A castle perched above the silence of the valley, keeper of centuries of alliances, battles and legends. With the virtual reality film The Secret of San Giovanni, you step into an immersive experience that guides you through the walls and the memories of Bondone Castle, where eras blend and every stone has something to tell. An intense, visual narration that brings you close to forgotten mysteries and stories long left in shadow. A journey between history and enchantment, produced in collaboration with the Associazione Lanzichenecchi of Storo.
The experience is available exclusively at Mediateca dei Popoli in Storo, by booking.
Book your visit, put on the headset, step into history.
Immersive historical VR experience, available exclusively at Mediateca dei Popoli in Storo, by booking.
Where it all happened
The Castle Courtyard
This is where it all begins. The courtyard of San Giovanni Castle welcomes the viewer and draws them into the timeless atmosphere of the keep.
Among ancient stones and suspended silences, the narrator moves between the fortified entrance and the high walls looking out over the Chiese Valley, offering a majestic view of the landscape and of the stories about to be revealed.
The Throne Room
In this intimate, solemn space, the history of the fifteenth century takes shape. Here the Lodron family faces decisions that are crucial to the defence of the territory, in an age marked by political tension and imminent danger.
The footage evokes the tense, strategic mood of those days, with the shadow of the Milanese advance looming over the borders and the determination of the local lords to protect the valley at any cost.
The Secret Room
Wrapped in flickering candlelight, this hidden room holds one of the castle's most mysterious chapters. We are in the seventeenth century, an age of shadowy alliances and strategic understandings with the Habsburg Empire.
Here ancient volumes are opened, confidential documents leafed through, whispers of treaties never made public overheard. The narrator guides the viewer among secrets concealed for centuries, revealing agreements that changed the fate of the valley.
The Panoramic Ramparts
Suspended between sky and stone, the ramparts offer an enchanting view: Lake Idro glinting in the distance, the Chiese Valley opening out in all its breadth. Here the story slows, and the narrating voice invites you to contemplate the passing of time.
Between the rustle of the wind and a gaze that takes in the horizon, the viewer is invited to reflect on what remains, on the marks left by history and on the silent dialogue between nature and memory.
Notice on the use of the VR headset
Wearing the headset is generally well tolerated. In rare cases, particularly sensitive people may feel slight nausea or dizziness in the first few moments. The effect is temporary and harmless, and passes quickly once you have adjusted.
Book your visit
The Virtual Reality film The Secret of San Giovanni can be seen only at the Mediateca dei Popoli venue in Storo, by booking. To take part, go to the “Book your visit” section of the site, choose the date you prefer and fill in the form: you will receive a confirmation by email and can get ready for an immersive journey through mysteries, alliances and breathtaking landscapes.
For those who want to go further, it is possible to request Historical Insights on site: a programme curated by the Associazione Lanzichenecchi of Storo, with thematic notes on San Giovanni Castle, the Lodron family and the threads that tie local history to History at large.
Have questions or want to know more? Contact us directly through the online form or write to info@mediatecadeipopoli.it.
“History is waiting for you. Come and live it first-hand.”