PhEST is an International Photography and Art Festival that was born in 2016 in Apulia, a region in southeastern Italy bathed by the Adriatic Sea. The festival has the slogan "See Beyond the Sea" and proposes a cultural experience that goes beyond traditional photography.
The idea for the festival came from Giovanni Troilo, an Italian photographer and filmmaker born in 1977, who is also the artistic director of the event. Troilo is the one behind the conception and curation of the festival.
PhEST stands out for being an unusual event that activates heritage, meaning it uses cultural and historic spaces in the region to host the festival's exhibitions and activities, creating a connection between contemporary art and Apulia's local heritage.
The discovery of the festival happens during the summer months, when many visitors head to Apulia for vacation, finding this cultural surprise that combines art, photography, and the rich heritage of the Italian region.
