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MARETERNO is a photographic project by Valeria Tofanelli and Lorenzo Catena focused on Ostia, one of the less known areas of Rome. The project was born with the aim of eradicating some prejudices that have long been linked to this area and that have prevented the potential and beauty of this portion of capital from being highlighted.
Ostia is the sea of Rome, a 17 km coastline that ends where the Tiber River meets the Mediterranean Sea and where Romans spend free time together, far away from tourist attractions.
Despite it is an integral part of Rome, its strong identity and geographical extension make it easy to see Ostia as its own city, within a city. The result is that its relationship with the Italian capital can at times be difficult and controversial, and not everyone agrees that the lido is indeed really a part of the Eternal City.
The two authors decided to explore the complexity of this area, admiring how the passing of time is marked out by the coming and going of the seasons, with the result that they found themselves photographing places left deserted, seemingly abandoned for the winter, awaiting the summer crowds to return and bring them back to life.
During this trip along the furthers reaches of Rome, the two photographers often let themselves be guided by chance, which led them to discover very different stories, each featuring a unique way of relating to the sea: for leisure, by choice or by necessity. The result was a personal and engaging experience that allowed them to discover a reality they didn’t know was there, despite it being so nearby.
"Mareterno is a lyrical body of work that manages to find grace without glossing over the rough spots. It doesn’t romanticize its place or subjects but rather shows that the real world can be complicated; that joy, solitude, beauty, and fragility can all exist together" Melissa Breyer
Ostia is the sea of Rome, a 17 km coastline that ends where the Tiber River meets the Mediterranean Sea and where Romans spend free time together, far away from tourist attractions.
Despite it is an integral part of Rome, its strong identity and geographical extension make it easy to see Ostia as its own city, within a city. The result is that its relationship with the Italian capital can at times be difficult and controversial, and not everyone agrees that the lido is indeed really a part of the Eternal City.
The two authors decided to explore the complexity of this area, admiring how the passing of time is marked out by the coming and going of the seasons, with the result that they found themselves photographing places left deserted, seemingly abandoned for the winter, awaiting the summer crowds to return and bring them back to life.
During this trip along the furthers reaches of Rome, the two photographers often let themselves be guided by chance, which led them to discover very different stories, each featuring a unique way of relating to the sea: for leisure, by choice or by necessity. The result was a personal and engaging experience that allowed them to discover a reality they didn’t know was there, despite it being so nearby.
"Mareterno is a lyrical body of work that manages to find grace without glossing over the rough spots. It doesn’t romanticize its place or subjects but rather shows that the real world can be complicated; that joy, solitude, beauty, and fragility can all exist together" Melissa Breyer
