Last year, on the occasion of the 70th Moncalvo Truffle Fair, we decided to create a photographic project that would capture the essence of the white truffle, from the earth to the table. With the project A TRUE STORY, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration of Moncalvo, we wanted to intertwine the faces and hands of those who bring this tradition to life every day: the trifulau, the restaurateurs, the entire community. It was a journey into the heart of Monferrato, through mist, woods, kitchens and smiles, where each shot sought to convey the truth and poetry hidden behind the scent of truffles.
I closely followed some of the area's historic Trifulau, men who preserve ancient knowledge and a deep respect for the land. They welcomed me like a brother, opening up not only their woods but also their lives to me. Sincere thanks go to Luca Bevilacqua, known as “Gas”, together with his inseparable Lagotto Lola; to Rosario Vapore with his faithful Ambra; to Adriano Rivale and his Gippo; to Aldo Guarnero, known to everyone as “Aldone” – no explanation needed – with his beautiful Ledy; and to Fabrizio Calvo, accompanied by the most intelligent truffle dog I have ever seen, Raschio. I walked with them in the woods at dawn and at night, in a silence broken only by the dogs' breathing and the scent of freshly turned earth.
The story then moved to the heart of the Fair, during the two Sundays when Moncalvo is filled with life, scents and stories. The squares filled with visitors, hands choosing, the voices of producers, the curious faces of those discovering white truffles for the first time: all this became part of my lens. It was during those days that I realised how much the Truffle Fair is not just an event, but a collective ritual that unites an entire community around a symbol of identity and pride.
To complete this journey, I also wanted to talk about truffles in cooking, photographing three restaurants in Moncalvo that represent the culinary excellence of the town. Sonia and Domenico from the Corona Reale restaurant, Fabio, Cinzia and Michela from the Centrale restaurant, and Luca and Mikela from the Osteria Aleramo welcomed me into their kitchens with the same passion they put into their dishes. Through their gestures, attention to detail and respect for raw ingredients, I saw how truffles can be transformed from a fruit of the earth into a sensory experience, capable of describing the territory through the universal language of taste.
With A TRUE STORY, we wanted to create not just a story, but a veritable historical archive of photographic content for the Municipality of Moncalvo and its entire population. Something precious that will remain over time as a testament to a cultural and human heritage that was in danger of being lost. The last images that documented the Fair with depth and insight dated back to the 1970s and 1980s, black and white or analogue shots taken by one of Moncalvo's great photographers, Verdelli, who with his extraordinary eye was able to recount the life of the town. Even then, however, these were images linked to the days of the Fair: no one had ever thought of telling the story behind the scenes, of entering the daily lives of those who live this world with extreme passion to bring one of the finest products the earth has to offer to our tables.
This project was also made possible thanks to the trust and support of Mayor Diego Musumeci, who has always believed in my abilities as a reporter and who worked tirelessly to bring the idea to fruition.
A TRUE STORY is, first and foremost, an act of love for Moncalvo: for its people, its history and its authentic beauty.
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