ANDREA PISTOLESI

Spring workshops • April 1-7, 2026

Easter Processions in Sicily – A Journey into Tradition and Culture

In 2000, we held our first workshop outside Tuscany, venturing to Sicily during the Easter processions in the Palermo area. It was a magical experience, but after two years, it became too crowded. Tourists and photographers seemed to outnumber the pilgrims, and we knew it was time to move on.

We found a new “home” on the east coast of Sicily, exploring the towns of Siracusa, Modica, and Scicli. Each had its own unique Easter rituals, and over the years, we fell in love with the area’s authenticity, charm, and quieter, more intimate atmosphere.

Twenty years later, the memories still linger, filling us with nostalgia. So, we thought: Why not bring the workshop back?

Renowned photographer Andrea Pistolesi, who was with us back then, is just as enthusiastic about returning. We’ll base ourselves in Scicli, a small town that comes alive during Easter. For three days, it transforms into a vivid representation of Christ’s Passion, attracting both pilgrims and locals returning home to celebrate with family. Scicli offers a window into the daily life of Sicily—far removed from the touristy bustle of Palermo and Catania.

In the days leading up to Easter, each town in Sicily holds processions re-enacting the Passion of Christ, blending Christian and pagan elements into unique, deeply felt rituals. We will immerse ourselves in this extraordinary experience, capturing the soul of Sicily through our lenses.

Workshop Highlights

Dates: April 1-7 2026

Location: Based in Scicli, with excursions to nearby towns known for their intimate, tradition-filled processions.

Focus: The workshop includes an initial and final review of participants’ work, discussions on storytelling through photography, and a true assignment under the guidance of Andrea Pistolesi, one of today’s most skilled travel photographers.

This is a rare chance to immerse yourself in the everyday life, culture, and powerful Easter traditions of Sicily. Don’t miss it!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Accommodation: Participants can stay in a B&B or hotel in the town center. We’ll provide recommendations and contacts.

Meals: From quick bar snacks to relaxed dinners in local restaurants, there’s plenty to choose from. Usually we are independent for lunches, but we tend to share dinners.

Sea: Just 10 km away, perfect for a quick escape during downtime.

Cars: we will rent a couple a car fro 3 days, in order to travel to the nearby locations. Most activities take part in the evening and we want to be free to move from place to place. The cost will be split among participants.

BIOGRAPHY

Andrea Pistolesi is a documentary photographer and filmmaker with over four decades of professional experience, whose work explores the relationship between people, culture, and the environments they inhabit. His projects are developed through long-term research and sustained fieldwork, combining documentary rigor with a strong authorial visual approach.

Born in Florence, Andrea studied geography before beginning his photographic career in 1981. This academic background has shaped a working method grounded in observation, spatial analysis, and an understanding of cultural and environmental systems—elements that form the core of his teaching approach.

Throughout his career, Andrea has developed documentary projects across Europe, the United States, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. His work has been published internationally by major magazines and cultural institutions, including National Geographic, Time, Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, and Geo.

His projects typically evolve into multiple outputs—editorial publications, documentary films, books, and exhibitions—allowing participants to understand how visual work is conceived, structured, edited, and presented across different formats. Andrea is the sole author of around one hundred photographic books, all conceived as complete outcomes of long-term documentary research rather than isolated image collections.

In his workshops, Andrea focuses on seeing, sequencing, and storytelling: how to read a place, identify meaningful visual structures, build coherent narratives, and edit work with clarity and intention. Emphasis is placed on field methodology, visual consistency, ethical engagement with subjects, and the transition from shooting to editing.

Andrea lives and works between Italy and Asia and continues to develop long-term documentary projects on cultural change and fragile environments, bringing current field experience directly into his teaching.

https://www.andreapistolesi.com

PRACTICAL INFO