Ever wonder what the Eternal City looked like during the Roman Empire’s heyday? To find out, be a fly on an “Aurelian” wall this August and embark on the Virtual Reality Bus (VR BusRoma) tour that hit the cobblestone roads for the first time earlier this summer.
Launched in June, the VR BusRoma tour offers visitors an immersive 3D experience that brings to life the Italian capital’s ancient archaeological remains, iconic monuments and mythical shrines.
Hop on the 16-seater rolling time machine for a 30-minute journey that winds past the city’s most important sites — recreating them as they were thousands of years ago through the magic of cutting-edge, three-dimensional special effects. It’s like peering out a window and into history.
The tour begins on the edge of Piazza Venezia, where the square meets Via dei Fori Imperiali. From here, passengers can catch a realistic glimpse of the center of Rome, circa 753 BCE. Attractions such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus and the Theatre of Marcellus can all be enjoyed from the comfort of an electric-powered coach.
Thanks to a state-of-the-art platform developed and patented by MOVX, the VR BusRoma uses special “visor-free” VR technology to superimpose ancient facades and architectural features over the city’s antiquated structures. The result is the physical sensation of traveling through Imperial Rome 2000 years ago.
It works by synchronizing the movements of the bus (via geolocating) with the reanimated images. As the bus passes each point of interest along the route, motorized curtains open and close allowing riders to make real-time, street-view comparisons of both how it looked then and now.
A true multi-sensory experience, sightseers are not only treated to authentic visuals but olfactory ones, as well. Fragrances such as burning incense and Roman-era perfumes waft through the air to further evoke the character and identity of Rome’s most historic places.
If you go
VR BusRoma departure location: Via dei Fori Imperiali (where the street meets Piazza Venezia)
The company runs nine tours every day through September 30, 2022, with English language tours at 10.35pm, 5.35pm and 6.45pm.
Tickets may be purchased at Colonna Traiana ticket office (Fori Imperiali) or online at the VR BusRoma website.
Full price: €15
Reduced price: €10 (students under 26, teachers, accredited journalists, Roma Pass holders and groups of 10 or more people)
Call 060608 for more information.
