An immersive visit to the Stadio di Domiziano: when technology meets history

Beneath the cobblestones of Rome's famous Piazza Navona lies a treasure of antiquity: the Stadio di Domiziano. Built at the end of the 1st century AD, this stadium was the first permanent building dedicated to athletic games in Rome and could hold up to 30,000 spectators. Since 2021, Sycomore has been working with the site to offer an enriched audio visit experience suited to all audiences.

A flexible, accessible solution: the A-Guide

The site first experimented with the Audiopen, a point-and-listen device, before opting for the A-Guide, a more intuitive and ergonomic solution: visitors simply press a number to trigger the corresponding audio. This ease of use led to rapid adoption, by visitors and on-site staff alike.

With a fleet of 80 A-Guides available for hire at a fixed monthly rate, the site benefits from an economical, scalable solution suited to varying visitor flows, particularly during peak tourist periods. This rental model also guarantees regular maintenance, provided by Sycomore.

Multilingual, immersive audio content

Sycomore designed a complete audio tour with around thirty points of interest for the Stadio di Domiziano, plus an optional extension dedicated to the École Française de Rome, with ten additional points of interest.

The content is available in nine languages: Chinese, German, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This multilingualism ensures maximum accessibility for tourists from all over the world. The narration is well paced, alternating historical facts, anecdotes and immersive descriptions, for a deep dive into the world of ancient Rome.

A version specially designed for children

Aware that families make up a significant share of the audience, Sycomore developed a specific version of the tour for children. Conceived as an adventure, this tour uses a playful tone and age-appropriate storytelling. Parents can thus fully enjoy the adult tour while their children follow their own story, at their own pace.

A digital alternative with the POPGuide app

Alongside the A-Guides, the site also offers access to the tour via the POPGuide app, downloadable on smartphones. This digital alternative lets visitors use their own device, for greater flexibility.

Heritage and innovation

The collaboration between the Stadio di Domiziano and Sycomore embodies the meeting of heritage and innovation. Thanks to a complete technological offering that is multilingual, interactive and inclusive, everyone — curious visitors, families or school groups — finds a form of cultural interpretation that suits them. The Stadio di Domiziano is no longer just a relic to contemplate: it becomes a living stage where history is told to the ear, with clarity, emotion and modernity.