MeMo-ViAM. Memory of Montecassino. Virtual and Accessible Museum
MeMo-ViAM was conceived with the aim of creating a Virtual and Accessible Museum of the Memory of Montecassino: an innovative, scientifically and technologically advanced model, designed as a prototype initially applied to a selected group of works from the Abbey of Montecassino’s book heritage, and subsequently intended to expand progressively to the entire collection.
In this first phase, the project focuses on a number of particularly significant medieval codices and on the post-war conservation history, it is conceived as a modular and open platform, capable of incorporating over time testimonies from different periods and of different types.
The main objectives of MeMo-ViAM are:
- To develop a web platform dedicated to the Virtual Museum of the Memory of Montecassino, enabling users to explore the Cassinese book heritage through 3D reconstructions, animations, texts, images, videos, and digital storytelling tools.
- To ensure full accessibility of the manuscript heritage for all audiences, including people with visual and hearing impairments, through the use of assistive technologies and solutions designed to overcome sensory barriers. MeMo-ViAM’s interfaces are designed in compliance with international web accessibility guidelines (W3C), as adopted by European Directive 2016/2102 (Web Accessibility Act) and by Italian legislation (Law no. 106/2018).
By combining accessibility and digital technologies, MeMo-ViAM positions itself as an advanced prototype of a Virtual Museum of Memory, closely integrated with the physical museum of the Abbey of Montecassino, expanding its opportunities for access, knowledge, and participation.
From its very title, the project is directly linked to the work of cataloguing and digitising the manuscript heritage of the Abbey of Montecassino carried out within the framework of the MeMo – Memory of Montecassino project, funded by PRIN 2020.
MeMo-ViAM also builds upon the expertise developed in Cassino within the context of the “Museo Facile” project, an integrated and innovative system for cultural communication and accessibility aimed at promoting the enjoyment of museum heritage by diverse audiences, which has since been consolidated in the research laboratory of the same name within the Department of Letters and Philosophy.
The project, funded by PRIN 2022 and with a two-year duration, involves two research units: the lead unit of the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, and the unit of Sapienza University of Rome.
MeMo-ViAM. Memory of Montecassino – Virtual and Accessible Museum (project code: 2022ZS7XBH) is a PRIN 2022 Project of Relevant National Interest – CUP H53D23011520006.
