360° virtual tour of Les Pesqueres in El Poble Nou de Benitatxell

The challenge: To preserve and raise awareness of a heritage site situated on cliffs that is difficult to access and to conserve

The Pesqueres de Cingle represent an exceptional ethnographic site on the Alicante coast: ancient suspended structures used on the cliffs for small-scale fishing. However, the rugged terrain of the coastline and the natural deterioration of the structures made it extremely difficult to showcase them, open them to the public and promote them in the traditional way without jeopardising people’s safety or the conservation of the environment.

Faced with this situation, the local authority required a cross-cutting heritage digitisation project funded by the European Union. The challenge involved digitally mapping the coastline, documenting historical records and developing a technological interpretation tool accessible to all types of audiences, capable of being used both remotely and on site.

El Poble Nou de Benitatxell Town Council

A coastal municipality in the Marina Alta region (Alicante) committed to sustainable tourism and the modernisation of the management of its historical and natural heritage.

Culture

Víctor Bisquert
Councillor for Tourism, Heritage and Communication

The Pesqueres de Cingle are one of the most authentic expressions of our identity and a unique testament to resilience in the Mediterranean. Through this project, we aim not only to raise international awareness of the memory of the encesers and their families, but also to demonstrate how technology can be harnessed for conservation without altering our protected coastline. The most rewarding thing is that this project is no longer just an idea, but a living reality accessible to all our neighbours and visitors.

The solution: A 360° immersive, multi-device experience featuring historical reconstruction

We have developed a comprehensive solution focused on generating digital reconstructions and immersive 8K scenes using photogrammetry captured by drone. The experience faithfully recreates three locations with historical accuracy, featuring at least nine interactive scenes that incorporate animated 3D characters dressed in traditional costume, professional narration in four languages (Spanish, Valencian, English and French) and hotspots providing additional information with audiovisual material.

The entire experience is delivered via a web application that requires no installation to view. Furthermore, the project is complemented by on-site physical infrastructure: display stands with geolocated QR codes, interpretative panels and the provision of standalone virtual reality headsets to offer direct immersive experiences at the tourist information office and events.

• Compatibility with mobile devices, PCs and VR headsets (Meta Quest and Windows)
• Scanning QR codes on stands in person to access the experience
• Incorporating animated characters wearing traditional dress
• Web administration panel so that council staff can update text and images without needing technical knowledge

Key findings

The implementation of this system has transformed the way in which El Poble Nou de Benitatxell promotes its cultural and natural heritage. By removing the physical barriers to access the cliffs, the solution has made Les Pesqueres accessible to all types of visitors, strengthening local identity and diversifying the tourism offering towards an active, smart and sustainable model.

Furthermore, the local council has succeeded in establishing a scalable digital resource that is wholly publicly owned, in line with the European Union’s strategies for the digitalisation of tourism. The combination of on-site access via QR codes and an immersive experience using VR headsets has positioned Benitatxell as a leader in heritage innovation on the Costa Blanca.