Florence is turning its gaze beneath the waves. From October 21, 2025, to April 12, 2026, Villa Bardini will host Oceans. David Doubilet, the first Italian solo exhibition dedicated to the world-renowned underwater photographer. Organized in collaboration with National Geographic, the exhibition brings more than 80 extraordinary images to the hill overlooking the Arno, offering a deep dive into the fragile beauty of marine life.
Promoted by Fondazione CR Firenze and Gallerie d’Italia – Intesa Sanpaolo, the show marks the first time National Geographic has brought one of its major exhibitions to Florence. It continues the successful partnership between the two institutions, which have made Villa Bardini a venue for large-scale cultural projects that combine art, science, and awareness of global issues.
Through Doubilet’s lens, visitors will encounter a world of color, motion, and wonder — but also one of vulnerability. The exhibition traces over five decades of the photographer’s career, from the Caribbean to the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and the frozen waters of Antarctica. Each image tells a story about the oceans’ essential role in the balance of life on Earth and the growing threats posed by climate change and human activity.
Born in New York, David Doubilet began taking underwater photos as a child and went on to publish 79 stories for National Geographic starting in 1971. Inspired by the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau, he has spent his life documenting the mysteries of the sea. He pioneered the “over/under” technique, capturing both the world above and below the waterline in a single frame — a signature approach that reveals the deep connections between the two realms.
Alongside his wife, marine biologist and photographer Jennifer Hayes, Doubilet continues to explore and advocate for ocean conservation. Together they have become ambassadors for the seas, showing how every ecosystem — from coral reefs to polar ice — is vital to our collective survival.
Among the most striking photographs on display are a diver surrounded by a spiral of barracudas in Papua New Guinea, the determined swim of a green sea turtle hatchling in the Tuamotu Archipelago, and the vibrant face of a parrotfish off the coast of Queensland. Each image captures not only natural beauty but also the urgency to protect it.
Curated by Marco Cattaneo, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Italia, the exhibition unfolds through a series of contrasts — warm and cold, light and shadow, closeness and distance — that highlight the delicate equilibrium of the underwater world. The installation, designed across eleven rooms, offers an immersive journey between art and environmental awareness.
“Oceans. David Doubilet” is held under the patronage of the City of Florence, with an exhibition catalogue published by Allemandi.
For Villa Bardini, which has recently hosted major exhibitions dedicated to Elliott Erwitt, Steve McCurry, and Ansel Adams, this new project strengthens its role as a bridge between Florence’s artistic heritage and the most significant voices in contemporary photography.
Practical information
Villa Bardini, Costa San Giorgio 2, Florence
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (closed on Mondays).
Special openings on December 8, 26, 29, 31 (early closing at 4 p.m.), January 5, and April 6.
Tickets: €10 full, €5 reduced, free for visitors under 18 and other eligible categories.
Holders of a Villa Bardini exhibition ticket are entitled to reduced admission at Gallerie d’Italia locations in Milan, Naples, Turin, and Vicenza.
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Eirini Lavrentiadou is an actress and singer, born in Thessaloniki in 1992. She lives in Florence, where she trained at the city’s Theatre Academy and the Fiesole School of Music. She has performed in classical Greek and European plays, worked with international directors and companies, and appeared in concerts ranging from opera to jazz. She contributes to Florence Daily News as a writer.
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