April 2010. I sneaked this picture during the celebrations for the 60th wedding anniversary of a couple of farmers. They were passionately kissing and it was a big emotion to witness this moment: the discovery of the soul of Vallecastellana, a small village near Teramo, in the "strong and gentle" region of Abruzzo.

Giuseppe and Marenza (33 and 29, respectively) moved from their family homes in Basilicata, in Southern Italy, to look for a job in Florence. Giuseppe, with a degree in Political Science, has since lost his job as an employee in a bank ago and relocated to Bollate, near Milan, to work as a part-time postman. Marenza still works in Florence. The portrait was taken in Grabagnate Milanese.

A child marked with animal blood during the Easter procession in Nocera Terinese, near Catanzaro.

Marzia Davide, here in the Pontecagnano gym (just outside Naples) where she trains daily, won the 2002 Silver Medal during the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

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Thanks to a special grant, Andrea Subani can now live in one of the abandoned structures of the former military base in Peteano, near Gorizia.

Gypsy kid inside a stable occupied by her community

Dino's orchard.

A member of the Italian Alpine Troops, veteran of the Second World War and survivor of the Russian campaign.

A shepherd in an old farmhouse during a break. Frosolone, near Isernia.

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Traditional horse race called "Sartiglia", in Oristano.

Contrada Cittadella, near Modica. At this location, on the tragic night between October 27-28, 2007, a rubber dinghy capsized claiming the lives of 16 people. A total of 37 between Palestinians and Egyptians citizen were traveling on it, setting off from a harbor in Egypt after paying traffickers to reach Europe. We mourn these victims, some of them still unknown to this day, as well as the thousands of other human lives lost since 1992, as a result of the politics of European countries against those people forced to flee their countries.

I've known A. since I was born, she's my best friend. While I've always dreamed to leave, she has always fiercely wanted to stay. She's six months pregnant now, even more wonderful and optimist than she used to be. Though last time we met, she confessed: "You know I've always believed that staying was the right thing to do, and I still do. But lately I realised people are not like I thought they were, and I've lost some confidence in how beautiful everything can be, and most of all I'm not that sure that things can really change."

Erica was walking by during an event in Bolzano when I asked permission to take her portrait. She has been living in the city for ten years now, but she hails originally from Brescia. She moved here out of love, is taking a degree in psychology and currently works in a youth centre. What she loves the most about Bolzano is the smallness and quietness of the city. What she really dislikes about it - that it is really too small and quiet.

Men at work in a yard in Spoleto

Giuseppe, shepherd. Saint Barthèlemy Valley.

My sister Anna, 26, with her dog Bacco by Lake Garda. Anna loves this part of the country and she has decided to come back here together with her boyfriend. Now she is expecting a baby.