Sicily Histories App Blends Gaming and Cultural Tourism

Sicily Histories, a new app developed by the startup Hi.Stories, merges video game mechanics with traditional tourist guides to explore Sicilian heritage. Founded by Riccardo Bonina (CEO), Angelo Mangano (CTO), Luna Meli (project manager), Luca Pappalardo, and Giuseppe Sapienza, the startup won the Cultura Crea call by Invitalia. The app, released for Android and iOS, offers four itineraries—archaeological, medieval, baroque, and Garibaldino—covering cities including Palermo, Catania, Messina, Enna, Agrigento, Trapani, Marsala, and Siracusa. Points of interest feature texts by authorized guides and experts. The guide section is free; the game section requires a small payment. The project evolved from an earlier cultural association that organized guided tours with ludic elements, now digitized for individual use. Future plans may include multiplayer integration.