November 2 is Dia de los Muertos

Day of the Dead occurs annually on November 2, following Halloween and All Soul’s Day.  The holiday, which was recognized by UNESCO in its Tangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2008, is an important cultural day in Mexico and is also celebrated worldwide by people of Mexican descent. While “Death” is the main theme of the day, […]

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Saint Francis: Strength, Courage, Gentleness

By Francesca Lungarotti October 4, 2026, marked the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. This anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate a historical figure who profoundly influenced humanity and spiritually through the values ​​of simplicity, brotherhood, and charity. He opened the human mind to Creation, to Nature, and to the living beings […]

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The Palio of Siena – More than a Traditional Race

By Francesca Lungarotti It is absolutely impossible to describe the city of Siena, Italy without mentioning its most important event: the Palio. The Palio for Siena is much more than a festival or a horse race in traditional costume. The Palio is a stamp on the heart of every Sienese that is imprinted even before […]

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Antoni Gaudì’s Visionary World

By Francesca Lungarotti “Nothing is art if it does not come from nature” –  Antoni Gaudì In 2026, the world celebrates and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of one of the most visionary and eclectic architects and artists of all time: Antoni Gaudí. Gaudi loved nature and organic forms; he did not contemplate sharp […]

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The Publishing Nuns

By Francesca Lungarotti UIG contributing photographer, Giovanni Mereghetti, has traveled the world and his vast archives include photo reportages of many interesting and curious stories, including his photographs of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto, working and managing the activities of the publishing house now called Mimep Docete in Pessano con Bornago, […]

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Carnival in Italy

As a new year begins, revelers of traditional and colorful festivals turn their attention and excitement to carnival season.  While the ancient origins of carnival celebrations suggest they were timed as New Year’s festivals, the modern-day carnival evolved to be more closely associated with the beginning of the solemn Christian period of Lent.  The Roman Catholic liturgical […]

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Best of 2025

LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE GREAT IMAGES WE RECEIVED IN 2025 Over the course of a year we receive, select and process many thousands of images across a wide variety of subjects. We are privileged to work with such a fantastic range of photographers, agencies and archives. Check out our slideshows below featuring just […]

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The Mysterious and Scary Krampus

By Francesca Lungarotti During November and December each year Krampus parades and festivals are enjoyed across the countries of Europe’s eastern Alpine arc.  These cultural events take place in Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland, Slovenia, and two Italian regions, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia, and some parades are also held in Veneto. The word Krampus is derived […]

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Art for the Spooky Season

By Francesca Lungarotti Art has long supported themes of the macabre, supernatural, death, hell and fear. Many famous artists conceptualized and illustrated the various facets of the ‘terrifying’, the ‘disturbing’, the ‘fear’ and the ‘horror’.  Francisco Goya and his black figures, Edward Munch and the fear of the inexplicable that is also in oneself, William Blake’s illustrations […]

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Beauty And The Chador

By Francesca Lungarotti There is a unique beauty that perhaps only photography can convey, transcending and overcoming religious social concepts and customs. This beauty is often feminine. Photography permits us to experience beauty through the eyes and faces of people immersed in their own customs and traditions.  In many parts of the world, female figures often […]

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