The Former Monastery of Saints Severino and Sossio: An Example of an Immersive Reality for the Dissemination of Cultural Heritage

The paper presents an immersive digital reconstruction of the former monastery of Saints Severino and Sossio, currently housing the State Archive of Naples, aimed at enhancing cultural heritage dissemination. The methodology integrates historical research, archival documentation, and multi-source digital survey techniques, including photogrammetry, laser scanning, LiDAR, and AI-based approaches such as NeRF and Gaussian Splatting. The resulting 3D model is implemented within a real-time interactive environment using Unreal Engine 5, where advanced rendering technologies (Nanite and Lumen) enable highly detailed and photorealistic visualization. The system is structured as an applied game, allowing users to navigate the architectural complex and explore its historical transformations through a timeline-based interaction. The research highlights the potential of AI-driven workflows and immersive environments to accelerate data acquisition, improve visualization quality, and support both analysis and dissemination of cultural heritage.