Augmented Reality (AR) has become an increasingly used technology to support and enhance the enjoyment of cultural heritage. Particularly relevant is its importance for digital storytelling: by framing a portion of a fresco or painting with a smartphone, an AR mobile application can provide contextually relevant information, also in the form of multimedia content, that can help the user to understand the story and meaning behind the images. In this type of application, human factors are of fundamental importance for the effectiveness of the narrative: a mobile AR application must avoid distracting the user’s attention from the content in order to encourage a good level of concentration and immersion. The case study presented in this paper deals with a mobile AR application developed to guide visitors in the interpretation of the frescoes inside the Basilica of Saint Catherina of Alexandria in Galatina. The aim of the study is the analysis of the relations among usability, user experience and mental workload factors in AR-based digital storytelling.

Extended Reality (XR) technology represents an innovative tool to address the challenges of the present, as it allows for experimentation with new solutions in terms of content creation and its fruition by different types of users. The potential to modulate the experience based on the target audience’s needs and the project’s objectives makes XR suitable for creating new accessibility solutions. The “Includiamoci” project was carried out with the aim of creating workshops on social inclusion through the combination of art and technology. Specifically, the experimentation involved ten young people between the ages of 28 and 50, with cognitive disabilities, who participated in Extended Reality workshops and Art Therapy workshops. In the course of these activities, the outputs obtained were two: a virtual museum, populated by the participants’ works, and a digital set design for a theatrical performance. Through two tests, one on user experience (UX) and one on the degree of well-being, the effectiveness of the entire project was evaluated. In conclusion, the project demonstrated how the adopted solutions were appropriate to the objectives, increasing our knowledge of UX for a target audience with specific user needs and using XR in the context of social inclusion.

The theme of accessibility is one of the most delicate aspects within the cultural heritage domain and can be approached in various dimensions, encompassing not only physical accessibility but also sensory and cognitive accessibility. This article presents the outcomes of the implementation of the ‘Intra l’Itri’ project, aimed to enhance the accessibility of the church of Madonna dell’Itri in Nociglia, Italy, using eXtended Reality (XR) technologies. The church harbours an ancient pictorial palimpsest with layers of historical significance, compounded by structural alterations over time. Funded by the Salento Interprovincial University Consortium (Consorzio Universitario Interprovinciale Salentino - CUIS 2020), the project engaged interdisciplinary collaboration involving the University of Salento’s Department of Engineering for Innovation and Department of Cultural Heritage, the Municipality of Nociglia, local companies, associations and professionals. Its objectives encompassed studying and conserving frescoes and the church’s structure, facilitating intelligent cultural immersion, enhancing visitor accessibility and fostering local identity. This contribution focuses on the developments of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications, digital restoration visualisation, as well as 3D and tactile prints. It presents results and findings from the test campaign, validating the digital strategy aimed to enrich the accessibility of this historically significant artistic site.