Time seems to have stopped at the Industrial Revolution in the 800’s. It is the historic centre of the Magna Graecia surrounded by a contaminated air, ground and sea with its past floating back up to the surface.

The backdrop is that of the steel-work hub in Taranto. The largest in Europe and also the most polluted. Despite the presence of large industries, there is an army of unemployed in Taranto: around 110 thousand people, around 40% of the entire population. Today, agriculture is forbidden within a 20 km radius from Ilva while livestock is put down because it contains dioxins and many people ironically ask themselves if the same fate awaits them, too. The European Union has opened an infringement procedure against Italy concerning the Ilva affair in Taranto, saying that italian national authorities had not guaranteed conformity on the subject of requirements regarding industrial emissions, with serious consequences for human health and the environment. The plants in Taranto have been at the centre of a tug of war between magistracy and government. Acts of corruption, concussion and various other offenses have taken place, hypothesized within the inquest “Environment Undersold”, carried forward by the Public Prosecutor in Taranto. According to medical and epidemiological studies, in the historic centre of Magna Graecia a rise of 30-40% of all cancerous forms (some neoplasie have risen by 100%) have been recorded, along with illnesses that are correlated to pollution from dioxins and asbestos. Therefore, many families are torn between the need to work and that of safeguarding their children’s health.

Mr. Fornaro is seen walking in a empty sheepfold, inside his farmhouse. He lost his wife to cancer and it was here, in 2008, that an order to slaughter around 700 sheep that were infected with dioxin was carried out. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Mr. Fornaro is seen walking in a empty sheepfold, inside his farmhouse. He lost his wife to cancer and it was here, in 2008, that an order to slaughter around 700 sheep that were infected with dioxin was carried out. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sari together with her horse, Zanzi, inside the Fornaro brothers' farmhouse. Zanzi has only half a lung, must not exert herself and must follow her monthly therapy, based on cortizone. Due to environmental pollution animals are also becoming ill and slowly die from breathing problems. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Sari together with her horse, Zanzi, inside the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse. Zanzi has only half a lung, must not exert herself and must follow her monthly therapy, based on cortizone. Due to environmental pollution animals are also becoming ill and slowly die from breathing problems. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some citizens on the Sant'Eligio docks, for a protest rally against pollution. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some citizens on the Sant’Eligio docks, for a protest rally against pollution. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Anna and Franco on holiday in San Vito, in the Big Sea. While Franco dives to collect the mussels from a wooden stake, Anna gets ready to taste them. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Anna and Franco on holiday in San Vito, in the Big Sea. While Franco dives to collect the mussels from a wooden stake, Anna gets ready to taste them. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Giulia and her son Tommaso D'Ippolito celebrate the victory of the national league of their favourite football club. Son of an ex-worker at the historic local steelworks, Tommaso has been affected with a rare form of Goldenhar syndrome from birth, caused by genes transmitted by his father Achille, exposed for more than thirty years to contamination at the Ilva steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Giulia and her son Tommaso D’Ippolito celebrate the victory of the national league of their favourite football club. Son of an ex-worker at the historic local steelworks, Tommaso has been affected with a rare form of Goldenhar syndrome from birth, caused by genes transmitted by his father Achille, exposed for more than thirty years to contamination at the Ilva steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A child play on the sand in front of the Big Sea. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A child play on the sand in front of the Big Sea. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Achille D’Ippolito, ex-worker from Ilva, on his balcony. Achille has contracted a form of illness caused by exposure to asbestos. He recently underwent a delicate heart operation, followed by an ischemia which has led to a short memory loss. He died on March 2016. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Achille D’Ippolito, ex-worker from Ilva, on his balcony. Achille has contracted a form of illness caused by exposure to asbestos. He recently underwent a delicate heart operation, followed by an ischemia which has led to a short memory loss. He died on March 2016. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
View of the chimneystacks at Ilva. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
View of the chimneystacks at Ilva. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some children playing on the playing-field at the “Jesus Divine Worker” church in the Tamburi district, one of the most polluted area in Europe. According to studies carried out, lead is present in the children's urine. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some children playing on the playing-field at the “Jesus Divine Worker” church in the Tamburi district, one of the most polluted area in Europe. According to studies carried out, lead is present in the children’s urine. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
The shadow of a man in one of the very narrow alleyways that wind through the old town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
