Improving Accessibility to Cultural Heritage: Integration of Extended Reality, Tactile Prints and User Experience Analysis for the Church of Madonna dell’Itri

This article presents the outcomes of the implementation of the ‘Intra l’Itri’ project, aimed to enhance the accessibility of the church of Madonna dell’Itri in Nociglia, Italy, using eXtended Reality (XR) technologies. The church harbours an ancient pictorial palimpsest with layers of historical significance, compounded by structural alterations over time. Funded by the Salento Interprovincial University Consortium (Consorzio Universitario Interprovinciale Salentino - CUIS 2020), the project engaged interdisciplinary collaboration involving the University of Salento’s Department of Engineering for Innovation and Department of Cultural Heritage, the Municipality of Nociglia, local companies, associations and professionals. Its objectives encompassed studying and conserving frescoes and the church’s structure, facilitating intelligent cultural immersion, enhancing visitor.