The Grotto of the Deluge - Geomatics and digital models of the Grotto of the Animals

The Grotto of the Deluge
Geomatics and digital models of the Grotto of the Animals in the Medici Villa di Castello

The Geomatics Laboratory of the University of Florence has been documenting this extraordinary masterpiece for over a decade—a perfect synthesis of architecture, nature, and engineering expertise.
The video consists of two parts. The first centers around the narration of Dr. Marco Mozzo, who, at the time of recording, served as the Director (2015–2024) of the Garden of Villa di Castello. The second part is narrated by Professor Grazia Tucci, Director of the Geomatics Laboratory for the Environment and Cultural Heritage Conservation (GeCo) at the University of Florence.
Mozzo presents both the broader context of the Garden, within which the Grotta degli Animali is located, and the grotto itself, with its water features as they appear today following recent restoration efforts.
Tucci explains the complex 3D survey operations, the development of surface models, and the creation of a digital twin, which represents a key achievement of this research project. This is not merely a static model but a dynamic system capable of integrating data from various sensors and investigations. It enables the simulation of structural behavior, facilitates an understanding of the overall system's functioning, and allows for testing solutions without directly intervening on the original structure.
This growing repository of data will serve as an essential reference for the conservation, study, and enhancement of this extraordinary masterpiece.
Video program produced by: GeCo Laboratory, University of Florence - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
In collaboration with: MIC - Autonomous Museum of Florentine Villas and Monumental Residences – Garden of the Medici Villa diCastello, directed by architect Federica Bergamini.
Scientific Direction: Grazia Tucci
Film Director: Franco Montanari
Year: 2025
Duration: 13'30"