Franco Zecchin | Life in Sicily
T/m 25 January 2026
Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht presents an exhibition by Italian social documentary photographer Franco Zecchin.
The exhibition Life in Sicily features 50 iconic black-and-white photographs taken on the Italian island between 1975 and 1994. During this turbulent period, Sicily faced large-scale mafia violence, political corruption and social inequality.
Franco Zecchin moved to Palermo in 1975 and began his career as a photojournalist for the daily newspaper L'Ora, paying particular attention to the influential mafia organisation Cosa Nostra. The committed photographer focused his lens on attacks, funerals, protests and the everyday reality of people trying to live in the shadow of this threat. Zecchin's photographs reflect an island in crisis and the resilience of its inhabitants.
The exhibition
The photographer is considered one of the most important visual chroniclers of Sicily's bloody mafia era. The exhibition presents a penetrating picture of the struggle between organised crime, civil society and government, but also shows the complexity of a society where violence and beauty often coexist uneasily. A selection from the extensive photo series is bundled in the book Continente Sicilia in 2019.
The photographer
Franco Zecchin (Milan, 1953) worked intensively with his partner, photographer and anti-Mafia activist Letizia Battaglia. From 1988 to 1991, he was an associate member of the agency Magnum Photos. The photographer explored themes of nomadism and religious festivals in the 1990s. Besides exhibitions in Europe and the United States, his internationally award-winning work is included in the collections of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) in Paris and MoMA in New York. Since 2006, Zecchin has lived and taught in Marseille.
Prices
- Adults € 15,50
- Students € 7.00 Students
- Children Free Children up to 7 years
- Children € 7.00 Children 8-18 years
- CJP (Cultural Youth Passport) € 6,50
When
- Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 25 January 2026 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Note: opening hours may vary during public holidays
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Franco Zecchin | Life in Sicily can be found in Binnenstad
Location
Shoppers will enjoy the city centre. This is where the main shopping streets and shopping centres can be found. This part of the city also has the well-known highlights such as the Vrijthof square and the town hall on the Markt square.
Discover the surroundings
Tips in the area
Address details
Vrijthof 18
6211 LD Maastricht Plan your route to Franco Zecchin | Life in Sicily