25/11/2009
Vitoria-Gasteiz, 25th November 2009.- Santa María Cathedral has renewed its web page to make it more modern, practical and participative. This change of design, contents and even objectives aims to make knowledge concerning the recovery process of the temple in Vitoria available and to encourage citizens to participate by means of this channel.
Nine years after it was first set up, the Cathedral's web page (www.catedralvitoria.com) has evolved as regards its philosophy, objectives, design and also its content. The new web page aims to be useful, practical and intuitive for the different user profiles that can browse through it. For this reason attention has been paid to, for example, restoration professionals, visitors to the cathedral, people interested in art, children, etc. It will also offer a closer look at the new content generated during the restoration process of the temple thanks to the fact that content management shall now depend directly on the Santa María Cathedral Foundation. Naturally, all the information regarding the project, the Master Plan, its history or the Foundation that manages it is maintained.
Another of its most remarkable features is that it makes interaction possible with users who visit the Cathedral through its web page, using interactive tools such as the blog and the photoblog. These two new tools aim to provide us with information on the opinion of citizens concerning the project, the activities, the visits or any other issues that might interest them. In addition, the photoblog will offer the chance to anyone visiting the Cathedral to send their photos so they can be uploaded to the web page. To encourage participation, the photoblog will kick off with the section 'My photo with Ken Follet', where visitors are asked to send photos of themselves taken with the statue of the famous writer. The change has also been used as a chance to make the web page accessible to users with disabilities and to comply with the Double-a level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 by the W3C.
New contents
As for the design, the new web page has gone through a complete graphical overhaul, paying particular attention to making browsing more intuitive. It also allows a large portion of the home page to be modified, to adjust it to the different contents that need to be highlighted at each moment. As for the evolution of the contents, previous sections are improved, such as the option of booking guided tours of the temple and the medieval wall, or the virtual tours. From now on this space will offer the chance to go on virtual tours in fullscreen and with great detail in practically every corner of the Cathedral.
One of the main features is that not only can spaces be traveled, but also time, learning how work has progressed over the years. Among the new sections, an important feature is the media library, which will offer downloads of up-to-date photos of the restoration process sorted by date, or cultural events organised, infographics, videos and even publications. Another new section shall be dedicated to the patrons, where information can be obtained on the different patronage and sponsorship programmes set up by the Santa María Cathedral Foundation, and where even contributions and donations can be made.
Katedralia has been created with the youngest in mind, a section which is still being worked on but where for the time being cut-outs and drawings to colour in can be downloaded.