CASTELBUONO.- Dotdotdot, a multidisciplinary design studio specializing in interactive narrative environments and the translation of complex technologies into practical tools for real-world applications, has been commissioned to reinterpret the visitor experience and the permanent layout of the Museo Naturalistico Minà Palumbo in Castelbuono, in the heart of the Parco delle Madonie (Palermo, Sicily). A new accessible and immersive exhibition and experience, designed to highlight the richness and diversity of the museum’s contents, guides visitors through the territory of the Madonie and the scientific legacy of Francesco Minà Palumbo (Castelbuono, 1814–1899), a 19th-century physician, scientist, entomologist, and scientific illustrator. Design, technology, and storytelling intertwine to give voice and meaning to unique collections and ancient knowledge. An intuitive app guides the visit, while two digital dioramas enhance the connection between the museum and the surrounding landscape.

The museum reopened to the public on July 19.

The project, part of the studio’s long-standing portfolio focused on accessibility in cultural spaces - meant not only physically, but in terms of narrative, cognitive, and experiential terms - demonstrates the potential of storytelling, design, and technology in enhancing both tangible heritage (such as the museum’s collections) and intangible heritage (such as the Parco delle Madonie and its traditions, in particular that of manna, see below). These elements are brought back to the public through two digital dioramas.

An exhibit designed for accessibility

The exhibition has been designed to be fully accessible: panels and display cases with illustrations and texts are positioned at a height that is suitable for visitors with reduced mobility and are enriched with 3D-printed reproductions of artifacts and Braille texts, designed for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

A dedicated app has also been developed, bringing together all the essential information for the visit.

As visitors move through the space, the multimedia guide automatically activates the content from the panels. Furthermore, visitors interested in learning more can activate extra content by simply bringing their phone near special sensors, with no need to touch the screen. To provide a coherent and engaging narrative journey, the museum materials have been organized into sections, each introduced by a display case containing a representative artifact.

A digital diorama and a video: step into the Parco delle Madonie and discover manna

Enhancing the experience are a digital diorama and a video, designed to offer a multisensory journey focused on the territory and its biodiversity.

The diorama allows visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape of the Parco delle Madonie through 3D environmental scans and immersive audio that recreates the natural sounds and atmosphere of the area.

The video, located in the corridor dedicated to manna, tells the story of the traditional processing of this valuable plant substance—so characteristic of the Madonie that it is considered an intangible cultural heritage at risk of disappearing. Manna is extracted by making precise incisions in ash tree trunks, following specific timing and techniques that have been passed down for generations by the mannaroli (manna harvesters). In a video-diorama, Dotdotdot gives voice to two of them: an elderly master who speaks to the trees, and a young grower who shares his more “scientific” approach to collecting this unique product.

Museum content

The museum tour begins with a section dedicated to the life and work of Francesco Minà Palumbo (1814–1910), exploring his many identities: philanthropist doctor, botanist, and illustrator, author of over 1,000 scientific texts and extraordinary naturalistic tables. His multidisciplinary approach, combining medicine, agriculture, zoology, and art, remains a model of integrated thinking even today.

This is followed by a series of exhibition rooms devoted to the main areas of naturalistic research:

Biodiversity: The museum celebrates over 1,600 plant species and the full spectrum of fauna found in the Madonie, one of the most biodiverse areas in the Mediterranean.

• Entomology: More than 15,000 specimens, including beetles and butterflies, from Minà Palumbo’s original collection as well as more recent acquisitions.

• Zoology: Ornithological collections and bone specimens, featuring rare examples such as the slender-billed curlew, the Eurasian eagle-owl, and the Egyptian vulture.

• Mineralogy: Samples personally collected by Minà, along with the Giuseppe Torre collection.

• Malacology: Terrestrial and freshwater shells, including the newly identified fossil species Cassidaria minae.

• Paleontology: Fossils of the Sicilian dwarf elephant and other Madonie specimens illustrated by Minà.

• Archaeology: Artifacts from Madonie prehistory and relics from the ancient artisanal industries of Castelbuono.

• Manna: An immersive section dedicated to manna cultivation, blending tradition and innovation.

The visit concludes with a new Art Gallery, hosting a collection of contemporary artworks inspired by nature and by the work of Minà Palumbo.