Digitally Rebuilding the Past: Using XR, Photogrammetry, and 3D Printing to Interpret Roman Heritage

Integrating Extended Reality (XR) technologies into Cultural Heritage (CH) sites enhances visitor engagement, increases site visibility, supports sustainable management, and facilitates the preservation and accessibility of cultural content. While these benefits are widely recognized, their application is particularly critical in complex urban environments such as Rome, where major, internationally known monuments often overshadow a vast network of smaller, yet historically significant, sites. In these contexts, XR technologies are not only vital for animating spaces with few surviving artifacts or those difficult to reconstruct, but also for boosting the visibility and appreciation of lesser-known heritage locations. Furthermore, given the operational constraints typical of CH sites, such as conservation requirements, restricted access, and limited budgets, XR solutions offer the added advantage of reducing interpretive and exhibition costs while enabling more flexible and sustainable forms of public engagement. This work presents such a case study: the Bottega space of the Roman Houses on the Celio Hill, where XR technologies, combined with photogrammetry, 3D graphics, and 3D printing, have been deployed to overcome the challenges of limited physical remains, enhance visitor experience, communicate the cultural significance of space, and optimize resource use.