Visivalab

BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO, ASSISI

Virtual Tour of San Francis’ crypt

Heritage Digitalization / Immersive Experience

The Papal Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, dedicated to the saint’s life and legacy, is a place rich in history and spirituality. Built in 1230 by order of Pope Gregory IX, it houses Saint Francis's tomb in the crypt beneath the Lower Church's altar, becoming a major pilgrimage destination.


Visivalab has developed a digital itinerary for the crypt, providing a comprehensive and free virtual tour that makes this invaluable heritage accessible globally. Users can explore the area in 360 degrees through high-quality images on a bespoke website, enriched with detailed information, allowing worldwide engagement with the content.

Client
Sacro Convento - Basilica Assisi
Period
2016

Project

Initially, the crypt was digitized using high quality 360º photographs in order to accurately recreate every corner of the monumental space. The virtual tour allows free exploration of the crypt through an intuitive and interactive interface. As users navigate the space, they encounter clickable hotspots that provide a deeper understanding of the crypt.

The space can be navigated from a plan of the basilica displayed on the left side of the screen, which includes a gallery of photographs from the latest survey of St. Francis's remains in 2015 and historical images showcasing some of the Popes who have visited the crypt. Additionally, this menu links to the Sacro Convento di San Francesco's website and features a live-streaming webcam of the tomb, allowing parishioners and visitors to connect directly and anytime with this sacred space.

On the right side of the screen, a timeline narrates the history of the crypt and the saint's worship from its origins to more recent times, contextualizing the various events and changes that have characterized the place up to the present day. 


Furthermore, we designed and developed a site for the magazine “San Francesco Patrono d' Italia”m which not only offers access to the virtual tour but also includes interactive features, such as sending prayers and connecting with the global Franciscan community.

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