Geometric Documentation and Virtual Tour to Enhance the Pikionis’ Cobbled Path on Filopappos Hill

Abstract. This project focuses on the documentation, protection, and enhancement of cultural heritage through the use of contemporary technologies, combining geometric documentation techniques with immersive virtual experiences. The case study concerns a significant architectural and landscape work by Dimitris Pikionis (1887–1968): the cobbled path on the Hill of the Muses (Filopappos), located west of the Acropolis in Athens. This pathway, both a modern monument and an archaeological site, holds exceptional architectural and historical value. It links the western ridge of the hill with the plateau leading to the Propylaea, offering distinctive views of the Acropolis from the west. Designed in situ, it incorporates fragments and marble inlays from demolished neoclassical buildings of Athens, reflecting a deliberate synthesis of history, material reuse, and landscape architecture. The innovation of this project lies in the integrated and holistic approach, employing photogrammetry, archival research, and historical analysis to document and interpret a segment of the pathway. The resulting digital models serve as the basis for an interactive virtual tour, communicating spatial, architectural, and cultural information to a wide audience. This methodology demonstrates how digital tools can support historical interpretation, long-term preservation, and meaningful public engagement with culturally significant heritage sites, offering novel ways to experience and understand layered urban landscapes.