Museo Minà Palumbo in Sicily Gets Tech-Forward Redesign by Dotdotdot

The Museo Naturalistico Minà Palumbo in Castelbuono, Sicily, has undergone a comprehensive redesign by Milanese studio Dotdotdot, funded by Italy's PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) for cultural accessibility. The museum, located in the Madonie Park, now features a custom app that activates content via beacons as visitors move through the galleries, two digital dioramas that virtually transport users into the park's ecosystem, and accessible exhibits including braille texts and 3D reproductions. The project prioritizes physical, cognitive, and experiential accessibility, with audioguides tailored to different audiences. One diorama uses 3D environmental scans and sound samples to highlight plant and animal species, while the other presents video interviews with two "mannaroli" (manna harvesters): Mario Cicera, a younger rationalist, and Giulio Gelardi, an older local authority who describes "whispering" to trees. Manna, a sap from a specific ash tree, is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage at risk of extinction. The intervention was led by museum president Michele Spallino and director Salvino Leone, with scientific supervision by Franco Toscano and an interdisciplinary team. Dotdotdot's Laura Dellamotta emphasized that technology serves content, not spectacle.