Digital Platform 'Preserving Assisi' Launches with 3D Reconstruction of Basilica of St Francis

A new digital initiative, Preserving Assisi, has launched a complimentary platform that features a 360-degree reconstruction of the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in central Italy. Created by Haltadefinizione, the platform became accessible on Wednesday, enabling users to virtually navigate the Upper and Lower basilicas and their exterior from a first-person viewpoint, using arrow keys akin to Google Maps. It boasts 27,000 high-definition images taken over the past two years, culminating in 116 gigapixel images. Users can closely inspect frescoes, including Giotto's Homage of a Simple Man (circa 1300) and Pietro Lorenzetti's Crucifixion (circa 1320), the latter featuring nearly eight billion pixels. This project seeks to enhance accessibility and establish a digital archive for future studies, with ongoing digitisation efforts planned. Past photographic campaigns have been essential; in 1997, earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 6.0 caused significant damage to the basilica, impacting Giotto's cycle and works by Cimabue. At that time, a campaign by Franco Cosimo Panini Editore provided crucial high-definition images for restoration efforts.