THE ITALY THAT LIES BEYOND THE BIG CITIES

Rome is eternal, Milan is extremely modern, Naples is veracious: some Italian cities are so categorized in the minds of visitors and tourists (and more often than not also in the minds of their inhabitants) that they’re almost automatically associated with a single characteristic; one among the thousands of nuances which contribute to their unparalleled charm. Perhaps due to extensive film production, domestic and international, that has narrated their stories and personalities thus often and unwillingly limited their potential. Or perhaps due to settings that have reached such notoriety to have become iconic and almost frozen in time and space, this is the price that places whose fame has rooted them in the collective imagination have to pay. There is, however, an Italy that has yet to be discovered. These are the lesser-known destinations, which make their way through a scenario dominated by true giants of Italian identity with great difficulty, even though they certainly do not lack in charm, beauty and reasons to visit them. These are places that know how to be a discreet and masterful condensation of Italian know-how, of knowing the territory and of profound respect for its authentic traditions. Ferrara is a perfect example of this. A city that, before others, was surprising centuries ago. One which moves as a single entity and at its own rhythm created from pedaling on bikes and strolls around human-sized streets and squares. Forged by the d’este family, the Emilian city is a precious treasure chest that holds a new and different interpretation of history, culture, beauty and good food. It is a unique and perfect travel destination, for a journey with a special flavor where one can learn a sense of hospitality which is both new as well as different. So our best hope for this autumn is that, in these pages, you may once again find at least one of the infinite facets of this wonderful country of ours.