The shadow of a man in one of the very narrow alleyways that wind through the old town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Aurelio Rebuzzi in front of his son's tomb. Alessandro died in September 2012, at the age of 16. Born with cystic fibrosis, Alessandro was waiting for a lung transplant but the continual infections in his respiratory tract, caused by the environmental pollution, probably helped bring his life to an end. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Aurelio Rebuzzi in front of his son’s tomb. Alessandro died in September 2012, at the age of 16. Born with cystic fibrosis, Alessandro was waiting for a lung transplant but the continual infections in his respiratory tract, caused by the environmental pollution, probably helped bring his life to an end. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Details of the mosaic in the church of “Jesus Divine Worker” in the Tamburi district. The mosaic depicts workers, fishermen, executives and proprietors, all together to pay homage for the gift of work taken away from them by the local steelworks, which seems to be blessed by our Lord. A work of art in true socialist fashion that reveals the bond between the Church and large industries. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Details of the mosaic in the church of “Jesus Divine Worker” in the Tamburi district. The mosaic depicts workers, fishermen, executives and proprietors, all together to pay homage for the gift of work taken away from them by the local steelworks, which seems to be blessed by our Lord. A work of art in true socialist fashion that reveals the bond between the Church and large industries. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Alessandra D’Amicis, 51 yrs old, Italian language teacher in a school in Taranto. Survivor of a neoplasia of the breast and, after a course of chemo and radium therapy, Alessandra has watched many of her friends die from the very same pathology. Due to environmental pollution the incidence of tumours in the town has risen by at least 30%. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Alessandra D’Amicis, 51 yrs old, Italian language teacher in a school in Taranto. Survivor of a neoplasia of the breast and, after a course of chemo and radium therapy, Alessandra has watched many of her friends die from the very same pathology. Due to environmental pollution the incidence of tumours in the town has risen by at least 30%. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some young men are seen carrying reproductions of ILVA chimneys during a protest march. Statte (Taranto), Italy 2014. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some young men are seen carrying reproductions of ILVA chimneys during a protest march. Statte (Taranto), Italy 2014. © Matteo Bastianelli
Luciano Carriero, mussel cultivator, together with his work-team in the Small Sea. Due to the presence of dioxin in the mussels over the past two and a half years he is forced to throw his harvest away. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Luciano Carriero, mussel cultivator, together with his work-team in the Small Sea. Due to the presence of dioxin in the mussels over the past two and a half years he is forced to throw his harvest away. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Tommaso D’Ippolito, 15 yrs old, student from Taranto, playing a video game at home. Son of an ex-worker at the historic local steelworks, Tommaso has been affected with a rare form of Goldenhar syndrome from birth, caused by genes transmitted by his father Achille, exposed for more than thirty years to contamination at the Ilva steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Tommaso D’Ippolito, 15 yrs old, student from Taranto, playing a video game at home. Son of an ex-worker at the historic local steelworks, Tommaso has been affected with a rare form of Goldenhar syndrome from birth, caused by genes transmitted by his father Achille, exposed for more than thirty years to contamination at the Ilva steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some children celebrating the victory of their football team held on the playing-field at the “Jesus Divine Worker” church in the Tamburi district, one of the the most polluted area in Europe. According to studies carried out, lead is present in the children's urine. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some children celebrating the victory of their football team held on the playing-field at the “Jesus Divine Worker” church in the Tamburi district, one of the the most polluted area in Europe. According to studies carried out, lead is present in the children’s urine. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vicenzo Fornaro at work on his farm. Since 1859, from father to son, the Fornaro family has carried on their family traditions. In 2008, after having seen around 700 of their animals slaughtered due to dioxin infections, Vicenzo presented a complaint demanding compensation from the local steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vicenzo Fornaro at work on his farm. Since 1859, from father to son, the Fornaro family has carried on their family traditions. In 2008, after having seen around 700 of their animals slaughtered due to dioxin infections, Vicenzo presented a complaint demanding compensation from the local steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view at sunset of the historic Carmine farmhouse, which has belonged to the Fornaro family since 1859. Over the years the land owned by that family has been enveloped by the largest steelwork industry in Europe. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view at sunset of the historic Carmine farmhouse, which has belonged to the Fornaro family since 1859. Over the years the land owned by that family has been enveloped by the largest steelwork industry in Europe. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Carla Bocola, 47 years old, affected with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis for the last two years, speaks using eye movement and a table. In Taranto the incidence of SLA (7 to 8 cases every 100.000) is 50% higher than the national average (3 to 4 in every 100.000). Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Carla Bocola, 47 years old, affected with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis for the last two years, speaks using eye movement and a table. In Taranto the incidence of SLA (7 to 8 cases every 100.000) is 50% higher than the national average (3 to 4 in every 100.000). Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A crowd of people wearing hazmat suits that say "STOP", are seen protesting against the environmental pollution afflicting the town. Statte (Taranto), Italy 2014. © Matteo Bastianelli
