GIUSEPPE CARDONI
The Hill of Crosses

The Hill of Crosses is a pilgrimage site located near the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai.
It is a small hill on which more than five hundred thousand crosses stand, planted out of devotion by pilgrims according to a popular tradition as a symbol of Lithuanian national identity.
During the Soviet era, more times the crosses on the hill were completely demolished with bulldozers at the disposal of the regime, but each time they reappeared more and more numerous, the population brought back the crosses at night, regardless of the dangers. A touching and evocative place, it testifies to the faith of a people who have long suffered to affirm their religious identity.
Here the spouses come on their wedding day to ask for the blessing of their union. Even those who are not driven by religious sentiment here are deeply impressed by the hill and all that it represents.
On February 18, the Lithuanian central bank presented the second commemorative 2-euro coin from 2020 depicting the Hill of Crosses

Author
Living in Umbria, Italy. With RAI journalist, Luca Cardinalini, he co-authored a photo book entitled “STTL La terra ti sia lieve” and together with Luigi Loretoni he published a photo book called “Miserere” in 2008, “Gubbio, I Ceri” in 2011 and “Kovilj” in 2014 (all Ed.Arte Grafica Gubbio). Also in 2014, he published “Boxing Notes” .
He dedicated himself to music photography for some years, co-authored the book “I colori del Jazz” (Federico Motta) and published “Jazz Notes” in 2019. In 2020, he published “Life and Death - Mexican Rhapsody” a journey into Mexican traditions and culture. In 2021 he published “Passion for Sport”, in 2023 "In and out of the ring" and "Metropolitan Fragments"(89 Books). In 2025 he published "RAW" (89 Books).
He exhibited his works in more than 70 personal and collective exhibitions in Italy and abroad. He was a winner or finalist in many international contests.

Website
www.giuseppecardoni.it

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