Lately, I’ve discovered a very interesting place not too far from where I live: Filanda Pregiata, in Soresina.
The history of Filanda Pregiata is a great example of urban and artistic regeneration. Once an industrial complex—likely dating back to the 19th century and tied to textile production, as the name suggests—it has been transformed into a vibrant creative hub. Artists such as Riccardo Bonfadini (a painter and the first to settle there), Lucio Arzuffi (a gallerist), and Paolo Mezzadri (a sculptor) established their studios in the space, opening it up to events and art exhibitions. Today, Filanda Pregiata is a multifunctional venue that also hosts photo shoots and production sets, while preserving the strong industrial and historical character of the site.
Alice and Beatrice - B/W 55mm Hasselblad
There are essentially three studio spaces, all of them extremely compelling and available not only for photography, but also for other types of events.
The smallest studio is called Il Filandino. Inside, there’s a bar counter, a beautifully aged country-style kitchen, and a cozy sitting area with an armchair and a sofa. The walls are richly decorated with vintage radios, paintings, and various eclectic objects. Even though the space isn’t very large, every corner of Il Filandino offers creative potential and is visually engaging.
The second, medium-sized space has a distinctly industrial feel. The walls are more minimal, with the classic columns typical of large industrial buildings and big, bright windows flooding the room with natural light. This space often functions as an art gallery, so it’s not uncommon to find interesting paintings on display. There’s a massive wooden table, a swing, and countless photographic setups packed with opportunities.
The final space is the largest one—the main filanda—where workers and sewing machines once filled the floor. It’s a huge rectangular hall, roughly 40–50 meters long and about 12 meters wide, bordered by enormous windows on three sides. The ceiling is very high, probably around 8 meters, and the bare structure itself is striking in its raw, unfiltered state. That said, the space is anything but empty: it’s filled with an incredible assortment of props and objects, from antique basins to sofas and lounge furniture, bookcases, tables, vintage radios, naval spotlights, and much more.
The prices are absolutely fair, nothing like Milan, and no, this isn’t some run-down place — we’re talking about very large spaces, pre-furnished and easy to customize. Basically, a real playground. A small paradise for anyone who loves photography without necessarily being a professional, but it’s also a place professionals use.
I did a photo session there and had a great time during a workshop led by Luca Alutto, a professional photographer I met recently and immediately clicked with — both professionally (he really knows his craft) and on a human level. I’m leaving his Facebook page here in case you’re interested in taking a workshop with him.
The shoot was coordinated by Luca and featured two models I found extremely professional and genuinely nice (highly recommended). They pose beautifully, with no attitude and no drama to manage. They really know how to make you feel comfortable, especially if you’re a quiet, shy type like me.