In this exclusive interview with Travel And Tour World (TTW), Todd Porter, CEO of Histoury, shares powerful insights on how technology is redefining heritage exploration. At the core of the conversation is Portyl, Histoury’s groundbreaking XR platform that allows travelers to experience ancient sites—like Pompeii and Herculaneum—as they were 2,000 years ago. Porter, a visionary blending gaming and archaeology, discusses how immersive tech can deepen emotional connection to history and revolutionize volcano tourism worldwide. From real-time CGI recreations of Roman cities to interactive simulations of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption, Portyl offers travelers a front-row seat to the past—right from their smartphones. TTW dives into Portyl’s development, its cultural impact, and how this next-gen innovation is balancing digital storytelling with historical preservation. This feature marks an important moment where technology, travel, and timeless history collide—only here, in TTW’s exclusive sit-down with the mind behind the magic.

In a world where travelers crave deeper, more engaging experiences, Portyl—a revolutionary extended reality (XR) platform by travel tech company Histoury—is reshaping how we explore ancient sites, especially those marked by volcanic tragedy. At the heart of this transformation is CEO Todd Porter’s personal and professional passion for storytelling, history, and digital innovation.

Porter believes volcano tourism, particularly in Italy, is booming not just due to the natural spectacle but because of the powerful emotional draw of standing where history once exploded into life—or ash. The eruption of Mount Etna, for instance, reminds many of the cataclysmic destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Yet, what fascinates travelers is not only the geological power, but the preserved everyday lives of ancient Romans. Unlike castles or temples built to impress, sites like Pompeii offer a rare glimpse into ordinary Roman homes, shops, and streets—essentially, ancient lives frozen in time.

Portyl steps in where imagination falters. Using real-time, geolocated CGI, the app overlays hyper-accurate digital reconstructions of ancient cities like Herculaneum, Pompeii, and soon, Rome, directly onto current ruins. Through your phone, you can see crumbled pergolas restored, ancient coastlines reappear, and Roman citizens go about their daily lives. Portyl also dramatizes historical events—like the initial eruption of Vesuvius—so visitors can witness, in real time, how disaster unfolded. This blend of history and performance, what Porter calls “theastoric,” makes the ancient world vibrantly alive.

Yet, with rising tourism at volcanic and archaeological sites, safety and preservation are front of mind. Porter praises recent conservation efforts in Pompeii, such as protective shelters and visitor limits. However, he also expresses concern about vandalism and the delicate balance between enhancing access through tech and preserving authenticity.

Looking ahead, Histoury will expand Portyl’s platform across iconic Roman locations including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Trajan’s Forum. These sites will not only be reconstructed visually but populated with interactive elements—senators, shopkeepers, even a triumphant Roman parade.

For travelers, Porter’s advice is to explore beyond the obvious. While Vesuvius remains a safe and thrilling climb, lesser-known sites like Ostia Antica, Paestum, or Hadrian’s Villa offer equally breathtaking insights into Rome’s legacy. But if you’re truly seeking to witness ancient life as it was, Portyl may soon become an essential travel companion—bringing the past vividly into the present, one phone screen at a time.

Volcano tourism is surging worldwide, especially in Italy—what do you think is fueling this global fascination with active and historical volcanic sites?

I think seeing the earth’s power up close is certainly a draw. Some, I believe, are thrill-seekers hoping to witness a once in a lifetime event.

I don’t know how many times I’ve climbed Mount Vesuvius, but when I get to the top, I always hope I see something – anything – some smoke, maybe even some flames. Of course, not since the 1940’s has anyone seen anything major – in fact, my father-in-law recounts how he was 5 years old when he put his shoe a lava flow.

Mount Etna’s recent eruption dramatically reminded us of Pompeii’s fate in 79 AD. How does the current situation parallel what ancient citizens might have experienced?

While in some ways it parallels the Vesuvius eruption, it wasn’t as violent.

The Mount Vesuvius explosion in 79AD was a Plinian eruption (named for Pliny the Younger, who documented the look of the eruption) – which resembles the famous pine trees of that region. Their limbs protrude from the very top resembling an umbrella. 

This means the force of the eruption was truly incredible…throwing material over 30 kilometers into the air (over 19 miles). Think how incredible that must have been!

People often mistake Vesuvius for two separate mountains, but that’s because the center of the volcano blew off in the 79AD eruption, forever moving the coastline 1,900 yards outward and burying Pompeii in over 4 meters of ash and pumice and Herculaneum in over 16 meters in some places!

Even the 1940s eruption of Vesuvius wasn’t as violent.

Pompeii and Herculaneum continue to attract millions. What psychological or cultural factors do you believe draw tourists to destinations tied to past disasters?

Imagine if you could freeze time 2,000 years ago and see what life was like. Experiencing history is a universal draw, no matter what the period – for example, people wander the Civil War forts of the United States, the World War II installations in Normandy, or the castles in England.

We look at these places and wonder how different life was for the people of that time.

However, we rarely have everyday life preserved. Sure, there are great castles and fortifications, temples and cathedrals, but what Pompeii and Herculaneum present is the common folk. The homes they lived in and the life they led.

Throughout Italy, we can visit sites that remain intact due to a cataclysmic event, such as Vesuvius, or simply because the location became less important, like Ostia Antica (another well-preserved city, similar to Pompeii and Herculaneum). Their appeal, like their presence, is timeless.

With visitor demand increasing, how can cities like Pompeii balance safety, preservation, and tourism without compromising any one priority?

One of the best things to happen some years ago was that Italy said “enough.” They weren’t going to excavate any more sites before they properly preserved what they had. 

