Boosting Tourism in Viterbo

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 16^th international workshop BUY Lazio. The first  took place in the new  building of BIC Lazio, once  the  city's slaughter house. 

Recycling  an old building to new use

CERTESS  workshop with G.Curti & Bruno Blanco  

international  delegates 

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. 

 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.

Master  coin maker 

Throughout the  weekend  Viterbo was  bustling  with over  200 delegates at  the 16^th 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.

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.

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. 

International Connections - Tuscia and the World

  

flowery  corner of Lubriano 

A couple of dozen young people, members of Rome’s  Irish Club,  made a  visit to Northern Lazio  this weekend, to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, the dying city. 

Jovez , in the middle of the countryside, seems to be a private home 

 Over a delightful 3-hour lunch  at the hidden country restaurant  Jovez near Lubriano, they were  surprised  to learn that many other Irish  had been here  before them. 
more about Lubriano on my friend Anne's website

Cesare and Federico Giovarelli  run the restaurant with their parents

Among these the Denham family, lords of the land in Northern Lazio for more than a century  and the Talbots whose funerary monument can be admired  in the church of La Quercia, near Viterbo.

semolino gnocchi, spinach alla romana then lasagna

The Irish,  English, Scottish, American, Polish and French connections included royal exiles, cardinals and kings as well as artists and  writers (Countess Blessington, Nathaniel Hawthorne) who left their impressions, some of which were far from flattering.  

Jovez rose garden and lawns 

  These curiosities and connections are the basis of an illustrated lecture “La Tuscia…in Viaggio” to be held-in Italian-on June  8^th at the Library of Vetralla (Via Pistella/ Pza. Marconi )  at  5 p.m.

All are welcome,  also to enjoy the  Cene in Cantina festival, that begin that same evening. 

poster  for  the conference 

During the  45-minute  power point presentation, we will explore these international  connections, taking a virtual cruise  around   the Mediterranean, touching on  Malta, Rhodes, Athens, Istanbul and  Turkey to see  similarities  with the Viterbo/Tuscia/Etruria  area.

After lunch -the happy group of modern day Irish travelers 

From Istanbul, circling  the Black Sea  as far as  Georgia, Ukraine and former USSR, we will note  other historical ties with the Viterbo and Northern Lazio area. 

The information given in the talk is especially important for anyone   aspiring to work in or with  the tourism industry in central Italy. 

If you can’t make it on June 8^th but wish to participate  in future conferences, subscribe  to the blog by leaving a comment and  your email  at the bottom of this page.

Extra: If you are in the Viterbo area  on June 9th, don't miss out on the special openings of  4 castles in the area.  Dimore Storiche  has organized  guided tours of  members' castles. 

Next week:  Antique  cars and motorcycles :  what the guidebooks don't tell you  about  Civita and Bagnoregio.