XpRience Thess Pilot Testing Program
As part of the implementation of the XpRience Thess Program, the Pilot Test of the Guided Walking Tour in the center of Thessaloniki took place on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Through the social media campaign that preceded the event to inform the public and gather expressions of interest, 72 participation requests were collected from all age groups. The number of participants for the Pilot Test was set at 25, who, despite the adverse weather conditions of the day, showed up at the predetermined meeting point—Aristotelous Square—for the start of the tour.
The primary objective of XpRience Thess is the design of three Guided Walking Tours enriched with digital applications including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and an interactive map. The thematic focus of the tours is the period from 1850 to 1950 and the three major religious communities of Thessaloniki during that era: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The XpRience Thess Tours unfold in three different areas of the city, and the guided tours, in addition to references to relevant historical landmarks and events, are accompanied by the narratives of three virtual characters created by the program's working group: Aaron Halevi, a Jewish resident of central Thessaloniki; Tarik Huseinoglou, a Muslim native of Ano Poli; and Katerina Sarafi, a Christian who lived in the neighborhoods of the Exoches district.
The Pilot Guided Tour, which took place in the center of Thessaloniki and focused on the city's Jewish heritage, started at 11:00 from the meeting point—Aristotelous Square (AR app). Along the route, stops were made for guided tours at Yahudi Hamam on Komninon Street, Kapani and Modiano markets, Athonos Square (VR app), Bit Bazaar, the Administration Building, the Monastirioton Synagogue on Syngrou Street, Frangon Street (AR app), Eleftherias Square (VR app), and the Stein Mansion (AR app) on Venizelou Street. The tour concluded at 14:00, followed by the completion of evaluation questionnaires by the participants at a nearby café, where warm beverages were served to the guests. Discussions about their experience ensued, along with the sharing of personal family stories of Thessaloniki's Jewish community.