A Virtual Reality Dome Experience
This week, the world of the Renaissance collided with modern-day technology. The historic and culturally enriching experience of venturing into the city’s famous Cathedral has been augmented with a new virtual reality experience, offering visitors the chance to step foot into the construction of Brunelleschi’s Dome by using a headset.
Created by WAY Experience in co-production with Slow Tour Tuscany, the VR experience, named “Building the Impossible,” includes a 15 minute 360° animated video which moves through the Dome itself, vividly depicting what it would have looked like through the progression of its construction. Visitors are able to physically look around as though they have been transported back to the 1400s.
This innovative technology comes as an advancement on the Duomo’s previous efforts to introduce modern attractions to the tourist hot-spot, following the interactive journey, cupola virtuale, made available in 2020, which provided a 360° panoramic view of the dome.
“Building the Impossible” goes a step further than this, however, with its use of virtual reality and the impressive level of detail that the video exhibits is a testament to the great deal of work that has gone into its development. The Dome’s stained glass windows have been recreated with much accuracy, in addition to the specific light passing through the Cathedral and the 50+ unique animated characters, which all grant this immersive experience a feel of authenticity.
Aside from this detailed video, visitors can enjoy an original orchestral soundtrack written by Fabio Sirna, as well as a narration from the perspective of the dome’s architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, available in eight languages.
Brunelleschi’s dome, finished in 1436, signalled the long-awaited completion of the Cathedral which had initially commenced in 1296 following a design by Arnolfo di Cambio. The Dome’s history began with an architectural design competition for its commission in 1418, dominated by rivals Lorenzo Ghiberti and Brunelleschi, subsequently won by the latter of the two. Its construction took 16 years, and over this period Brunelleschi developed sophisticated lifting systems and created a ‘double-shell’ which contributed to its structural feasibility — so much so that this architectural masterpiece remains the largest brick dome to have ever been constructed.
The impressive interior mural, frescoed by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, was not started until 1576 and beautifully depicts The Last Judgement, stretching over more than 10,000 square feet. This extensive and intriguing history is explained in the new VR experience, enabling visitors to learn through a new technological approach.
The VR’s debut took place in July beneath the Dome itself and this location was particularly exciting, allowing one to take off their headset and be in the same place, almost 600 years later. The permanent experience, however, takes place on via degli Alfani, approximately a seven minute walk from the Cathedral, which more conveniently allows visitors to avoid the sizeable crowds at the Duomo.
The attraction is open every day from 8:30 am to 5:3 0pm, restricted to those aged 10 and above, and not recommended for people with epilepsy. Tickets cost €15 each and can be bought in-person at VR at via degli Alfani 113-115-117 or online.
(Scarlet Claydon-Jones)
