Very special holidays created with Love and care
Writes travel journalist Valere Tjolle: "I've been in the travel industry since the 1960's and I've been writing about it for over 20 years now - in all that time, I've never lost the belief in that perfect destination - that combination of food and wine, history and sights, accommodation and hospitality, accessibility, cleanliness and relaxed, fulfilling adventures, plus safe, wholesome hassle-free places to chill out.
So as I've travelled around the globe from Azerbajan to Zanzibar and in every continent I've searched for this perfect destination combination,
I first visited Romagna (the historic region of Italy between Venice and Florence, the Apennines and the Adriatic) in March 2012 to write a story about the destination. It was amazing, but I've been lucky enough to see many amazing places all over the world - why did I think that Romagna was special?
The fact is, I simply couldn't believe it - in a world of mass commodity tourism, here was a place that had escaped intact from tourist hordes - it was totally stunning - a real Shangri La! All of the values that I believed tourism could offer - and I felt were lost - were here in Romagna and thriving.
Everybody was more than just kind and courteous, they treasured their homeland and their heritage - a glorious history, stunningly beautiful countryside and cities of art. They treasured their massive harvests of food and drink and their superb culinary culture. Above all they took great pleasure in sharing it all with me.
So, naturally, I kept returning to check that this wonderful place wasn't a dream and every time I returned something very special happened.
Read just four of the stories I wrote:
Writes travel journalist Valere Tjolle: "I've been in the travel industry since the 1960's and I've been writing about it for over 20 years now - in all that time, I've never lost the belief in that perfect destination - that combination of food and wine, history and sights, accommodation and hospitality, accessibility, cleanliness and relaxed, fulfilling adventures, plus safe, wholesome hassle-free places to chill out.
So as I've travelled around the globe from Azerbajan to Zanzibar and in every continent I've searched for this perfect destination combination,
I first visited Romagna (the historic region of Italy between Venice and Florence, the Apennines and the Adriatic) in March 2012 to write a story about the destination. It was amazing, but I've been lucky enough to see many amazing places all over the world - why did I think that Romagna was special?
The fact is, I simply couldn't believe it - in a world of mass commodity tourism, here was a place that had escaped intact from tourist hordes - it was totally stunning - a real Shangri La! All of the values that I believed tourism could offer - and I felt were lost - were here in Romagna and thriving.
Everybody was more than just kind and courteous, they treasured their homeland and their heritage - a glorious history, stunningly beautiful countryside and cities of art. They treasured their massive harvests of food and drink and their superb culinary culture. Above all they took great pleasure in sharing it all with me.
So, naturally, I kept returning to check that this wonderful place wasn't a dream and every time I returned something very special happened.
Read just four of the stories I wrote:
Could it be platform 9 3/4? A byzantine action-packed food & culture weekend by train to Ravenna and the heart of Romagna
There I was enjoying Lyon pistachio sausage, mashed potatoes in chives, with mustard dressing followed by a selection of delicious macarons at the amazing Fin de Siecle Train Bleu restaurant admiring the view of the trains in Paris's Gare du Lyon.
And the disappointing email arrived. What no sleeping car on tonight's train to Bologna? I'll have to sleep in a 6-berth couchette cabin! How terrible, particularly as I'd been looking forward to first class comfort on a romantic night journey....
Take the sleeper train back 15 centuries: HERE
There I was enjoying Lyon pistachio sausage, mashed potatoes in chives, with mustard dressing followed by a selection of delicious macarons at the amazing Fin de Siecle Train Bleu restaurant admiring the view of the trains in Paris's Gare du Lyon.
And the disappointing email arrived. What no sleeping car on tonight's train to Bologna? I'll have to sleep in a 6-berth couchette cabin! How terrible, particularly as I'd been looking forward to first class comfort on a romantic night journey....
Take the sleeper train back 15 centuries: HERE
The glory of 6th century Ravenna Provenance, local specialities, authenticity, food and drink, culture and history, passion and quirkyness - added value experienced and explained
The question: How do you faithfully reflect Italy's massive regional strength, individuality and passion for hospitality in sustainable tourism?
The answer: Total immersion of every tourist's complete six senses.
Total commitment Emilia Romagna HERE
The question: How do you faithfully reflect Italy's massive regional strength, individuality and passion for hospitality in sustainable tourism?
The answer: Total immersion of every tourist's complete six senses.
