After a year and a half of work, the 3D relief of Palazzo Pitti in Florence has been completed, entirely reproduced in high definition in every detail: from the exterior to the interior architectural structures to the works on display.
The project is a collaboration between the Uffizi Galleries and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Florence.
This is the first time, the museum explains in a note, that such a vast and articulated ancient complex has been fully reproduced in 3D.
With the digital reconstruction of Palazzo Pitti, it is now also possible to see the missing 'Snail Staircase' built in the 16th century by Bartolomeo Ammannati, traces of which had been lost after its demolition centuries ago.
The project was presented during the study day 'Palazzo Pitti and its digital twin: great historical buildings in the age of technological transition.
For the Director of the Uffizi Galleries, Eike Schmidt,
“The Uffizi is once again at the forefront of technological development: the digital twin, faithful down to the millimetre, of the Palazzo Pitti, is not only of enormous value as a documentation of the status of the Reggia, but also offers data for knowledge and historical research.
“But it does not only look at the past and present, but also at the future: it is a very important tool for maintenance and restoration planning.”
Associate professor of topography and cartography at the University of Florence, Grazia Tucci, explained that:
"The 3D model, which derives from the survey using geomatic methodologies, will be a useful tool for knowledge, conservation and management of the building, but for this to happen, it is essential to create a management model for archiving, conserving and updating the survey data.”
