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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.
