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Cilento, the turquoise pearl in Italy

Do you know that south of Naples there is an earthly paradise with turquoise water and exciting landscapes? It’s called Cilento! And in the summer of 2020 Trenitalia also makes its Frecciarossa pass right there, so in just over 5 hours from Milan you are in Cilento.

Today we discover this wonderful pearl of the Mediterranean together with Antonio and Domenico, the owners of Cilento Viaggi, young entrepreneurs under 30.

“We have recently become part of the Connect2Italy family. This has completely changed our daily life, taking our work to an absolutely higher level. By presenting a territory still little known as Cilento thanks to Connect2Italy we were in contact with personalities that we would hardly have reached without the help of the platform, I quote Mario Cavasotto of Lloyd Transatlantico, one of the largest Tour Operators in South America, with whom we will be able to establish an important collaboration relationship “.

But how did you discover Connect2Italy? “We came into contact with Alessandro Mancini, through his partner, Vincenzo Pizzolante, also from Cilento like us, who immediately believed in us and in our desire to make Cilento reach the gota of Italian and international tourist destinations”.

Was it difficult to access the Connect2Italy platform? “We had no problem, the platform is easy to use and in addition Alessandro and Vincenzo followed us step by step in understanding how to move within it”.

Have you ever been directors? Now let’s play a game … if Connect2Italy Were …

“A Fruit: the white fig of Cilento, we choose our most famous fruit to describe C2I, an important and precious fruit that unites everyone. And that everyone really likes!

One City: Amsterdam, really free, this is the adjective that best describes the Dutch capital, and so we describe the feeling that C2I gave us. Alessandro Mancini and Vincenzo Pizzolante gave us the opportunity to be free to present all our ideas, to have our say and to propose what we like most about our land and for this we thank them.

A typical dish: buffalo mozzarella (“di bufala”). The most exported Italian typical mozzarella in the world, this is also our hope together with C2I.

Una Canzone – Satisfaction, we are happy to be aboard Connect2Italy!

A Film – One of those American films about dreams that come true, because for us working with personalities of the caliber of Alessandro Mancini is a real dream.

If we had the magic wand and C2I brought a couple of curious tourists with many expectations to Cilento, where would you take them?

“Excellent question, the experiences to do here in Cilento are many and very different from each other, in three days, we could structure the stay in this way:

First day: An obligatory stop at the excavations of Paestum, a symbolic place of Cilento and southern Italy, the best preserved Greek ruins in Italy, a magical place that everyone should visit at least once in their life.

Second day: unmissable food and wine tour to discover the foods that gave life to the most famous diet in the world, the Mediterranean diet was born here from the studies of Professor Ancel Keys who, wanting to study the phenomenon of the many over one hundred year old present in these places, discovered that their secret was in the simple and genuine food that these lands have to offer.

Third day: to finish, and to leave you the best memory, we dedicate the last day to the most beautiful sea in Italy. Deserving of 13 blue flags in 2020, the sea of ​​Cilento is the most awarded of the peninsula, km of beaches with Caribbean features that will leave you breathless, from Porto Infreschi, elected by Legambiente the most beautiful beach in Italy, in Cala del Buon Sleeping, from Punta Licosa to the Bay of Trentova, the sea of ​​Cilento will enter your heart, we are sure “.

Let’s start?

Elisa dal Bosco, Contributor Connect2Italy

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Sicily with Love!!

With less than two hours by plane from Milan you can reach Palermo, Catania and Comiso, and many other European cities are connected to Sicily. The largest island in the Mediterranean and a land of treasures, magic, food and wine and a wonderful sea. And here you can also ski!

We discover it thanks to JustSicily, led by Giusi Macchiarella, a great expert in tourism and incoming, with over 30 years of experience behind her and an important curriculum.

Since you have been part of C2I Connect2Italy how has your daily life changed?

“When I open my PC in the morning, I immediately connect with Connect2Italy and start making contacts or I answer to some queries, I give info to the colleagues of the international tour operators who contact me or to the Italian colleagues to create ad hoc itineraries together” replies Giusi.

Has your “experience” on C2I received attention and therefore requests? If so, can you tell me some?

“Surely at the moment many TOs want to know more about Sicily and are happy to have a direct contact like us in the area. Others ask me what it was like to collaborate with a team of stylists for their events on the island, “comments Giusi. “We worked in Palermo, a fascinating city, full of culture and places to discover that has been the backdrop to fashion shows and tours organized for press and opinion leaders from all over the world”.

Giusi Macchiarella, founder of JustSicily, made her experience and sensitivity available to coordinate and organize the walking tours reserved for journalists and the Moto Ape routes dedicated to the most important customers, bringing a breath of folklore and colors to the streets of the city of Palermo.

How did you get in touch with Alessandro Mancini and therefore with Connect2Italy?

“A colleague introduced us, I met him at BIT in Milan, he is an expert on the Argentine market”.

Did you have any difficulties on your side as a user? Is it easy to access the platform and receive bookings from international tour operators?

