Location
Monserrat
Start Date
25-6-2026 9:30 AM
End Date
25-6-2026 11:00 AM
Description
The digitisation of cultural languages supposes new challenges and opportunities in the interpretation of religious heritage. From a theoretical perspective, sacred sites can be understood as symbolic realities where material and immaterial dimensions converge. Sacred places are not only architectural containers, but spaces of meaning that articulate identity, memory and transcendence (Aulet & Vidal, 2018).
The preservation of the meaning, identity and original function of sacred spaces in contexts of high tourist accessibility (Aulet & Duda, 2020). Technology, far from being a merely instrumental element, can act as a symbolic mediation that reinforces this sustainability if it contributes to improving intellectual and emotional accessibility without altering the nature of the place (Kandil, 2024).From the perspective of the visitor experience, the incorporation of digital tools audio guides, augmented reality, virtual reality or immersive experiences can facilitate a symbolic reading that provides a more conscious and meaningful experience. When these tools are integrated with criteria of narrative coherence and liturgical respect, they can become instruments of spiritual accompaniment.
The article analyses these approaches based on two case studies in Barcelona: the Barcelona Cathedral and the Luminescence immersive experience in Santa Maria del Pi. In the first case, digital resources facilitate the understanding of a complex architectural and liturgical space, expanding the interpretive capacity of the visitor. In the second, the immersive proposal based on light, sound and narrative re-actualizes the symbolic dimension of the temple and attracts new audiences, without disassociating itself from the historical and spiritual story.
The results suggest that digital implementation, when based on academic, pastoral and heritage criteria, does not denature the temple, but rather updates its communicative language and reinforces the transmission of its foundational values. Technological innovation can be understood as a contemporary form of renewal, coherent with the cultural and spiritual sustainability of sacred spaces.
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Included in
B1) The Implementation of Digital Tools in the Interpretation of Heritage From a Cultural and Pastoral Perspective
Monserrat
The digitisation of cultural languages supposes new challenges and opportunities in the interpretation of religious heritage. From a theoretical perspective, sacred sites can be understood as symbolic realities where material and immaterial dimensions converge. Sacred places are not only architectural containers, but spaces of meaning that articulate identity, memory and transcendence (Aulet & Vidal, 2018).
The preservation of the meaning, identity and original function of sacred spaces in contexts of high tourist accessibility (Aulet & Duda, 2020). Technology, far from being a merely instrumental element, can act as a symbolic mediation that reinforces this sustainability if it contributes to improving intellectual and emotional accessibility without altering the nature of the place (Kandil, 2024).From the perspective of the visitor experience, the incorporation of digital tools audio guides, augmented reality, virtual reality or immersive experiences can facilitate a symbolic reading that provides a more conscious and meaningful experience. When these tools are integrated with criteria of narrative coherence and liturgical respect, they can become instruments of spiritual accompaniment.
The article analyses these approaches based on two case studies in Barcelona: the Barcelona Cathedral and the Luminescence immersive experience in Santa Maria del Pi. In the first case, digital resources facilitate the understanding of a complex architectural and liturgical space, expanding the interpretive capacity of the visitor. In the second, the immersive proposal based on light, sound and narrative re-actualizes the symbolic dimension of the temple and attracts new audiences, without disassociating itself from the historical and spiritual story.
The results suggest that digital implementation, when based on academic, pastoral and heritage criteria, does not denature the temple, but rather updates its communicative language and reinforces the transmission of its foundational values. Technological innovation can be understood as a contemporary form of renewal, coherent with the cultural and spiritual sustainability of sacred spaces.