The Castelluccio of Gela: from documentation to digital rediscovery

This paper focuses on the investigations carried out at the Castelluccio di Gela: a 13th-century fortified complex set within the landscape of southern Sicily. Strategically positioned on a gypsum outcrop, the structure is today almost neglected, despite the conservation treatment a rudere undertaken between the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The research presented here seeks to advance knowledge of the site by integrating state-of-the-art digital techniques into processes of survey, interpretation, and representation. The methodological framework combines historical-architectural enquiry with the potential of digital recording and modelling technologies. A high-precision architectural and geometric survey was conducted using a combination of terrestrial laser scanning and both aerial and ground-based photogrammetry. The resulting dataset was processed to generate a comprehensive 3D model of the complex, supporting both the analysis of decay and the planning of interventions for conservation and architectural requalification. The approach adopted is non-invasive and respectful of the site’s historical fabric. The design proposal envisions a coherent strategy that incorporates new contemporary architectural devices, such as suspended walkways and lightweight shelters, alongside digital reconstructions and interactive conceptual models for virtual reality applications. The outcome is an enhanced mode of heritage engagement: accessible, immersive, and narrative, capable of conveying not only the architectural configuration but also the historical, symbolic, and landscape values embedded in the monument. The contribution intends to demonstrate how a multidisciplinary, innovation-oriented methodology can transform a deserted heritage asset into a dynamic cultural experience, aligning survey, visualisation, and interpretation within a unified and scientifically grounded design vision.