International recognition for the Hidden Trento app developed by Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Italian-German Historical Institute

This prestigious award, which honors the best multimedia projects dedicated to global cultural heritage, was presented in Budapest during the autumn conference of the European Museum Academy, in collaboration with the Forum of Slavic Cultures. The jury stated the following motivation: “An innovative augmented reality initiative that transforms city streets into Living History trails. Combining first-person narratives, expert commentary, and archival collections, the free apps allow users to explore georeferenced urban landscapes with the guidance of historical characters through stories tied to real places of the past.”

The award—contested by projects from around the world—was given to History City apps particularly for the Hidden Venice routes and the more recent Hidden Trento route, which offers an immersive experience of the city during the 20th century under fascism.

“The Heritage in Motion 2025 award,” Massimo Rospocher, Director of the Italian-German Historical Institute at FBK said, “confirms that History City apps represent European excellence in the digital enhancement of cultural heritage. This award recognizes our ability to merge academic research with innovative technologies, making history accessible and engaging. The Hidden Trento ‘900 trail: the city at the time of fascism, in particular, is a concrete example of how to confront a controversial material legacy and a period like fascism through an immersive experience that invites critical reflection on the past.”

Supported by the CARITRO Foundation, the project was coordinated for FBK-ISIG by Massimo Rospocher, Maurizio Cau and Alessandro Paris, and involved historians from the University of Exeter, the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering of the University of Trento, the Trentino Historical Museum Foundation, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and Activities of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

To explore the experience, simply download the free app—available in Italian, English, and German—from digital stores or directly from the website: https://historycityapps.org/