Being brought up in a family with two different cultures — an Italian father and an English mother — has allowed me to immerse myself in both of them, from the deep-rooted traditions, lifestyle, food and more. Spending time with family both in the southern Italian countryside and the city of London has given me the curiosity and interest that makes me want to discover new cultures, meet people from different backgrounds and want to know how they live, and to hear them speak in their native language and experience their lifestyle. This desire pushed me to move to the UK in 2017, despite being born and raised in Italy, as I wanted to fully embrace the other side of my heritage.
I also have a passion for travelling and memorable trips have ranged from doing the Interrail across Europe to a road trip in the remote Lofoten Islands under the midnight sun, as well as experiencing the everyday life of the locals up in the Finnish Arctic Circle. My preferred style of tourism often involves looking for experiences and sites that are off the beaten track, as well as delving into the culture of the place I’m visiting just like the locals do every day — values and approaches that I share with Wild Frontiers.
Favourite city
Palermo because of its incredible influence and blend of different cultures, such as the Arabs and the Vikings, which you can see in the architecture and taste in the cuisine.
Favourite country
It may sound biased, but I would have to say Italy. I grew up in the north, but rediscovering the country as an adult has been eye-opening with its diverse landscapes, fascinating influences from other cultures and immense history. You can go from the snow-covered Dolomites to the caves in sun-soaked Matera, eating diverse dishes and encountering amphitheatres and ancient sites as you go. However, while I have yet to visit Japan, I think this would quickly become my new favourite as I’m captivated by its landscapes, culture and cuisine!
Favourite meal:
This is a very difficult question as I love many foods from every corner of the globe, from Norwegian smørrebrød to Georgian khachapuri. However, I’d have to choose Middle Eastern cuisine, from the mezze platters to the different cuts of meat.
Most memorable journey
I spent a week in the depths of the Finnish forest in winter, hunting the northern lights at midnight on a frozen lake and helping a reindeer herder with his daily duties - it was such an authentic experience and one that was made so special by the local people.
Favourite travel advice
I would say it’s very useful to learn a couple of words of the native language as it’s helpful and it’s also fun to learn some new words you can use when visiting a country.
Next on the must-see list
Kazakhstan for its wilderness and breathtaking views. I would love to see how a completely different culture experiences everyday life.