Hope in Small Villages, Places to Stay that Tell Stories and Hosts that Protect Heritage
Hope in Small Villages, Places to Stay that Tell Stories and Hosts that Protect Heritage
Buongiorno Amici! It’s a pleasure to be with you once again to share with you the travel escapades of a girl whose travels led her to chasing a dream that would change the way we experience travel: both for you, the traveller, and the local people.
My name is Chiara. I’ve been chasing dreams since 2018 and I am so grateful to be sharing this journey with you. My prayer is that as you read along on my dream-chasing escapades and travel extravaganzas, it will leave you with a glimmer of hope, an oomph of inspiration and the courage to take-on that little dream you’ve been carrying around in your pocket. Let’s do this!
If you’re just tuning in, welcome! My story begins with my four beautiful Italian grandparents, my Nonni! They immigrated to Australia in the hopes for a better future, coming from the war-torn region of Sicily. They instilled a love for Italian culture in me from the very beginning and now, my travel adventures have led me to the region of Calabria, specifically beginning in a town called Scalea, where I connect people like you with local Italians who are eager to open-up their world and share their culture with you. The people I like to call Culture Creators.
In the meantime, we embrace one big mission: to save traditions, one experience at a time. This is a platform called Vera Italia, true Italy.
As we continue our adventures together, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Biagio from a small but lively town in the glorious mountains of Calabria, Verbicaro! I met Biagio through a wonderful lady who suggested I connect with him as soon as I told her about my mission. She said, Biagio is so passionate about promoting this region, you have to meet him!
One fine autumn day, I ventured up the mountain to Verbicaro where I was greeted by a beautiful big palazzo that oozed with a welcoming feel. When Biagio opened the door, I could see why.
Biagio’s personality is so vivacious, you can’t help but smile when you see him. He is so active in supporting local initiatives and encourages visitors to step out of the typical destinations and explore something a little more intentional.
This big beautiful welcoming palazzo that I mentioned was actually Biagio’s childhood home. I think it’s absolutely marvellous what he’s done with the place! When you step inside you find a lovely, modern, B&B where Biagio prides himself on welcoming visitors from far and wide to share his passion for his town and all the amazing activities available.
There’s something so inspiring about people like Biagio, who instead of allowing their family home to decay and turn to ruins, they bring a renewed sense of purpose to save and maintain a place that was once so special with a touch of new life.
Just like this, a new category of “Culture Creator” was born. We needed a title worthy of acclaiming these individuals who open the doors to homes with heart and stays that tell a story, their story. And so, these new featured locals on the Vera Italia website would be called: Heritage Hosts.
Staying true to the mission to preserve traditions, this helps travellers discover family homes, historic buildings, and architectural treasures that span generations. A way to support and encourage cultural preservation, rural revitalisation, and the legacy of local families.
Biagio is unique in that while he established this new category for the locals that I love to connect you with, he also very much identifies as a Culture Creator: the people who bring colour to the towns and carry forward the traditions that shape the Italian identity.
Not only do I encourage travellers to visit him and stay at his B&B when they’re in the area to experience his amazing hospitality themselves, but also for his incredible local knowledge. He can tell you about all the local events, walks in the mountains, activities to do and things you shouldn’t miss. He’s a gem!
When we filmed with Biagio, some of the themes he touched were truly thought provoking. I always had a vision for the impact I hoped Vera Italia would have, but it wasn’t until we started interviewing the locals and hearing what this project meant to them that I truly realised the difference we could make in the smaller, lesser-known towns.
I’d like to leave you with Biagio’s words (translated):
“It is very important to visit not only the big cities, the big centres from Venice to Rome…but Italy also grows through these small villages, these little towns that have made the history of this nation.
“Today Verbicaro offers an extra opportunity for who decides to visit this region and to see these traditions still alive.
“I believe that the project Vera Italia is very interesting. To make traditions known, the rituals and places like Verbicaro around the world is an ambitious goal and something fantastically fascinating.
“So I hope that it becomes internationally recognised.
“I look forward to hosting you and showing you how much good there is in these regions and how much genuineness can emerge from these small villages.”
Biagio’s story:
https://youtu.be/-lO-Mav4K20?si=_htdFyhY37zilp81
Meet our Heritage Hosts:
