Homecoming, or the “return home,” is a concept that goes far beyond a mere physical location. Home is not just a set of walls, but a reflection of the communities in which we recognize ourselves, the values we hold, and the traditions that define us. At times, it is a place that no longer exists, yet lives on in the memories and feelings of those who once inhabited it. Returning home means reclaiming what connects us to our past, to the people who accompanied us, and to the experiences that shaped us. Home is also the land shared with those who hold similar ideals or roots—a sanctuary that conveys a sense of belonging, which can sometimes simply be the surrounding nature, and at other times, reside in people. It is the bond with traditions that live on only in certain places, yet feel intrinsically part of who we are.

“A town is necessary, if only for the sake of leaving it,” wrote Cesare Pavese. Home: that place to which we feel we can always return, a space that welcomes us even when we are far away. Not merely a physical location, but a deep-seated feeling that belongs to us, accompanying us even through moments of uncertainty or solitude.

This concept of “return” intertwines seamlessly with the identity of Rifugio Digitale, a venue whose roots run just as deep as the idea of home itself. Originally built in Florence during World War II as an air-raid shelter to protect the neighborhood from bombings, the space has undergone an extraordinary transformation. The redevelopment led by the firm Archea Associati gave birth to a gallery that today hosts artistic expressions of every kind, with a forward-looking vision and a strong focus on digital art.

Today, this 33-meter-long tunnel, carved into the foot of the hill topped by Piazzale Michelangelo and the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, has become a haven welcoming art in all its forms. Featuring a sequence of 16 side screens, the space creates a continuous narrative that allows visitors to immerse themselves in an engaging and unique experience.

With the photographic cycle Homecoming—conceived by Irene Alison and co-curated with Paolo Cagnacci—Rifugio Digitale presents a series of visual stories exploring the very concept of coming home. Each photographer, through their own unique vision, expresses what it means to have roots, to feel part of something, or to long for distant places. It is a journey that, much like the venue itself, invites us to reflect on home as a universal yet deeply personal concept.