difficulties. The installation is immersed in a setting that recalls the hypogean environment, enriched by historical speleosub equipment and illustrative panels.
OLOS®: A Multisensory Journey of Sounds, Lights, and Ancient Images
Proceeding toward the main entrance of the Caves, the experience culminates with the interactive multisensory OLOS® journey. This innovative methodology transports visitors on a fascinating journey back in time, all the way to prehistory. A “real-virtual” world comes to life through a clever interplay of sounds, lights, holographic images, animations, and video projections, all tied to the evocative hypogean environment and faithfully inspired by local archaeological finds. The cave paintings and scenes of life from a remote era re-emerge in a deeply evocative and engaging experience.