“I haven’t had any problems at the moment. I recently had access, I still have to arrange my presentation, but thanks to Connect2Italy I have already participated in various webinars and also at ACTUAL, in connection with over 1000 tour operators in South America” replies Giusi satisfied.

Let’s play the IF IT WAS game: if C2I were a FRUIT what fruit would it be?

“An orange, obviously from Sicily”, smiles Giusi.

If it were a city? A nation? A typical dish? A song? A movie?

“A city Milan, a very active metropolis, obviously Italy as a country. If it were a dish it would be caponata, to be tasted strictly here. If I think of a song it would be Shape of you (Ed Sheeran) very rhythmic and well known, and if it were a movie with no doubts, Pretty Woman. The story of a rebirth”.

With a magic wand, shaped like an airplane, we send you two very curious people to discover the real Sicily, for their first time, where would you take them? “I would make a hypothesis with arrival in Catania”, says Giusi:

First day

• Arrival in Catania, check in Hotel chosen – TAORMINA
• Meeting with a guide for a tour of the Dolce Vita in Motoape
• In the evening, aperitif on a well-known terrace and dinner in a typical trattoria tasting local delicacies 

Second day

• Depart from the hotel by car 4 x 4 for a whole day to discover his majesty Mount Etna, among old craters and lunar landscapes and breathtaking views. And you must not miss the ascent up to 3000 meters by cable car.
• We stop for lunch at a renowned winery for a tasting of the famous Etna wines and to taste delicacies of local food. Traveling along Mount Etna from the north to the south, you stop at the prestigious 5-star boutique hotel. We dine and spend the night in this magical place.

Third day

• We leave in the morning for Syracuse! Visit of the splendid archaeological area and then continue to the splendid island of Ortigia!
• Overnight in an old post office in Syracuse, transformed into a 5 star hotel in the heart of Ortigia. You cannot miss an aperitif at sunset on a boat around the island.
• For dinner I would go to Noto, a splendid baroque town. We dine in a nice place inside an old building wisely transformed into a SICILIAN CONCEPT STORE and finally a quick passage to the famous Caffè Sicilia, by the legendary chef Carmelo Assenza! 

Fourth day: if the morning remains available, we go to Marzamemi! A taste of local products: tuna is king! And then off to the airport!

We just have to reach Giusi to find out more about  Sicily and its flavors.

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On TWITTER too @Connect2Italy

hello, we are now on TWITTER too: check out our profile www.twitter.com/Connect2Italy

ciao!

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Naples with GUSTO! Taste a bit of Napoli

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A “Magnifique” partner in India

Today I would love to travel east side, and discover the bespoke travels signed by Le Magnifique.

At Le Magnifique Group, they believe in creating memories cherished for a lifetime. They are expert about Luxury Travel, Destination Wedding Management, Bespoke Events and Brand Consultancy based in New Delhi, Dubai and Jaipur. Le Magnifique Group is owned by Adore International Pvt. Ltd.

Their travel experts provide the finest solutions to plan and curate the perfect vacation for you and your loved ones. They are a team of young professionals having the combined knowledge and experience to create a personalised and an unmatched experience, ensuring the best to clients.

The most expert person talking about Italy is mr Neeraj KUMAR, Ceo www.lemagnifiquegroup.com.

“Last time in Italy I visited Milan, and Bergamo, I was fascinated by small towns, that kind of beauty of little areas and villages, as an authentique experience. And I now I woukd love to visit  Sicily and Sardinia, Napoli and around, in Cilento too.

I prefer more off beat, very nice places, boutique stays and great food. I loved Bergamo: very nice boutique hotels and restaurants”.

Talking about his company, he says: “Our company organizes events, weddings and trips around the world. Italy is one of our favorite place to go. We love your kind of hospitality, traditions, weather and also food of course. Our guests love very unique places, they often are top high-end guests, very selective and authentic Indian people who decide to celebrate special events in Italy”.

“If you come over to India and you have just a few days for your firts visit I would personally take you around. At first in Northern part of India and in Rajasthan, with a lot of architecture, beautiful buildings, great food… very hot and authentic, with a typical village life, and a lot of sand. And we can take you for a camel ride. A visit to New Delhi is unique, with a lot of incentive places. Taj Mahal on the third day because it’s a must see”.

And what would you love to see in a 3days vacation in Italy?

“In a three days in Italy by myself I would love to explore Sicily, Palermo and Naples and around.

I want to learn how to make pizza and my own pasta”.

And what about Connect2Italy?

“Connect2Italy is a great platform to get engaged with local companies, for instance boutique hotels, exclusive experience. I had three or four calls (Giusi from Sicily, Lorenza from Venice, Antonio from Zenato wineries). C2I is very well created and it connects directly service providers.

I met Alessandro Mancini and they invited me to be part of C2I.

I want to push Italy to my clients, the unseen Italy!”

Elisa dal Bosco, Connect2Italy contributor

p.s. C2I means Connect2Italy

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