Barcelona’s IDEAL Digital Arts Centre has opened its most ambitious project to date, ‘The Last Days of Pompeii’, a sprawling immersive exhibition that transports visitors back to the fateful eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Housed temporarily in the Palau Victòria Eugènia in Montjuïc, the 2,000-square-metre experience blends cutting-edge technology with historical narrative to recreate the daily life and dramatic demise of the ancient Roman city.

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The exhibition arrives in Barcelona with significant acclaim, having already attracted over 850,000 visitors on its international tour through cities like Madrid and Beijing. National Geographic also named it the ‘Best Historical Exhibition of 2024’. Furthermore, the opening event in Barcelona will feature a unique local touch with the participation of the ‘manaies de Banyoles’, a traditional group who dress as Roman legionaries.

A Multi-Sensory Roman Experience

The journey begins not with a whimper, but with a bang. Donning a virtual reality headset, visitors are thrust into the heart of Pompeii’s amphitheatre. You arrive by chariot to witness a fierce gladiatorial battle, dodging stray arrows and coming face-to-face with a roaring tiger. In a stunning display of digital artistry, the arena then floods for a naumachia, or simulated sea battle, allowing visitors to observe from an underwater perspective. This high-octane introduction sets the stage for a deeply engaging exploration of the city.

Beyond the VR spectacle, the exhibition features a Treasure Room with original Roman artifacts, including pottery, sculptures, and coins from a private collection. Another hall contains replicas of the famous plaster casts made from the voids left by the victims of the eruption, a poignant reminder of the human cost of the disaster. Interactive elements include an AI-powered photobooth to transform yourself into a Pompeian citizen and a wall where visitors can leave their own Roman-style graffiti, echoing the city’s ancient practice.

Fiction Meets Scientific Fact

The exhibition’s narrative framework is inspired by Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s famous 1834 novel, The Last Days of Pompeii. According to Jordi Sellas, director of IDEAL, the goal was to combine the novel’s romanticism with the latest scientific discoveries about the eruption.

“The idea is to explore Pompeii in a spectacular way during its final days,” Sellas explained during a press presentation. “We blend the romance and power of fiction with the latest scientific findings, remembering that there were no avalanches of lava, as seen in classic films, but a much more complex eruption.”

This commitment to accuracy is evident in the centrepiece of the exhibition: a vast 360-degree projection room that vividly depicts the eruption. It eschews the Hollywood trope of lava rivers, instead illustrating the scientifically accurate, and no less terrifying, pyroclastic flows that ultimately buried the city. Indeed, a report by El País details how the experience is designed to feel as though volcanic stones are raining down from above, creating what Sellas calls “immersive tension.”

In addition to the main projection, visitors can explore a metaverse version of the iconic Villa of the Mysteries, walking through its rooms as they digitally reconstruct themselves to their original splendour. These kinds of immersive digital experiences are becoming a hallmark of Barcelona’s cultural scene, seen in other popular attractions like the Gaudí VR Experience at Barcelona Cathedral.

A Temporary Home in Montjuïc

IDEAL’s move to Montjuïc is a temporary measure while its main headquarters in Poblenou is undergoing renovation. This exhibition will be the last cultural event held at the Palau Victòria Eugènia. The palace will then begin a major transformation as part of the wider revamp of the Montjuïc fairgrounds for its 2029 centenary, which includes an expansion of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC).

“Moving IDEAL here has been a technological challenge,” Sellas admitted, but noted the serendipity of the venue’s coffered ceilings, which recall the dome of the Pantheon in Rome. He also distinguished this exhibition from a previous Pompeii showcase in Barcelona, stating, “We play in a different field; the visitor experience is fundamental here.” This focus on experience means the exhibition is family-friendly, avoiding the more explicit erotic art found in Pompeii and toning down the violence of the gladiator games, a decision that also facilitated its tour in more conservative cultures.

‘The Last Days of Pompeii’ will run until the autumn. Tickets for the 90-minute experience are available through the event partner, Fever.