MOBARTECH: Working with the Public to Explore their Perceptions of Mantua and Sabbioneta

This article describes a research project entitled Mobartech, a technological platform for studying and promoting historical and artistic heritage assets, co-funded by the Lombardy Region and the FSeR with the aim of stimulating industrial research, experimental development, and innovation in processes and organizations. The project comprised three case studies: an individual painting, Il Quarto Stato by Pelizza da Volpedo held at Milan’s Museo del Novecento; frescoes from the Giotto school in the Palazzo dell'Arcivescovado in Milan; and the cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta, which together form a single UNESCO world heritage site. We focus here on the third of these case studies, whose twin goals were to conduct scientific research on and promote the cultural heritage sites of Mantua and Sabbioneta by inviting the direct participation of members of the public. The first step in the case study was listening to the voices of the cities’ users, by conducting strategic interviews on site, and developing and administering two questionnaire formats (traditional and digital) with a view to exploring tourists’ and locals’ relationship with the two cities and their suggestions for improving them. This article specifically examines the interview data, which told the story of the respondents’ ties with Mantua and Sabbioneta, brought to light little-known aspects of the city, and informed the construction and sharing of collective knowledge at later stages of the project. The ultimate aim was to develop a toolkit for enhancing visitors’ and locals’ experience of the site. The kit included both physical and digital resources. The entire project was conducted within the framework of informal and inclusive education.