A crowd of people wearing hazmat suits that say “STOP”, are seen protesting against the environmental pollution afflicting the town. Statte (Taranto), Italy 2014. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vittorio Fornaro training one of his horses at his farmhouse, where he decided, together with his brother, to plant two hectares of hemp. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vittorio Fornaro training one of his horses at his farmhouse, where he decided, together with his brother, to plant two hectares of hemp. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some school children from the city of Taranto are seen with priests and nuns tossing balls of clay, soil and hemp seeds to start the sowing at the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Some school children from the city of Taranto are seen with priests and nuns tossing balls of clay, soil and hemp seeds to start the sowing at the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Aurelio Rebuzzi, 62 yrs old, collecting empty bottles of tranquilisers used over the past months. He has tried to commit suicide three times. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Aurelio Rebuzzi, 62 yrs old, collecting empty bottles of tranquilisers used over the past months. He has tried to commit suicide three times. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yrs old fisherman from Taranto, in the center of the town. He is an alcoholic and homeless. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yrs old fisherman from Taranto, in the center of the town. He is an alcoholic and homeless. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Fabio Matacchiera, president of the Antidioxin Foundation together with Giuseppe D'Andria, a professional swimmer. Together they managed to haul a 26 ton boat with 100 children on board for more than 2 kilometres, in aid of a protest rally against the environmental pollution afflicting the town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Fabio Matacchiera, president of the Antidioxin Foundation together with Giuseppe D’Andria, a professional swimmer. Together they managed to haul a 26 ton boat with 100 children on board for more than 2 kilometres, in aid of a protest rally against the environmental pollution afflicting the town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two members of the Confraternity of Mysteries during the procession in Holy Week. The “perduni”, members of the Confraternity with their hoods pulled low over their eyes, walk slowly, swaying on their legs for about 13 hours until their return to the church. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Two members of the Confraternity of Mysteries during the procession in Holy Week. The “perduni”, members of the Confraternity with their hoods pulled low over their eyes, walk slowly, swaying on their legs for about 13 hours until their return to the church. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yrs old fisherman from Taranto, returns from the Big sea by boat. He is an alcoholic and homeless. Fishing for more then 30 years, he doesn't really believe that the sea is polluted as fish and seafruits still reproduce letting him gain a living. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yrs old fisherman from Taranto, returns from the Big sea by boat. He is an alcoholic and homeless. Fishing for more then 30 years, he doesn’t really believe that the sea is polluted as fish and seafruits still reproduce letting him gain a living. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vittorio Fornaro at work inside his farmhouse. He lost his mother to cancer and it was here, in 2008, that an order to slaughter around 700 animals that were infected with dioxin was carried out. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vittorio Fornaro at work inside his farmhouse. He lost his mother to cancer and it was here, in 2008, that an order to slaughter around 700 animals that were infected with dioxin was carried out. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Fornaro brothers' farmhouse, in the background the chimneystack of the ILVA plant, the largest and most polluted steelwork hub in Europe. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A view of the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse, in the background the chimneystack of the ILVA plant, the largest and most polluted steelwork hub in Europe. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A priest wears a stole before blessing the crowd of people and students who have gathered at the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse for the hemp seed sowing, under an initiative for the remediation of soil polluted by the local steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A priest wears a stole before blessing the crowd of people and students who have gathered at the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse for the hemp seed sowing, under an initiative for the remediation of soil polluted by the local steelworks. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Tonio, 57 years old, affected with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, with his wife in their home. For the past year he has been unable to get out of bed as his wheelchair provided by the town council is without the necessary headrest. The incidence of SLA (7 to 8 cases every 100.000) in Taranto is 50% higher than the national average (3 to 4 in every 100.000). Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Tonio, 57 years old, affected with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, with his wife in their home. For the past year he has been unable to get out of bed as his wheelchair provided by the town council is without the necessary headrest. The incidence of SLA (7 to 8 cases every 100.000) in Taranto is 50% higher than the national average (3 to 4 in every 100.000). Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yr old fisherman from Taranto, reading the Sacred Scriptures. He has been studying the Bible for a year but, contrary to most of his fellow citizens, doesn’t take part in Holy Week. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Ettore Boccuni, 48 yr old fisherman from Taranto, reading the Sacred Scriptures. He has been studying the Bible for a year but, contrary to most of his fellow citizens, doesn’t take part in Holy Week. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
The roof of a building in the old town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
The roof of a building in the old town. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vincenzo Fornaro is seen carrying a 20 kg hemp seed sack at his farmhouse. He lost his mother to cancer and in 2008 an order to slaughter around 700 animals that were infected with dioxin was carried out in his farm. He decided to move on with hemp cultivation, which is able to absorb noxious substances from the soil. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
Vincenzo Fornaro is seen carrying a 20 kg hemp seed sack at his farmhouse. He lost his mother to cancer and in 2008 an order to slaughter around 700 animals that were infected with dioxin was carried out in his farm. He decided to move on with hemp cultivation, which is able to absorb noxious substances from the soil. Taranto, Italy 2016. © Matteo Bastianelli
A pony in the stable, inside the Fornaro brothers' farmhouse. In 2008 just the equines escaped an order to slaughter the animals that were infected with dioxin, all the sheep were killed. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli
A pony in the stable, inside the Fornaro brothers’ farmhouse. In 2008 just the equines escaped an order to slaughter the animals that were infected with dioxin, all the sheep were killed. Taranto, Italy 2013. © Matteo Bastianelli

HOLD THE BREATH (2013-2016)