THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN MASSIMO IN FORCONA (AQ): ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATED DIGITAL EXPERIENCES FOR VR EXPLORATION AND SITE ENHANCEMENT

Abstract. The contribution aims to present the results obtained from the archaeological analysis of the architecture of the Cathedral of San Massimo in Forcona (AQ), which took place in 2021, focusing on the digital systems used for the documentation and valorization of the monument. The work is part of a broader research project developed by the University of L'Aquila and focused on the archaeological study of medieval architecture as a function of the creation of a database on a chronological-typological basis of the masonry construction techniques of the city and its territory. The first structure to be analyzed was the Cathedral of San Massimo in Forcona, which, although it is located at a significant distance from the city center, represented a power pole of fundamental importance for the political-economic administration of the territory, at least until the construction of the city of L'Aquila. The documentation carried out through integrated TLS/SfM digital surveys and archaeological analysis allowed first to establish a chronological sequence of the construction phases of the church, but also to hypothesize through 3D reconstructions the historical evolution of the entire architectural complex. These reconstructions then became the digital support for the creation of a series of immersive VR systems aimed at providing experiences of interactive storytelling and dissemination of research outcomes.