An artificial lake on the site of a former sulphur mine.
An artificial lake on the site of a former sulphur mine.
2 / 47
Commercial trucks transit day and night through the industrial area of Santa Palomba.
Commercial trucks transit day and night through the industrial area of Santa Palomba.
3 / 47
Street prostitution proliferates, catering to the many truck drivers from all over Europe, who approach the area daily.
Street prostitution proliferates, catering to the many truck drivers from all over...READ ON
Street prostitution proliferates, catering to the many truck drivers from all over Europe, who approach the area daily.
4 / 47
An ancient map of the area
An ancient map of the area
5 / 47
Sulphur springs.
Sulphur springs.
6 / 47
A resident of Santa Palomba.
A resident of Santa Palomba.
7 / 47
The industrial plant of Procter & Gamble.
The industrial plant of Procter & Gamble.
8 / 47
Workers at the Fiorucci meatpacking plant.
Workers at the Fiorucci meatpacking plant.
9 / 47
A bale of hay.
A bale of hay.
10 / 47
The Mayor of Pomezia tries to identify and promote measures aimed at protecting and increasing the value of the territory.
The Mayor of Pomezia tries to identify and promote measures aimed at protecting and...READ ON
The Mayor of Pomezia tries to identify and promote measures aimed at protecting and increasing the value of the territory.
11 / 47
The Museum of "The Baths of Diocleziano" in Rome preserves Roman findings discovered in the Santa Palomba area.
The Museum of "The Baths of Diocleziano" in Rome preserves Roman findings...READ ON
The Museum of "The Baths of Diocleziano" in Rome preserves Roman findings discovered in the Santa Palomba area.
12 / 47
A plastic recycling facility.
A plastic recycling facility.
13 / 47
Several companies established their headquarters in the area.
Several companies established their headquarters in the area.
14 / 47
Padre Carlos is the leader of the local church that serves the very few residents of the area.
Padre Carlos is the leader of the local church that serves the very few residents of the area.
15 / 47
The local rail road, serving commuters and commercial traffic.
The local rail road, serving commuters and commercial traffic.
16 / 47
Agricultural activities and farms are still present in the area though struggling to survive the globalization, high taxes and production costs that have increased dramatically in recent years.
Agricultural activities and farms are still present in the area though struggling to...READ ON
Agricultural activities and farms are still present in the area though struggling to survive the globalization, high taxes and production costs that have increased dramatically in recent years.
17 / 47
One of numerous illegal dumping sites.
One of numerous illegal dumping sites.
18 / 47
Mouthwash bottles on a conveyor belt at the Johnson & Johnson industrial plant.
Mouthwash bottles on a conveyor belt at the Johnson & Johnson industrial plant.
19 / 47
A truck driver.
A truck driver.
20 / 47
In May 2006, a precious polychrome mosaic made up of fine African marble tiles was found in Santa Palomba.
In May 2006, a precious polychrome mosaic made up of fine African marble tiles was found...READ ON
In May 2006, a precious polychrome mosaic made up of fine African marble tiles was found in Santa Palomba.
21 / 47
The absence of infrastructure and planning in the area has led to economic, environmental and social decay.
The absence of infrastructure and planning in the area has led to economic, environmental...READ ON
The absence of infrastructure and planning in the area has led to economic, environmental and social decay.
22 / 47
A young prostitute of Sinti origin showing off her gypsy tattoo.
A young prostitute of Sinti origin showing off her gypsy tattoo.
23 / 47
A wild poppy.
A wild poppy.
24 / 47
A few horses are kept within the grounds of a goods storage facility.
A few horses are kept within the grounds of a goods storage facility.
25 / 47
A local shepherd.
A local shepherd.
26 / 47
One of several medieval towers scattered around the area.
One of several medieval towers scattered around the area.
27 / 47
Workers at the meatpacking plant "Fiorucci".
Workers at the meatpacking plant "Fiorucci".
28 / 47
A man of Sinti origin singing at a karaoke during the annual celebration of the patron saint day.
A man of Sinti origin singing at a karaoke during the annual celebration of the patron saint day.
29 / 47
Sulphur springs at night.
Sulphur springs at night.
30 / 47
Procter & Gamble industrial plant.
Procter & Gamble industrial plant.
31 / 47
The recently built hotel/residence 3C, was never used as intended and became home to a program serving refugees and immigrants.
The recently built hotel/residence 3C, was never used as intended and became home to a...READ ON
The recently built hotel/residence 3C, was never used as intended and became home to a program serving refugees and immigrants.
32 / 47
The view of the Santa Palomba area from the hills of Mount Albano.
The view of the Santa Palomba area from the hills of Mount Albano.
33 / 47
An abandoned farm house.
An abandoned farm house.
34 / 47
A young prostitute.
A young prostitute.
35 / 47
The Festival of Lights in the nearby town of Pomezia.
The Festival of Lights in the nearby town of Pomezia.
