Castello Aragonese di Otranto  ·  2025

PixelGrams

pixels  ·  pittogrammi  ·  patrimonio

A virtual journey into one of Europe's most extraordinary Neolithic sanctuaries — a cave sealed from the public since 1987, now open to all.

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01 — The Cave

The Grotta dei Cervi
of Porto Badisco

Hidden beneath the cliffs of Porto Badisco, near Otranto in Puglia, the Grotta dei Cervi is one of the most significant Neolithic cave sanctuaries in the Mediterranean. Its walls and ceilings are covered in thousands of pictograms — painted in red ochre and black guano by communities who inhabited this coastline over six thousand years ago.

The cave has been closed to the public since 1987. Human presence — breath, warmth, light — would destroy the fragile microclimate that preserves the paintings. Only researchers with special permits may enter. This experience gives you access no one else has.

Pittogrammi della Grotta dei Cervi
Ricercatrice nella Grotta dei Cervi Only researchers with special permits may enter
02 — The Experience

An immersive VR journey
hosted at the Castello Aragonese

Visitors are welcomed into a dim room inside the Aragonese Castle of Otranto — the closest public institution to the cave, and home to an existing permanent exhibition on the Grotta dei Cervi. Four VR headsets transport them back six thousand years, to a summer sunset at the cave's western entrance.

Before entering, a question appears: Who are you? Each visitor chooses a role — and from that moment, their experience is their own.

ShamanYou perform the ritual. You carry the knowledge.
GuardianYou protect this place. You do not enter by choice.
Devotee IYou come to speak with your ancestor.
Devotee IIYou carry an offering. You want something.
DancerYou don't choose to come. You are called.
Kids~15 min · Ages 13–17
Lighter themes
Light~20 min · Condensed
Essential arc
Full~30 min · Complete
All content
03 — Concept-Based Design

What we want visitors
to feel, understand,
and question

Curiosity

The cave is inaccessible. That inaccessibility is not an obstacle — it is the starting point. The experience is built on information gaps: you know something happened here, but the meaning is open. The pictograms do not explain themselves. Neither does the shaman.

Embodiment

You do not observe the ritual. You are inside it. The choice of character determines not only what you see, but how the cave responds to your presence. The dancer does not walk through the cave — the cave calls the dancer.

Storytelling

Five parallel narratives. One sanctuary. The branching structure mirrors the cave itself — many paths, one convergence point. Every character arrives at the same chamber with a different history written on their body.

04 — User Journey

The emotional arc
of the experience

Ignorance→ Curiosity→ Exploration→ Discovery→ Reflection→ Caring

The experience ends outside the VR. In a darkened room between the headset station and the exit, a reactive LED screen covers one wall. On it: the handprints of every visitor who has lived this experience before you — pale ochre silhouettes on near-black, scattered like the hand stencils on the ceiling of the Sanctuary. You press your hand to the screen. Your mark remains.

05 — Explore

Project materials

Interactive narrative Twine Prototype Enter the story → Wireframes & prototype Figma View the design → Full documentation Design Brief Read the brief →
06 — The Team

CineFiles25

Laura Bortoli Ideation · Lo-Fi Prototype · Storyboard · Website GitHub →
Qinghao Chen Ideation · Twine · Interpretation · Mid-Fi Prototype GitHub →
Claudia Romanello Ideation · Research · Hi-Fi Prototype · Presentation GitHub →
07 — Sources & Credits

Bibliography