Giada De Santis's Photo Reportage Exposes Isernia's Urban Decay
A photo reportage by Giada De Santis documents the urban decay and neglect in Isernia, a historic town in the Molise region of Italy. The images, using double exposure, highlight the contrast between the town's rich historical heritage—from its ancient Samnite and medieval past to landmarks like Palazzo Jadopi and Roman sulfur baths—and its current state of abandonment, with trash-filled streets, neglected monuments, and empty shops. The article, published on Artribune Magazine #56, reflects on the town's crisis, depopulation as young people move abroad, and the ambivalent love-hate relationship locals have with their territory. De Santis's work captures the bipolarity of Isernia: a once-thriving provincial center now suffering from poor maintenance and urban degradation.
Key facts
- Giada De Santis created a photo reportage on Isernia's urban decay.
- Isernia is located between the Sordo and Carpino rivers in Molise, Italy.
- The town has ancient origins, was a Latin colony after the Samnite wars, and was important in the Middle Ages.
- Palazzo Jadopi is used as a garbage dump.
- Roman sulfur baths are an abandoned construction site.
- The deconsecrated church of Santo Spirito is left in disrepair.
- Paid parking (blue stripes) has damaged streets and places of interest.
- The article was published in Artribune Magazine #56.
Entities
Artists
- Giada De Santis
- Shaana De Santi
Institutions
- Artribune Magazine
Locations
- Isernia
- Molise
- Italy
- Sordo River
- Carpino River
- Palazzo Jadopi
- Santo Spirito church