Palermo Panorama is Mauro D'Agati’s love letter to his beloved hometown, a raw portrait that shows Palermo’s charm and grit in equal measure. The book comprises 13 chapters, each dedicated to a distinct series, which all grew organically over time to form a complex picture of the city. Here among others are D'Agati’s very first photos, black-and-white street portraits taken while still a student; the waste-littered Termini Beach, a summer destination for the people of Palermo’s suburbs; the abandoned and neglected Vucciria neighborhood; portraits of wedding photographers and singers at local music festivals; the Capuchin Catacombs; and transvestites on Via Roma near Palermo’s central station. Regardless of his subject, D'Agati portrays Palermo’s resilient characters and crumbling beauty with compassion and without judgment.

For many years I’ve been taking photographs of Palermo and its inhabitants, living side by side with them and using my sense of belonging as an occasional tool. This book is both a declaration of love and an attempt to access the city without fear or favor-a very personal take which I hope unveils the true colors of Palermo. Mauro D'Agat