Cultural accessibility begins with direct, hands-on experience of heritage.
For the Civic Archaeological Museum of Noto (MuCiAN), we designed and created a tactile route that uses 3D printing to make archaeological artifacts accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors, turning the museum visit into a multisensory, inclusive experience.
The tactile route is fully integrated with the museum’s multimedia system, creating an ecosystem of tools that offers different levels of access to the collection.
In agreement with the museum director, ten key artifacts were selected from the overall exhibition route, one for each room.
Each model was produced through a process that combines digital technology and handicraft. After 3D scanning the original artifacts and printing them in PLA, every piece was carefully hand-finished to faithfully reproduce colours, textures and material qualities.
The selected objects – including black-figure olpes (jugs), fibulae (brooches), bone objects with globular decorations and oil lamps – were printed in sections (as cross-sections) and installed next to the Braille captions at the entrance of each room. A full 3D reproduction of each artifact was also placed in the museum’s education room.
This layout enhances the museum’s educational role. Each replica is positioned along a corresponding timeline, allowing school groups to place the objects in their historical context and to learn through direct, hands-on experience.
The project is a concrete expression of our commitment to universal access to cultural heritage, showing how 3D technologies can break down barriers and open up new ways of engaging with archaeological collections.
Ricardo Bonina
Livio Sgarlata
Fabio Agatino