You see this in the most recent dig at Pompeii. Following the famous “pizza” discovery dig, the director of the Pompeii archaeological park constructed an enormous protective structure over the entire excavation. They placed the feet of the structure in the streets – forever modifying the stones – but the tradeoff is a much more efficient way to protect the priceless frescoes, floors, and artifacts of the site.

Additionally, in places like Pompeii, the daily visitor limit is set at 20,000 to manage the wear and tear on the site.  Additionally, if you went to Pompeii years ago you would have noticed more of the shops are closed to entry – to further protect them.

What saddens me is to see graffiti still take place. The truth is, even Herculaneum is too large to monitor adequately. The folks in charge are taking technological steps to prevent further damage, but it’s a tradeoff – how much tech do we impart on the site before we ruin the very thing we’re trying to protect?

In a perfect world, people would respect what they are experiencing and try to preserve it for future generations, but the truth is, there will always be bad actors.

Tell us about Portyl. How does this extended reality experience allow visitors to immerse themselves in the everyday life of ancient Pompeii?

Portyl started 15 years ago when my wife (who is a native of Portici and whose parents still live there) – took me to Herculaneum when we were first married. Her father, Gaetano, used to play in the ruins of Herculaneum after closing hours, as his grandfather had been a caretaker there.

One of the most challenging tasks for visitors when viewing ancient ruins is to envision them as they were during their heyday.

The city blocks are amazing, and there is so much to see, but in some places, it’s just hard to imagine what you’re looking at.

The Roman Forum is in ruins, Largo Argentina is mostly destroyed, and even the Pantheon, which is mostly intact, is missing what used to surround it – including a small arch near where the fountain is today.

In Herculaneum, the best standing example is the House of the Two Deer. Inside this villa is a pergola that overlooks what was, 2,000 years ago, the Bay of Naples. Today, as you look past the beautifully preserved small white table that adorns the center of the pergola, you see 80 feet of a cliff wall and the museum and offices of Herculaneum on top of that. 

When I first saw this, I instantly thought my background in gaming could enhance this experience. Portyl is the culmination of the last 13 years of dreaming and work, including 10 years of innovations until I was able to test advanced graphics on the earliest smartphones.

With Portyl, you lift your phone and look at the site as if you’re taking a picture. Suddenly, the pergola disappears and, in its place, fixed incredibly accurately to the ground, is how the site looked 2,000 years ago. You’re walking around as the Romans once did. And then, perhaps, you notice the woman looking out to sea. She looks forlornly at the bay as if pondering when a loved one will return.

The same is true when you look down on the city of Herculaneum. Instead of the destruction of the city and an 80-foot rock wall, the coastline is revealed, and the reconstruction of every building – exactly where they stood – is shown. As you pan around with your phone, you notice the Roman citizens walking, going about errands, and even the workmen on scaffolding fixing what must have been damaged from the earthquakes that preceded the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Portyl not only recreates Pompeii, but it also shows Vesuvius in its early stages of eruption. We want visitors to experience what it must have been like – the people running, the buildings shaking, the volcano erupting – right on their phones. Not a video, but a real-time, immersive, interactive XR experience locked to the site.

The real magic of Portyl is its impact when you are there. Overlaying the past on the present has such an immersive impact that once you see it, you wonder why these sites didn’t always have this. Forget a folder with images; forget the signage showing artist renderings of what it looked like. Portyl is real-time 3D CGI – and as you move, life 2,000 years ago moves around you.

How is Histoury using technology to deepen historical storytelling for modern tourists—and what’s next for your platform beyond Pompeii?

Pompeii actually comes after Rome and Herculaneum. This was a conscious choice as the size of Pompeii can be daunting to a small company.

Rome will be first – the Colosseum District, the Pantheon, Largo Argentina, Trajan’s Forum, the Theatre of Marcellus…and many others.

Portyl isn’t trying to be a solely historic endeavor. We are trying to mix theater and history, and I’ve come up with a term to describe our mission – Theastoric. This doesn’t mean we are less concerned with accuracy; in fact, we are working with one of the most respected Roman archaeologists as our advisor, Darius Aria.

In the Colosseum district, you can look around on your phone and see the reconstructed Colosseum, the painted Arch of Constantine, the missing Meta Sudans fountain, the Temple of Venus – and most importantly, when you arch your back, you’ll look up at Nero’s Colossus.

But we take this one step further. Of course, you’ll see the citizens, senators, tradesmen, and shop workers, but we also show a triumphant march through Constantine’s Arch – right past the viewer. You’ll experience the long ranks of Roman soldiers parading, complete with war elephants. It is truly a spectacle that anyone with a phone can experience while they are waiting in line to get into the Colosseum or the Forum.

For travelers planning trips to Italy now, especially amid active volcanic threats, what advice would you offer to ensure a safe but enriching experience?

Mount Etna is quite far away from Rome or Pompeii and Herculaneum, so if you’re visiting those regions, you should be safe.

If you want to see amazing things in Italy, there is so much more than just an erupting volcano. Visit Paestum and marvel at the stunning temples. Go to Ostia Antica or Hadrian’s Villa and experience those impressive structures. Travel to the island of Capri and walk to the Villa Jovis – Emperor Tiberius’ palace.

If you must see a volcano, climb Mount Vesuvius. That’s about as thrilling – short of Portyl’s immersive recreations – as anything you’ll experience in real life.

The post How Portyl Is Transforming Volcano Tourism Through Immersive XR Technology appeared first on Travel And Tour World.