Visitors to the monumental Baths of Caracalla in Rome can now see them as they appeared when they were inaugurated in the third century AD, at the time the largest baths of the Roman empire, thanks to new virtual reality goggles. The special 3D visors recreate the atriums and chambers, swimming pools and gymnasiums, with their original opulent decorations, and enable those who wear them to get a 360 degree view of the spaces where Romans bathed, read, exercised, socialized and took care of their bodies.

“This is the first archaeological site in Italy, and possibly the world, to be brought alive with this kind of virtual reality technology,” said Giovanna Barni, the head of Coop Culture, the company that developed the software and goggles. “We hope it enriches people’s visits.”  The digital recreation is based on 30 years of research and on original sculptures, objects and works of art that used to decorate the baths, but are no longer in situ.