Combine 3D reconstruction, serious gaming technologies and intriguing digital storytelling and the result is a new way to access and enjoy underwater archaeological sites, even if you are not a scuba diver. Fabio Bruno, professor of Virtual and Augmented Reality at the University of Calabria in Italy, cofounder and President of 3dresearch, a spin-off company specialized in digital technologies for cultural heritage, explains this innovative approach and its advantages to improve access and learning about ancient cultures.

An Ecomuseum in Greece offers Listen-Touch-Feel tours for visually impaired visitors. Italian and Lebanese villages offer simulated underwater trips to archaeological sites to non-scuba divers. Villages across Europe are sharing local history through virtual visits with inhabitants. Through a mix of creativity and digital technologies, small local communities across Europe are seeking to develop socially inclusive experiences and innovative sustainable tourism models built on their cultural heritage.