TRANI .- The new multimedia and experiential itinerary at the Swabian Castle of Trani was officially unveiled. The project marks a new phase in the interpretation and visitor experience of one of Apulia’s most representative monuments.
The initiative forms part of a broader and more complex strategy of conservation, reorganization, cataloging, digitization, and redevelopment of the site’s historical and artistic heritage, conceived and coordinated by architect Anita Guarnieri, and is mainly focused on three new exhibition installations created by the Milan-based studio Dotdotdot.
The presentation event was attended by the mayor of Trani, Marco Galiano; the mayor of the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT), Amedeo Bottaro; and the architect Anita Guarnieri, Director of the Swabian Castle of Trani during the project's planning phase and current Director of the Apulian National Museums, as well as interim Superintendent for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape (ABAP) for the provinces of Foggia and BAT.
With a total value of approximately 1.5 million euros, the project was funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) intervention line "Improving the conditions and standards of provision and enjoyment through the digital heritage – National Operational Programme 'Culture and Development' ERDF 2014-2020", as well as through the resources of the Special Law 190/2014 dedicated to "Extraordinary maintenance works, regulatory compliance of building systems, and design and setup of the conference room" and has allowed, also through targeted conservation work, to reveal new layers of meaning to a site already renowned for its architecture and collections.
Dotdotdot studio, specialized in the design of narrative environments, interactive and historical-museum experiences, has been entrusted with developing the multimedia and digital solutions based on the scientific project and guidelines drawn up by architect Guarnieri. In constant dialogue with the ABAP BAT-FG Superintendency, three permanent installations were created: one dedicated to the Castle’s thousand-year architectural history, one to the medieval stone bestiary, and one on the deep relationship that binds the monument to the sea.
Each installation is located within a specific exhibition room and was conceived to seamlessly integrate with the existing space, enhancing its historical-architectural layers, materiality, and preserved heritage, in full respect of the identity of the places.
The Swabian Castle of Trani, one of Apulia’s most visited tourist destinations which stands directly on the sea, preserves numerous medieval artifacts—some displayed in the exhibition spaces, others still embedded in the walls or kept in storage. The three installations enhance these peculiarities, adopting different narrative approaches and levels of audience engagement: the first is designed as a tactile archive; the second connects the castle’s artistic heritage with the surrounding region through the visitor’s own creativity; while the third installation taps into visitors’ emotions. In all three, technology serves as an enabling tool rather than the focus of the experience, and it is designed to be accessible to visitors of all ages and skills.
Visitors will be guided by the staff from the Regional Directorate of Apulian National Museums, the ABAP BAT-FG Superintendency, and Dotdotdot. The itinerary begins at the northeast bastion, where the public can experience an accessible journey through touch, visual exploration, and listening, inspired by the castle's exceptional 18th-century wooden model. While a tactile reproduction of it allows for direct contact with the Castle’s form and structure, an interactive touch table enables a 3D navigation that spans across the rooms and historical periods.
Furthermore, visitors can also access a virtual archive of 50 artifacts; and, interacting with six 3D-printed reproductions, trigger a projection on the vault of the tower, narrated by the popular Italian actor and voiceover artist Fabrizio Vidale.
The Manfredi Hall houses the medieval stone bestiary: zoomorphic stone artifacts—including fragments of, among others, dragons, lions, felines, eagles, griffins—displayed on custom-designed display supports and accompanied by a backdrop projection dedicated to "mythical animals." The installation is structured around multiple levels of engagement: narrative and historical for adults, and playful and creative for younger visitors, allowing visitors to design their own fantastical creature. By composing a playful verse using words describing the physical and behavioural traits of the animals, visitors can create a unique creature of their own, which is then illustrated, projected onto the wall and, if desired, downloaded via a QR code. The original illustrations created for the project echo the stone carvings found in other architectural landmarks throughout Trani and the wider Apulian region. This creates a dialogue between the castle's iconographic heritage and the cathedral, other Romanesque churches, and historic palaces, seamlessly connecting the monument with the landscape that surrounds it.
Finally, the third installation is housed in the area known as the ‘stables’, where visitors can view various artifacts, including cannonballs, watering troughs, and wells. This partially subterranean exhibition space features a "generative sea" that comes alive on the wall, marking a distinct shift in tone for the exhibition. Generated entirely through code—without any video footage—the waves animate the wall in a three-minute loop, accompanied by a custom-composed, spatialized sound design. The narrative builds in a crescendo: the marine imagery shifts from a phase of calm to a simulated storm, during which the audio intensifies, and the water appears to interact with the surrounding architectural space. The cycle concludes with a digital reconstruction of the castle’s outer facade—with its arches facing the Mediterranean—which is gradually enveloped by the sea before returning to stillness. The piece relies on parametric visual and audio content, generated live by code and algorithms rather than pre-recorded footage. Simultaneously, floor-projection video mapping highlights the main artifacts on display, weaving them into the narrative flow without the need for traditional museum labels. The environment thus offers a sensory experience that conveys the age-old relationship between the fortress and the coastline. This profound bond is further emphasized by some new exhibition features: two design projects that enhance access to and appreciation of the monument and its collections.
In the Frederick II’s Hall, a system of ramps doubles as a display structure for several artifacts from the collection, engaging with the architectural space and offering new vantage points over the sea.
The installation of a new metal walkway with access from the central courtyard and the opening of the Porta a mare (sea gate) allow access to a previously unseen gallery on the northern front, creating a striking visual corridor that beautifully evokes the memory of ancient landing sites, while offering an additional view of the famous cathedral of Trani.
The new itinerary therefore represents the result of a comprehensive cultural vision which, under the direction of architect Anita Guarnieri and thanks to the design expertise of Dotdotdot, has successfully integrated scientific research, protection, technological innovation, and heritage enhancement, and has given the Swabian Castle of Trani a contemporary interpretative framework that strengthens its role within Italy's cultural landscape.
