Oceani di ghiaccio, mari d’oro

What do a glacier in Greenland and a whale surfacing from the ocean at sunset have in common?

They are both part of the same greater story: a story of water, nature and the fragile balance that connects the ecosystems of our planet.

This is the starting point for Oceani di ghiaccio, mari d’oro, a photography exhibition by Fabio Accorrà and Andrea Izzotti, taking place at Galata Museo del Mare in Genoa from 12 September to 18 October 2026.

Two photographers, two journeys and two perspectives on the natural world come together in an exhibition exploring the extremes of the marine environment: on one side, the ancient ice of Greenland; on the other, the ocean and its magnificent creatures.

Ice, sea and light

 

In Fabio Accorrà’s photographs, Greenland emerges in all its raw and spectacular beauty. Icebergs become sculptural forms, surfaces shaped by light and landscapes in constant transformation. The ice tells a story that goes beyond its beauty: a story of nature’s power, but also of its vulnerability.

Andrea Izzotti’s images take visitors into the ocean, following whales and other great cetaceans. Here, water becomes movement, life and breath. The light of sunset transforms the surface of the sea into a golden expanse, accompanying the appearance of these animals in moments of rare intensity.

Ice and ocean thus become two different ways of telling the story of the same element: water.

An element that changes shape, environment and rhythm, yet connects places thousands of miles apart and reminds us that every ecosystem is part of a much larger balance.

A photographic journey beyond the images

 

Oceani di ghiaccio, mari d’oro is more than an exhibition of nature photography.

The exhibition is enriched by multimedia content and insights developed with environmental biologists, offering visitors new ways to understand marine ecosystems and reflect on their vulnerability.

It is an opportunity not only to experience images that inspire wonder, but also to pause and consider what they reveal: a planet in which ice, oceans, wildlife and human communities are deeply interconnected.

This message is particularly important for younger generations, encouraging them to see the sea not simply as a place to explore, but as an environment to understand and protect.

This focus on younger generations is also reflected in the support of Fondazione Il Porto dei piccoli, which has been working for years to bring the sea into places of care and support for children.

The Foundation’s support reflects its desire to share the message of the exhibition with children and families in these settings. Twelve of the photographs featured in the exhibition will also be included in Fondazione Il Porto dei piccoli’s official 2027 calendar, giving the images from the exhibition another opportunity to reach and connect with the public.

Two photographers, one passion for the natural world

 

Fabio Accorrà, born and based in Genoa, is a photographer and lifelong traveller whose work has taken him from the landscapes of Lapland and Iceland to the remote reaches of Greenland. His photography has featured in numerous exhibitions and publications. Among his best-known projects is The Colors of Japan, published as a book and presented as an exhibition in 2019. In 2023, he received the Premio Talento di Genova from the City of Genoa.

Andrea Izzotti, a professional photographer from Genoa, has spent years documenting nature and some of the most remote environments on Earth. His photographs have appeared in numerous books and magazines and have received major international recognition, including awards from National Geographic Italia, the Asferico Photocontest and the title of Muse Photographer of the Year. He has published more than 60 photography and educational books.

Two different journeys, united by the same pursuit: capturing, through photography, those rare moments when nature takes our breath away.

The journey continues

 

These photographs reveal the sea in its wildest and most untouched form.

The permanent collection at Galata Museo del Mare tells a different but closely connected story: how the sea has shaped human history through exploration, navigation, migration, life at sea and the routes that have connected peoples and continents.

Visiting Oceani di ghiaccio, mari d’oro can therefore be the starting point for discovering the museum from another perspective: through the stories of the people who crossed the sea, lived by it and made it part of their lives.

The experience continues outside, with a visit to the Nazario Sauro submarine, moored directly in front of the museum and open to the public.

Plan your visit

 

After discovering the exhibition, make the most of your visit to Galata:

• explore the permanent collection at Galata Museo del Mare;
• step aboard the Nazario Sauro submarine;
• discover the Galata Open Air Museum, the open-air museum along the quays of the Antica Darsena, where the history of the port, boats and everyday life on the waterfront come together;
• head up to the panoramic terraces and enjoy views across the harbour and the city.

Buy your ticket online and experience everything Galata has to offer in a single visit.

📍 Useful information

Opening event

🗓️ Friday 11 September 2026, 6 pm – Free admission
📍 Exhibition Gallery – Galata Museo del Mare, Genoa

The exhibition will be open to visitors free of charge during the opening event.

From 12 September to 18 October 2026, Oceani di ghiaccio, mari d’oro will be open during museum opening hours in the Exhibition Gallery and is included in the museum admission ticket.