36 / 47
The antenna towers of the national radio.
The antenna towers of the national radio.
37 / 47
Residents celebrating the annual patron saint day.
Residents celebrating the annual patron saint day.
38 / 47
An abandoned shopping center.
An abandoned shopping center.
39 / 47
A local farmer posing next to the remains of a medieval tower that stands on her property.
A local farmer posing next to the remains of a medieval tower that stands on her property.
40 / 47
The Lavinium Archaeological Museum hosts the remains of a necropolis that includes relics of houses, walls, thermal baths and a sanctuary, named “Sanctuary of the Thirteen Altars”.
The Lavinium Archaeological Museum hosts the remains of a necropolis that includes relics...READ ON
The Lavinium Archaeological Museum hosts the remains of a necropolis that includes relics of houses, walls, thermal baths and a sanctuary, named “Sanctuary of the Thirteen Altars”.
41 / 47
Sergio, a resident of Santa Palomba, commutes every day into Rome metropolitan area, to attend his job.
Sergio, a resident of Santa Palomba, commutes every day into Rome metropolitan area, to...READ ON
Sergio, a resident of Santa Palomba, commutes every day into Rome metropolitan area, to attend his job.
42 / 47
Wheat being harvested at a local farm.
Wheat being harvested at a local farm.
43 / 47
A room inside the "Pratica di Mare Castle". The property stands on the ruins of the ancient city of Lavinium, founded according to the myth by Aeneas, who landed on the Lazio coast after escaping from Troy. It belong to the Borghese family since 1617, over time it has been the center of life of the local civilization and neighboring communities.
A room inside the "Pratica di Mare Castle". The property stands on the ruins...READ ON
A room inside the "Pratica di Mare Castle". The property stands on the ruins of the ancient city of Lavinium, founded according to the myth by Aeneas, who landed on the Lazio coast after escaping from Troy. It belong to the Borghese family since 1617, over time it has been the center of life of the local civilization and neighboring communities.
44 / 47
A worker at the Johnson & Johnson industrial plant.
A worker at the Johnson & Johnson industrial plant.
45 / 47
The Cave of Pan (Grotta del Fauno), according to the poet Virgil, was a crucial place of worship for King Latin.
The Cave of Pan (Grotta del Fauno), according to the poet Virgil, was a crucial place of...READ ON
The Cave of Pan (Grotta del Fauno), according to the poet Virgil, was a crucial place of worship for King Latin.
46 / 47
A resident of the area living in a run-down shack near an industrial plant.
A resident of the area living in a run-down shack near an industrial plant.
47 / 47
Commercial trucks transit day and night through the industrial area of Santa Palomba.
Commercial trucks transit day and night through the industrial area of Santa Palomba.
Aeneas's Land
This project is a photographic exploration of Pomezia and Santa Palomba, an urban area fifteen kilometers South of Rome, Italy. It is a narrative of high contrasts in a territory characterized by an unusual degree of historical, geographical and environmental diversity. The area includes the remains of an ancient city, the tomb of a Greco-Roman mythological hero (Aeneas), Roman ruins, medieval relics, a natural reserve, an artificial lake on the site of a former sulphur mine, natural sulphur springs, and agricultural, industrial and residential developments, many of which have been subjected to economic, social and environmental decay. Historically, the area is of great significance. In the last century, an archaeological excavation in Pomezia, in the village of Pratica di Mare, uncovered the remains of a necropolis and identified it as Lavinium, an ancient city that pre-dates Rome. According to Greco-Roman mythology, the city was founded by Aeneas, who named it after Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, King of the Latins. The mythological relationship between these two rulers, the founding of the city, and subsequent formation of Rome, featured in the Latin epic poem, the Aeneid, by Virgil. In grim contrast, more recent developments within the area have been less poetic. In 1955 the government established the “Cassa per il Mezzogiorno”, a funding program whose aim was to bridge the prosperity gap between Northern and Southern Italy through a series of financial policies. Within a few decades funding ran out, labor costs increased and manufacturing declined with the onset of globalization. In the sixties, the sulphur mining company, Co.Mi.Ro, constructed a new plant in the area and commenced extraction for the first time since the Romans. However, the project was abruptly interrupted in response to Italy’s evolving industrial needs, leaving abandoned quarries, derelict buildings and corroded equipment in its wake. As a consequence, the fabric of the community quickly unraveled. The absence of infrastructure and planning has led to heavy vehicle congestion, uncontrolled waste disposal, and prostitution. The mayor of Pomezia and various citizen committees are trying to identify and promote measures aimed at protecting and increasing the value of the territory. The photographs both represent and transfigure, reconnecting to a lost place and time. The inhabitants of the area - the figures in transit, the souls of the streets, the smoky industrial plants, the truck drivers, the shepherds, the prostitutes, the beekeepers, the wheat and tulip fields, the 8th-century look-out towers are paradigms of an art that founds in the margins a land of relation and exchange.