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| E. Frangipane, A. Delli Iaconi, G.Curti, A.R. De Alexandris at new BIC center |
This week saw
two important events in Viterbo for boosting tourism: a visit of an international meeting, Certess, organized by the Lazio
Region and the 16th international workshop BUY Lazio. The first took place in the new building of BIC Lazio, once the city's slaughter house.
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| Recycling an old building to new use |
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| CERTESS workshop with G.Curti & Bruno Blanco |
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| international delegates |
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| translating for BIC workshop |
I was
happy to be involved as translator, meeting people from Palma di Majorca, Finland, Croatia, Poland and several
other European countries.
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| pilgrim guide to Papal Palace |
The visit included
a workshop, discussion and
exploration of Viterbo’s medieval quarter accompanied by an authentically dressed medieval pilgrim (Massimiliano
Vinci) who led the group along the old pilgrims’ route, Via di S.
Clemente, to the Duomo and Papal Palace.
The guests were surprised to see how coins were minted at the workshop of Maestro Marco Guglielmi who also dressed the part. This eclectic artisan works in ceramics as well as
coinage and has published several books.
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| Master coin maker |
Throughout the weekend
Viterbo was bustling with over 200 delegates at the 16th edition of Buy Lazio,where buyers and sellers meet to exchange information and offers for touristic services. The workshop is held in the
ancient papal palace whose soaring arches and tufa stone halls recall the papal court which met here in the 13th century.
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| Buy Lazio stands |
Snappily dressed young men and
girls (with dangerously high heels considering the cobblestones and steep stairs) were busy promoting the folklore, traditions, gastronomy
archeology, environment and special
itineraries that exist for tourists in the
five provinces of the Lazio region: Latina, Roma, Rieti, Frosinone and Viterbo.
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| red carpet at the Papal Palace |
Buyers converged on Viterbo from 24 different countries as far away as Mexico, Norway and Russia with
a large percentage from central and eastern European countries (Slovenia,Ukraine,Slovakia
Luthuania, Hungary, Austria,Poland)
and Scandinavia (Norway,
Finland,Denmark, Estonia Sweden).
As I write, on Sunday morning, the foreign participants are being treated to a
post-workshop tour of Tuscania, Bolsena and Tarquinia before heading back to their respective countires.
Things
have changed in these past 16 years: instead of
reams of papers and heavy catalogues appointments are now set up electronically so that face to face meetings and exchange of business
cards are all that is needed to make contacts leading to a future of sustainable tourism for the Viterbo area and all of Lazio.
Thanks Mary, we have enjoyed a wonderfull morning in Viterbo, I think international delegates have been very satisfied. I hope a next event soon in ICULT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCiao
Giulio
Let's hope the businesses within Viterbo wake up to the possibilities and don't continue to charge tourists special (extra high) prices! They also need to realise that tourists (especially Italian ones) will come on Sunday and so shops, tourists’ offices etc. need to be open. A general clean up and stamp down on the graffiti in the city also needs to be addressed
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Giulio and Christina, I agree wholeheartedly. We must catch up to Tuscany and Umbria, it requires a lot of hard work and youthful enthusiasm, but it can be done, especially with new talents and motivation which seem to have finally arrived in sleepy old Viterbo.
ReplyDeleteMinting coins!? In plain sight!? For the country?? Or just for demonstration purposes? In either case, I need to learn how to do that! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat initiative Mary, Earlier this year there was a frankly disastrous meeting for the Strada di Sagrantino. 2 great guys came along and were quite firm on what would need to be achieved to put Sagrantino on the map for Montefalco before it was taken up by other countries. This is Montefalco's biggest asset, and needs nurturing, but the folks, in the main only see problems, not the bigger picture. It was a depressing few hours. We went, after the meeting, into the offices of the Strada di Sagrantino and offered to help in any way we could, advertising, translating, controlling the English on the brochures/website … very willing to help. Lots of nods, then … absolutely nothing. They never got back to us. Their 'problem' was/is that we don't always visit the cantine that are on their 'map'. Take that how you like, I don't see it as a problem. We weren't allowed to advertise in their office either because of this. We promote Umbria one guest at a time, if we can let them see the great things they can do here, and they go and tell their friends - word of mouth is a powerful thing.
ReplyDeleteMary Jane Cryan thanks Giselle, can I put this on the blog post comments ?
4 hours ago · Like · 1
Giselle Stafford If my waffle made sense, yes! You're more than welcome!
Elizabeth Wholey Good question Mary Jane! I do it through Facebook to promote members of Le Vie del Buongusto and Slow Food Alta Umbria. Next March in Chicago I will have a table at the International Assoc. of Culinary Professionals "marketplace" and will bring products, give prizes, and generally yak my head off about how wonderful it is here. Unlike Giselle, I am getting a lot of encouragement from local people.
Giselle Stafford We're doing something similar in January, Elizabeth, in Holland. I hope it's going to be a success!
about an hour ago via mobile ·