Rome Opens New Photography Center at Ex-Mattatoio

Rome inaugurates the Centro per la Fotografia at the former Mattatoio di Testaccio, a key piece of the larger 'Città delle Arti' urban regeneration project. The center opens symbolically on January 29, 2026, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Rome-Paris twinning, and to the public on January 30. Housed in the 1,500 sqm Padiglione 9D, renovated with €5 million in public funds, the space retains industrial features like cast iron and trusses while integrating modern technology for contemporary photography. The ground floor offers over 1,000 sqm of flexible exhibition space, offices, a ticket office, and a specialized library with 3,000 volumes. The first floor includes a multipurpose hall and a mezzanine for unconventional vertical displays. Inaugural exhibitions feature Irving Penn (1939–2007 works from the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris) and Silvia Camporesi, alongside 'Campo visivo,' a space for experimentation on body and gesture. The center is part of the broader €90 million transformation of the 100,000 sqm ex-Mattatoio, funded by PNRR and municipal resources. The Fondazione Mattatoio Città delle Arti di Roma Capitale was established on November 27, 2025, comprising Roma Capitale and Roma Tre University, with a five-member board. Controversially, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma was excluded, despite its historical presence and a €200,000 contribution offer, as confirmed by president Umberto Croppi in a November 12, 2025 communication.