Scanno dei Fotografi International Photography Award

A prize born from Scanno's photographic vocation

Few Italian locations can boast a bond with photography as strong as Scanno, a mountain village in the province of L'Aquila nestled in the heart of Abruzzo, on the edge of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Its narrow streets, the traditional costumes of the women, and the unique light of the Sagittario Valley have attracted some of the greatest masters of the lens for decades. From this legacy, the 'Scanno dei Fotografi' International Photography Award was born in 1998, organized by the Fototeca d'Abruzzo directed by Giovanni Bucci, in collaboration with the Museo della Lana and the Municipality of Scanno.

In the footsteps of the great masters

The award pays tribute to a tradition that saw Scanno become a natural set for world-renowned photographers. Henri Cartier-Bresson worked here, immortalizing the famous child of Scanno, as did Mario Giacomelli with his now-iconic series, and Gianni Berengo Gardin. The Abruzzo village continues to attract enthusiasts and professionals from all over the world today, who wander its alleys in search of that same visual intensity.

The award and its protagonists

Every year, a jury of experts presents the award to a photographer who has distinguished themselves on the international scene. Over the years, winners have included names such as Lynn Saville, Antonella Monzoni, Lorenzo Cicconi Massi, Vladimir Birgus, Alberto Luca Recchi, and Iacopo Pasqui. The ceremony usually takes place in the Guido Calogero Auditorium in Scanno, with free admission, and represents the highlight of an event that weaves together exhibitions, meetings, and activities dedicated to imagery.

Scanno as a photographic laboratory

Beyond the award ceremony, the project transforms the entire village into an open-air laboratory: workshops, photo walks, and discussion opportunities allow participants to reinterpret the places that shaped the history of Italian photography through their own eyes. The event is part of the broader cultural context of the Premio Scanno, a historic multidisciplinary event that has enlivened the town's life since 1972.

An event in the heart of Abruzzo

Typically hosted every year in September, the 'Scanno dei Fotografi' Award is a precious opportunity to discover one of Italy's most beautiful villages and its identity tied to photographic art. In a territory that combines nature, traditional architecture, and collective memory, the award confirms Scanno's role as a reference point for photographic culture in Abruzzo and Italy.