Slow Tour - Italians Not by Chance

Two destinations: first, the literary island of Montecristo in Tuscany, uninhabited and preserved in its natural state. Then, the Palio del Golfo in La Spezia, Liguria, a bustling and deeply cherished sporting and sailing event held in the tourist harbor of La Spezia.

Emilia, a land of expertise, flavors, and engines! Syusy embarks on a journey through agriculture and culture along the "Wine and Flavors Route" in the province of Modena, visiting Vignola and Castelvetro. Meanwhile, Patrizio travels across the entire "Motor Valley" on his legendary Moto Guzzi Astore, stopping at all the essential landmarks: the Panini Museum, the Ferrari Gallery, and the Stanguellini Museum.

A journey through time and history, spanning Cagliari and Herculaneum. Syusy is in Cagliari, Sardinia, for the grand Sant'Efisio procession on May 1st, accompanied by an expert on Sardinian bronze figurines and the Nuragic civilization. Meanwhile, Patrizio is in Campania, where he visits the Virtual Archaeological Museum of Herculaneum before embarking on a nature trek through Vesuvius National Park, leading all the way to the volcano's crater.

Syusy finds herself in the heart of the fertile "land of castles", the province of Modena, between Castelnuovo Rangone and Spilamberto, the home of Nocino liqueur and traditional balsamic vinegar. Meanwhile, Patrizio is first in Sicily, exploring the chocolate of Modica and the cheeses of Ragusa. Later, he travels to Campania in search of a unique product: the pomodorini del Piennolo (Piennolo cherry tomatoes), the essential ingredient for the classic Italian tomato spaghetti.

Amphibious pleasure-seekers in the province of Genoa and the Cinque Terre: from the "Via dell'Amore" in Riomaggiore to the Portofino Marine Protected Area at San Fruttuoso, where you might stumble upon a *tonnarella* (traditional tuna net) or dive 15 meters down to see the Christ of the Abyss. Then, explore an itinerary through the Art Nouveau (Liberty-style) architecture of Genoa and the seaside village of Boccadasse, a place that has long inspired singer-songwriters, writers, and poets.

An episode entirely dedicated to southern Sardinia by sailboat: Syusy and Patrizio sail between Cagliari, Nora, and Sant'Antioco.

Exploring the Pistoia mountains on foot, by train, and by horse-drawn carriage. Chestnuts, forests, and natural glaciers, all along the historic railway line that once crossed the Apennines.

An itinerary in Liguria: from 0 to 1,000 meters in the blink of an eye! A long, narrow region that somehow manages to encompass the sea, hills, and mountains alike... Stops on the tour: Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, Portofino, Genoa and its aquarium, and Bajardo with its Celtic festival.

In this episode, Syusy recounts the dramatic recovery of the Venus of Savignano sul Panaro. Can you have fun in a museum? Absolutely! For instance, at the Terramara of Montale archaeological park and open-air museum (near Modena), visitors find themselves inside a 3,500-year-old village. Meanwhile, at the Galata Maritime Museum in Genoa, you can experience what it’s like to live inside an actual submarine!

An episode featuring pirates, privateers, convicts, jailers, and daring escape attempts by swimming... do you think you’re in the Caribbean Sea? Think again, we’re in the Tyrrhenian Sea... on Pianosa! The island of Dragut.

Cycling and trekking routes in Tuscany. Syusy discovers traces of the Templars in the Pistoia mountains, among the rocks of Piteglio. Patrizio explores the cycle route that follows the path of the old Pistoia railway by mountain bike. Beyond the suspension bridge and the Passo dell'Oppio, there’s even time to sample the cheeses from Podere la Fornace.

Along the Tuscan coast, Syusy and Patrizio make a stop on the island of Elba, a place steeped in history, from the era of the Etruscans and the iron trade to the even more ancient, mythological times of the Argonauts! Their second stop is Populonia, home to a museum of experimental archaeology!

On Monte Argentario, in Porto Ercole, Syusy finds herself fascinated by the mysteries surrounding the Orbetello Lagoon. Porto Ercole is an ancient town, dating back to the Copper Age, but any tourist guidebook will immediately tell you that this is where Caravaggio died. The excursion continues with a trek along the Tagliata di Ansedonia, leading to the archaeological site of Cosa.

A journey through the Lazio region, taking in a circumnavigation of the Circeo promontory by sailboat and a visit to the archaeological site of Alatri, with a detour to Lake Paola as guests of the Sabaudia rowing club.

Patrizio explores the Isola della Cona nature reserve, located at the mouth of the Isonzo River in Friuli Venezia Giulia, on foot, by canoe, and on horseback, before continuing his journey through the woods of the Karst plateau. Meanwhile, Syusy follows a parallel path, focusing on history and archaeology: she first visits Aquileia, then goes to "meet" Antonio, an Androsaurus, a Cretaceous-era dinosaur fossil preserved within the Karst rock.

Patrizio visits Savona, Stella, the birthplace of Sandro Pertini, and Valloria, the village of painted doors near Imperia. Syusy, meanwhile, is in the Salento region of Puglia, embarking on an archaeological trek in search of menhirs and dolmens.

Unexpected natural treasures await in Ventimiglia, on the border with France: the Balzi Rossi, a limestone cliff overlooking the sea, where numerous Paleolithic archaeological artifacts have been discovered. This "slow tour" continues in the province of Savona, in Albissola Marina, and proceeds out toward the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, home to a marine reserve known as the "Cetacean Sanctuary."

Dances, symbols, folklore, and traditions, from Puglia to the Veneto. Syusy is in Salento, in the town of Galatina, to gain a deeper understanding of the taranta phenomenon by speaking with various musicians and pizzica dancers. Meanwhile, Patrizio is in Alpago, a mountain community in the Veneto region, in the province of Belluno. Folk dances are performed here as well, but the area is, above all, an ideal destination for sports-related tourism.

Strange rocks and curious caves in Calabria, Sicily, and Puglia. In Campana, near Roccella Ionica, Syusy discovers the "Stone Elephants", two massive, elephant-shaped megaliths. Moving from one rock formation to another, we head to Sicily, where Patrizio searches for the Necropolis of Realmese in Calascibetta, while in Puglia, Syusy sails from Santa Maria di Leuca toward Castro.

On foot to the source of the Reno River, in the province of Bologna. Syusy takes part in an eco-friendly relay event that draws hikers, trekking enthusiasts, Nordic walkers, and nature lovers, with stops at the Casalecchio di Reno sluice gates, Montovolo, and the Rocchetta Mattei. Patrizio also embarks on a slow-paced journey through nature, this time in the Cansiglio area, traveling from one mountain dairy (malga) to the next.