Established landscape photographer helps British colleagues discovering some of Tuscany most hidden treasures.
Giulio Cerocchi - once a fashion photographer, now an established landscape photographer - has found his purpose in life: helping other fellow photographers, no matter if professional or only at a beginner level, to make the most of the stunning landscapes in the Maremma, one of the less well-known parts of Tuscany, Italy.
We meet him in his charming house in the countryside surrounding Grosseto.
“When I firstly arrived in Maremma, coming from the busy, noisy and polluted city of Milan, it was quite a shock, but a very positive one,” he says.
“It felt like breathing fresh air again, and not only literally, since this is one of the less polluted areas in Europe, but also creatively speaking. The Maremma’s amazing, intact landscapes are a true inspiration for any artist lucky enough to set one foot in this ancient fairyland.”
Yes, this place is truly filled with magic. And any British tourist will be surprised to find out that there is a still a part of Tuscany that isn’t overrun with tourists every summer.
Maremma is one of the most fascinating areas of Tuscany, with its own strong, wild character that is very different from the normal Tuscan landscape.
“Maremma’s best feature is its variegated landscape, gentle and harsh at the same time,” Cerocchi continues.
“Dense beech and oak forests alternate with olive groves and plains of wheat and sunflowers. That’s why it offers such a wide choice of stunning locations for the photo enthusiasts, or for those established professionals who are looking for inspiration.”
Giulio is almost ‘specialized‘ in assisting British photographers, either amateurs or established ones, who call him to ask for help to find ‘the right place’ to take good photographs.
“I myself have been selling photos to Brits for ten years now and I more or less know what they like,” Cerocchi explains, showing us some of the stunning photos he took over the years.
“As for stunning locations, anyone interested in photography is just spoilt for choice here. Anyway, when they ask me for a place with a particular light, I bring them to the Giannutri island.”
Giannutri island is virtually unknown to British tourists - a real pity.
It stands aside compared to the other islands of the Tuscan archipelago but thanks to its geographical distance it is a very special place, unique and inimitable.
Giannutri is a very small paradise, only 400 yards large and more or less two miles long. In the past, Giannutri charmed the Romans, who built a port there and beautiful patrician villas.
The sea still keeps wrecks of their ships.
“My suggestion to anyone willing to take a nice picture here is just wander aimlessly looking for a colourful house or a meadow crowded with wild flowers,” says the photographer.
“This place is so beautiful one almost feels dizzy after a while.”
He’s right.
Cerocchi continues: “I have noticed that British photographers are very keen on our islands, perhaps because Britain itself is one.
“I take amateurs striving for bright colours and stunning blue skies to the Pianosa Island.
“It looks more like an Arabic than an Italian island. It isn’t inhabited and everything is dry and brown.
"You can take stunning pictures of some small, white abandoned houses framed by an almost turquoise sky. It’s amazing.”
The small island of Pianosa (about 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) in area) forms part of Italy’s Tuscan Archipelago and part of the Elba Island municipality.
On clear days, Elbans can see Pianosa as a dark blue line over the lighter blue sea.
Pianosa has no permanent residents, but was the site of a maximum-security prison (1858-1998) holding especially dangerous Mafia criminals.
But that was the past.
Now, one can enjoy (and photograph) the yellow flowers growing among the dried grass, the ruin emerging from the transparent sea all around, and the deserted bays protected by a wall of contorted white rocks.
If you would like to book a guided photo tour in the Maremma, contact Giulio Cerocchi via mail at: giulioromano.cerocchi@fastwebnet.it. To know more about his work, or buy his photographs, have a look at his website: www.giuliocerocchi.com
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