According to Rewilding Europe — a project launched by WWF Netherlands, ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe, and Conservation Capital — wildlife in Europe has increased by about 40% over the last fifteen years. This is due to several factors: laws that protect wildlife (especially wolves), people moving away from rural areas, and improvements in farming practices.

A chicken looking for food
Simona Pampallona

The project Once It All Seemed Like Countryside tells the story of the province of Grosseto in Tuscany and how it has changed. Grosseto was, and still is, mostly farmland, with small villages where the average age keeps rising. The few industries that once existed have closed due to the economic crisis. The area also includes inhabited zones classified as “nature reserves,” a large hunting reserve, and many wooded areas that have grown back as forests because the countryside has gradually been abandoned.

Geese on the street. They run away when they see me.

Dino and Rossana have lived in Montorio since they got married. The province of Grosseto has the lowest population density in Tuscany, and most people living in the countryside are elderly. Since there’s no work, young people move to the cities.

A Sunday hunter

But while nature is taking over new spaces, living alongside animals is becoming more complicated than you might expect. That’s because wild animals themselves have changed a lot. The “old” wolves, once thought to be nearly extinct, have grown in number and started mating with dogs, making it hard to tell their true ancestry. While the remaining shepherds complain that today’s wolves are more aggressive than ever, even the local wild boars aren’t what they used to be — thanks to the large-scale introduction of Hungarian boars and more frequent crossbreeding with domestic pigs.

In the 1970s, deer and wild boar from other European countries were brought in because they reproduced easily — new breeds that eventually replaced the native ones. So now, while fallow deer and roe deer appear among abandoned farmhouses, European projects are being launched to study these new hybrids.

Once It All Seemed Like Countryside aims to show what the little-known Maremman countryside is really like: a place where forests are spreading at the expense of the traditional rural landscape, and where, as animals reclaim unexpected territory, the line between wild and domestic turns out to be much blurrier than it seems.

A peacock walks outside the castle where he lives. The castle of Montorio di Sorano is an uninhabited village, with only two families and the owner of the entire village. The peacock is still seen as a royal animal, which is why it lives near the castle.

A Romanian shepherd carrying a dead lamb. As sheep farming becomes less profitable, most shepherds have recently come from Romania.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Once It All Seemed Like Countryside by Simona Pampallona written in a natural conversational tone

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What is Once It All Seemed Like Countryside about
Its a photographic book that explores how rural landscapes have changed over time especially due to urban development It contrasts old peaceful countryside views with modern builtup areas

2 Who is Simona Pampallona
Shes an Italian photographer and artist whose work often focuses on memory landscape and the relationship between people and their environment

3 Is this book just a collection of pretty landscape photos
Not exactly While the photos are beautiful the book is more of a visual study It asks questions about what we lose when nature is replaced by cities and infrastructure

4 Do I need to know a lot about photography to enjoy it
No The images are very accessible and emotional You can appreciate the book simply for its visual storytelling even without any technical photography knowledge

5 Where is the countryside in the book located
The book is set in the area around Milan Italy but the themes are universal Anyone who has seen farmland turn into suburbs will relate to it

AdvancedLevel Questions

6 What is the main artistic concept behind the project
The book plays with the idea of inbetween spaceslandscapes that are neither fully rural nor fully urban It captures a transitional state highlighting the tension between memory and progress

7 How does Pampallona use color and composition to convey her message
She often uses muted faded colors that feel nostalgic and her compositions emphasize emptiness or isolation This creates a sense of loss and quiet melancholy rather than celebrating development

8 Is there a specific historical or political context to the work
Yes The book reflects the rapid urbanization of Italys Po Valley after World War II It critiques unchecked development and the erasure of agricultural heritage which is a common issue in many developed countries

9 How does this book compare to other landscape photography projects
Unlike classic landscape photography that celebrates pristine nature Pampallonas work focuses on wounded or altered landscapes Its closer to the New Topographics movement which documents humanaltered environments