Ancient ruins are getting modern upgrades

From rare preserved underground homes to rebuilt cathedrals, historic tourist sites around the world are embracing high-tech upgrades that protect the past while still allowing access to visitors.

The latest upgrade comes in Rome, where tourists can now explore a rare and well-preserved ancient buried home without ever stepping inside.

• The House of the Griffins—one of the Rome’s oldest (~2,000 years) and most ornate residences, hidden below the city—has begun offering livestreamed tours led by archaeologists wearing head-mounted cameras.
• Visitors watch from above ground as camera-equipped guides walk through the fragile underground rooms, answer questions, and point out frescoes.

Do as the Romans do

Historic sites around the world are implementing similar tech in an effort to balance conservation with access.

• The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris used detailed 3D scans and VR experiences to let visitors explore the site in the aftermath of the 2019 fire.
• Museums from Paris to New York now offer virtual or augmented-reality tours that recreate lost rooms, artworks, or entire buildings.
• Google’s Arts & Culture platform allows anyone with Wi-Fi wander virtually through famous sites around the world.

It’s self-preservation, literally: For many historic sites, livestreams and virtual tours help them increase demand, stay relevant, and protect places and structures that can’t be repaired once they’re damaged.