An exhibition that excites, surprises and recounts Umbria with a unique and powerful gaze. An extraordinary visual adventure.
More than 10 years after his first exhibition, renowned American photographer Steve McCurry returns to Umbria with his story dedicated to this extraordinary land. From December 4, 2025, to May 3, 2026, the San Francesco Museum Complex in Montefalco (Perugia) hosts the exhibition “Steve McCurry – Umbria,” curated by Biba Giacchetti.
McCurry, a master of world photography, brings to Montefalco some of the most iconic shots from his personal archive, along with previously unseen images, exhibited to the public for the first time. Sixty photographs will allow visitors to admire Umbria through the eyes of one of the world’s most beloved photographers. A storytelling of places, people, stories, celebrations, events, landscapes, and communities that conveys all the warmth and emotion McCurry experienced during his journey.
Steve McCurry: “I felt it was time to return with an exhibition to a place that had given me so much. My years working on Sensational Umbria were filled with warmth, curiosity, and unexpected discoveries. Coming back to Montefalco with both well-known images and previously unseen work felt like closing a circle or, perhaps, opening a new one. There was still more to say about the spirit of this region and I wanted to share it”.
The exhibition recounts McCurry’s journey on several occasions and the fascination Umbria and its people held for him. A land of vibrant colors and a people imbued with the charm and echoes of a millennia-old past, built on solid and strong values that define its identity. From Montefalco to Gubbio, passing through Foligno, Bevagna, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Spoleto, Trevi, Lake Trasimeno, and many unexpected places.
The exhibition is not a simple anthology: it is a free, affectionate, and intimate story. An extraordinary gallery of dynamic and authentic images.
The exhibition at the Montefalco Museum Complex is enriched by an explanatory video about Steve McCurry’s experiences during his trip to Umbria. Visitors can relive those moments and discover how his iconic shots came about.
Thanks to his narrative ability, each of McCurry’s photographs becomes a window onto the places and lives of the subjects depicted, conveying ancient stories, shared secrets and authentic life. That sense of magic that Umbria creates so effortlessly.
The exhibition is promoted by the Municipality of Montefalco and Regione Umbria, with the patronage of Regione Umbria, the Province of Perugia, ANCI and the Union of Municipalities of Terre dell’Olio e del Sagrantino, in collaboration with Orion57. Partners include the Umbria Chamber of Commerce, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Foligno, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Spoleto, Fondazione Perugia, Consorzio Tutela Vini Montefalco and La Strada del Sagrantino. The exhibition is organised by Maggioli Cultura e Turismo.
(The photos of the exhibition are by Pier Paolo Metelli)
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Biography
Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic figures in contemporary photography for more than five decades. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McCurry studied cinematography at Pennsylvania State University, before going on to work for a newspaper. After two years, McCurry made his first of what would become many trips to India. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera.
It was after several months of travel that he crossed the border into Pakistan. In a small village, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan, who smuggled him across the border into their country, just as the Russian invasion was closing the country to Western journalists. Emerging in traditional dress, with a full beard and weather-worn features after months embedded with the Mujahideen, McCurry made his way over the Pakistan border with his film sewn into his clothes.
McCurry’s images were among the first to show the world the brutality of the Russian invasion. Since then, McCurry has gone on to create unforgettable images over all seven continents and numerous countries. His body of work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions, and contemporary culture alike – yet always retains the human element that made his celebrated image
of the Afghan Girl such a powerful image.
McCurry has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal. Most recently, the Royal Photographic Society in London awarded McCurry the Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement and in 2019, McCurry was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame.
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Information: www.museomontefalco.it
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