“Il mare a quadretti” (checkered sea) is a poetic name for the rice fields in the Piedmont plain in northern Italy. In spring, the fields around Turin are filled with water for rice farming and divided into regular rectangular shapes. From above, they look like a natural mosaic.

We photographed this unique landscape from the air to show how nature and human activity come together.

In recent years, this view has become more rare because of modern farming methods and controlled irrigation. However, it can still be seen in some areas during spring.