--- title: "Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave - LUCA" canonical_url: "https://luca.restaurant/stories/those-who-stay-those-who-leave" last_updated: "2026-09-24T16:46:09.097Z" meta: author: LUCA description: "Commissioned by LUCA and shot by Michele Iacobini, Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave is an evocative view of summer in Sicily, where the city and coast become disconnected" "og:description": "Commissioned by LUCA and shot by Michele Iacobini, Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave is an evocative view of summer in Sicily, where the city and coast become disconnected" "og:title": "Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave" --- [Close](https://luca.restaurant/stories) # Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave *A note from Johnny Smith, Creative Director* Daniel and I have spent years travelling the length and breadth of Italy - meeting winemakers and producers, breaking bread with their families, and celebrating life over long, convivial meals in beautiful settings. Time and again, we’ve been struck by the generosity, honesty, and spirit of the people we’ve met - these experiences have shaped our deep love of the country. ![dog]() *City Walls* We find great joy in sharing stories about Italy - its produce, landscapes, and people. The annual holiday of Ferragosto typifies this spirit - is there anything more Italian than disappearing to the seaside with the people you love the most? What began as honouring the tradition with a menu on our Terrace grew into a compulsion to go and capture the celebrations in situ. ![San Bartolo]() *San Bartolo* ![Andiamo]() *Andiamo!* For this, we couldn’t think of a better collaborator than Michele - one of our favourite photographers. His work captures vivid, colourful glimpses of hidden Italy: spontaneous, heartfelt moments that feel alive and unfiltered. It’s exactly the version of Italy we wanted to bring to London. ![Buongiorno]() *Buongiorno* ![Mass]() *Mass* **Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave** is an exhibition in two parts. Set during an evocative summer in Sicily, it captures the stillness of Palermo as the city empties for Ferragosto. Normally buzzing streets take on a ghostly quiet as families and friends migrate to the sun-drenched coast — a time-honoured ritual that reflects both absence and presence, nostalgia and joy. ![umbrellas]() *Under Sicilian Sky* What you see here is just a snapshot of the expressive images Michele captured in Sicily. All of the photos are available to purchase from our online store for a limited time only. We hope that you will enjoy these images in your home as much as we did in ours for many years to come. [BUY PHOTOS](https://shop.luca.restaurant/collections/prints) ![hilltop]() *Sunset on the Sea* # tales FROM LITTLE ITALY Below you will find a series of stories (a journal of sorts) that celebrate everything we love at LUCA. Exploring culture and heritage through a collection of short films, written word and photo essays. [![Hannah Martin for LUCA10]()**LUCA10 - A Decade in Little Italy**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/10-Years-of-LUCA) [![luca10 dinner]()**LUCA10 Dinner **](https://luca.restaurant/stories/luca10-dinner) [![ravioli]()**From the Pass**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/from-the-pass) [![pullman]()**LUCA10 + Pullman**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/luca10-pullman) [![The Reading Room]()**The Reading Room x Cubitts **](https://luca.restaurant/stories/the-reading-room-x-cubitts) [![Rhubarb]()**Hello Rhubarb my old friend**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/hello-rhubarb-my-old-friend) [![Christmas party]()**Christmas in Little Italy**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/christmas-at-luca) [**I hold you, dearly**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/i-hold-you-dearly) [![White Truffle Dinner]()**White Truffle on The Terrace**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/the-white-truffle-dinner) [![TWSATWL2]()**Michele Iacobini - a photo book retrospective**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/summer-exhibition) [![Dani reading Italia Segreta]()**Italy Segreta - a photo book retrospective**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/italy-segreta) [![Lemons]()**Be Better Not Bitter - a short film about lemons**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/be-better-not-bitter) [![Luca restaurant during CDW24]()**Vitra - a photo book retrospective**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/luca-vitra-photo-essay) [![Buongiorno]()**Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave **](https://luca.restaurant/stories/those-who-stay-those-who-leave) [**LUCA by night - a photo essay**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/luca-by-night) [![Vitra Mikado chair in the Dining Room at Luca]()**Are you sitting comfortably?**](https://luca.restaurant/stories/vitra-luca)