Nestled near the heart of Spain, northwest of Madrid is the historic city of Segovia. With a rich architectural legacy stretching back centuries it’s filled with well-preserved examples of ancient engineering, such as the iconic Roman aqueduct with its 160 arches. So the Tourism Department of the Town Hall of Segovia has enlisted the help of marketing and production company Sputnik7 to create interactive digital replicas of the city’s main historical locations for the world to see.
Sputnik7 specialises in creating virtual experiences involving art, history and culture, with the Virtual Segovia project to generate global visibility for Segovia’s heritage sites, starting with the Real Casa de Moneda. This was choosen thanks to its rich history. Built by Felipe II in 1583, the Royal Mint was an innovative coin factory in Spain and the first property of the crown, recognized as one of the oldest examples of industrial architecture in Europe.
“This project is a great example of how technology can be put at the service of history, which is especially appropriate in the case of the Real Casa de Moneda, since it was always characterized by housing the most advanced technology,” said Claudia de Santos Borreguero, Councilor for Heritage and Tourism at Segovia City Council in a statement.
High-resolution images of the property using drones and high-end DLSR cameras has been completed with Sputnik7 estimating that the entire development process will be completed by the end of April 2020. Once finished you’ll be able to view the location via an interactive 3D map with a guided tour for iOS and Android devices, while Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest users will be able to explore the mint in greater detail. Virtual Segovia will be free no matter which platform it is on.
The project will then move onto Segovia’s other landmarks including The Cathedral of Segovia, completed in 1615, and The Alcazar of Segovia, a distinctive castle declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985. Work is expected to start on the former in Q2 with the latter starting in Q4 2020.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of the project and the latest VR use cases in tourism.