Unexpected Italy

Overtourism has been defined as ”impact of tourism on a destination or parts thereof that excessively influences the perceived quality of life of citizens and the quality of visitor experiences.” Having lived in Italy for the past several years, I have seen how overtourism displeases both residents and tourists. So when I discovered Unexpected Italy on Instagram, I immediately downloaded the app to discover some authentic artisans and businesses to support when I travel around my chosen host country. I was thoroughly impressed with Savio who reached out to me directly when a business failed to respond after I had sent an inquiry to them via the app. Unexpected Italy is easy to navigate and the people behind it are clearly passionate about sustainable tourism and providing unique experiences.

Savio and Elisabetta became good friends after I attended 3 of their London tours. Savio is a native Italian from Puglia and Elisabetta grew up in the north with an Italian father and British mother. They have a deep love for preserving the unique history and culture of Italy by discovering its quiet talent of artisans, pasta makers, cheese specialists, craftspeople etc. Italy is at risk of losing its identity with over tourism that invades the towns and cities in masses. This way of seeing Italy is ultimately disappointing for the visitor as well as the locals who see hordes of tourists ruining their country. Enter Unexpected Italy! They’ve traveled to every corner of Italy to discover all the individuals who make this country so lovable. And now they have an app to share their discoveries with visitors who long for a unique experience. We are all so fortunate to benefit from these amazing treasures!