Total commitment Emilia Romagna HERE
the Palazzo Baldini The more Italy changes the more it remains the same
It was the last performance of the Ravenna Festival and we arrived in the sultry July evening heat at the massive San Giacomo palace, the seat of the power players in Ravenna - the Rasponi family.
With its air of peace , understanding and plenty, you couldn't find a more sublime place to sleep
Rasponi revels HERE
It was the last performance of the Ravenna Festival and we arrived in the sultry July evening heat at the massive San Giacomo palace, the seat of the power players in Ravenna - the Rasponi family.
With its air of peace , understanding and plenty, you couldn't find a more sublime place to sleep
Rasponi revels HERE
In earlier fashionable times The B&B is the heart of tourism and Oride is the soul of the Casa Masoli family businesses
Ravenna is a great destination - it has everything from a massive 1500 years of history, a living culture, great music, stunning sights and architecture, fantastic food, warm and friendly people - and it's just a hop skip and jump to the Adriatic beach at Ravenna Lido.
The heart of the great Romagna Tourism tradition HERE
Ravenna is a great destination - it has everything from a massive 1500 years of history, a living culture, great music, stunning sights and architecture, fantastic food, warm and friendly people - and it's just a hop skip and jump to the Adriatic beach at Ravenna Lido.
The heart of the great Romagna Tourism tradition HERE
Thinking that this amazing place deserved a much better showcase, I then researched and published three magazines about the area in 2013 and 2014 -I called them 'The Best of Romagna' you can download them below free...
Then, in 2016 with the help of some Romagnola friends we created a video about Romagna, see it HERE it's called 'Romagna Mia" And then, because I STILL wasn't sure, we brought professional travel agents to Romagna to see what they think - see and hear what they said about it in the short video clip HERE:
The travel agents liked it so much that they organised the FIRST small groups of lovely, lively Americans visited Romagna.
This is what the travel agents said: "My clients they deserve to see this part of Italy that's not really known and its beautiful" "Breathtaking mosaics - something you just can't imagine" "On every corner of the street there's a story and someone wanting to tell it to you""After Rome it was so nice to be here without that craziness" "You see smiles, graciousness and you see fun - you want to be a part of it and its so easy because everyone welcomes you".
In 2017 the first 3 small intimate groups of 12 visitors each arrived - lovely, interesting, interested people from all over the US, Alaska to Florida:
This is what they said: Thank you for all your knowledge and passion…thank you so much for a wonderful time… we so enjoyed this wonderful trip… a great experience… awesome… a fabulous journey… you are the best… a trip we will always remember… words cannot express our gratitude… thank you from my heart… thank you for wonderful memories… the best meal I've ever had!
And we have now been rated, in both 2016 and 2017 as one of the Global Top 100 Sustainable destinations details HERE
Why don't YOU come and find out what it's all about?
If you are a travel agent or group organizer and want to be a part of something really special for the benefit of your clients, find out more about Best of Romagna Familiarization, Training and Certification program HERE
This is what the travel agents said: "My clients they deserve to see this part of Italy that's not really known and its beautiful" "Breathtaking mosaics - something you just can't imagine" "On every corner of the street there's a story and someone wanting to tell it to you""After Rome it was so nice to be here without that craziness" "You see smiles, graciousness and you see fun - you want to be a part of it and its so easy because everyone welcomes you".
In 2017 the first 3 small intimate groups of 12 visitors each arrived - lovely, interesting, interested people from all over the US, Alaska to Florida:
- They tasted superb wine and local produce in three fabulous organic vineyards.
- They ate great fresh, seasonal local Romagnolo food in three superb restaurants.
- They were taken back 1600 years to the glorious Byzantine Roman Empire
- They took adventures from Romagna to Venice and Florence
This is what they said: Thank you for all your knowledge and passion…thank you so much for a wonderful time… we so enjoyed this wonderful trip… a great experience… awesome… a fabulous journey… you are the best… a trip we will always remember… words cannot express our gratitude… thank you from my heart… thank you for wonderful memories… the best meal I've ever had!
And we have now been rated, in both 2016 and 2017 as one of the Global Top 100 Sustainable destinations details HERE
Why don't YOU come and find out what it's all about?
If you are a travel agent or group organizer and want to be a part of something really special for the benefit of your clients, find out more about Best of Romagna Familiarization, Training and Certification program HERE
