ARTales

ARtales: Rediscovering the Paths of the Charcoal Burners. An Augmented Reality trail between San Pietro and Isola del Gran Sasso.
A journey through time, a tribute to memory.
ARtales is an experiential and cultural tourism project that uses Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance an existing hiking trail, the "Sentiero dei Carbonai."
The goal is to transform a walk into an immersive, emotional, and educational experience, making the history of the area accessible and fascinating, especially for younger generations.
* Technology: Augmented Reality (AR)
* Location: Sentiero dei Carbonai (San Pietro - Isola del Gran Sasso, Abruzzo)
* Narrative Core: The stories of the charcoal burners based on the works of Lucia Marcone.
Literary Inspiration (The Voice of Women)
The work of Abruzzo author Lucia Marcone, particularly "The Barefoot Bride"
The project draws on the powerful narrative of the Abruzzo writer, who dedicated her work to giving voice to heroic and often forgotten figures:
the women charcoal burners.
"On their shoulders they carried not only baskets, but the weight of entire families, of a community, of a tradition built on toil and dignity."
* Narration of resilience: Stories of strength, sacrifice, and a connection to a harsh and wild land.
* Unique perspective: The story is not only that of the charcoal burners who left, but also of those who stayed, worked, and kept the village alive.
* Emotion as language: Her words provide the perfect script for our visual experiences.
The Route and the Stages (II Experiential Journey)
The route winds along the ITALIA trail, accessible from the hamlet of San Pietro (Isola del Gran Sasso). Four main stops have been identified, each with its own dedicated experience.
Route Map:
1. Departure - II Water Center Museum (Trigger: Mural, Work by Lena Cruz)
2. Stop 1 - "The Eye of the Stone" (Trigger: Existing sculpture by Jorg Grunert)
3. Stop 2 - "The Angel Was Silent" (Trigger: Existing sculpture by Jorg Grunert)
4. Stop 3 - "The Lion" (Trigger: Existing sculpture)
5. Arrival - II Water Center Museum** (Info Point and Conclusions)