By Dylan Dias
I remember the first time being somewhere distant, striking, and entirely unique to the world I knew. I was fairly young, and it was on a family trip to Sri Lanka – the small, lush island of my heritage. Pieces of the ancient world dipped into a complicated colonial tapestry, misted tea fields of endless emerald hills, and a clarity of aquamarine waters so pristine that it was indistinguishable from the horizon itself. It struck me, changed me, and granted me what epic travel grants us all – perspective.
As I sat there, steeping in the stories of well-travelled people with well-travelled hearts, I began to recognize the parts of myself I have yet to meet as an adult.
– DYLAN DIAS
Now, years later, dreaming of travel exists for me as something far more than seeing a new and fantastic place – it exists as an immersion of life. Seeking a spirit of a place in the lifeblood of people, land, culture, food, and history. And is the reason, when musing over travel in Italy with two new and wonderful friends of ours – friends who have built and rooted their lives in the deep lineage of Italy’s land – my heart began to flutter. Though I haven’t travelled as much as I’d have liked to in my adult years thus far – there is a younger me, somewhere across the ocean, that is waiting for that person to dream again.
On a bright Monday afternoon not too long ago, I had the pleasure of joining our VeraVita team to sit down with chef Davide Ciavattella (the star of our recent story with the immaculate and artful Don Alfonso 1890) and Serena Staiano (a consummate travel designer for a destination management company in Italy and chef Davide’s wife) for a sweet little lunch in the city at a local favourite – Lao Lao Bar.
Over warm noodles, fresh and vibrant broths, colourful salads, and good wine – we drank, we laughed, and we shared stories. Our European Editor, Thomas Pigeon, led us down the many pathways he has taken through Italy’s prolific regional lands – from the awe-inspiring terroir of Tuscan vineyards to the treasures of truffle hunting in Piedmont. And our Editor-in-Chief, Amy Pigeon, basked in the glow of community, love, and magic that Italy’s people and cities have always left with her – a feeling that is continually reinforced by the journey of self these travels have imprinted into her spirit. In a way, I caught myself surrounded by these incredible people, seeking the parts of my life I have not yet opened.
Having a home in Capri for many years before relocating to Toronto and having also lived alongside the coastal waters of different regions in the country, both Davide and Serena echoed these feelings of an Italy that is crafted from generations of family – not just polished landmarks. The shepherds of Abruzzo, for example, and their centuries-long tradition of migrating flocks of sheep from the lowland valleys of the Adriatic up toward the majestic pastures of the mountains to graze. In summer they’d remain there – in modest huts surrounded by pastoral vistas – and in winter they’d return home again. Trading the finest of wools, milk, and cheese along the way, the industrialized world has largely threatened the sustainability of this pilgrimage, called the transumanza, though some farmers in the region still honour it to this day. Growing up in Pescara, Davide shared with us how special this element of Abruzzo was. It comes from a place that touches the purpose of the land itself, and in turn, the foundation of the people. And in later years living with Davide in Capri, Serena lovingly joked about how narrow the historic laneways of her island were – so much so that it was nearly impossible to park their small family vehicle next to their home. Though, of course, you could just walk to the sea if you needed to, take a boat into the Tyrrhenian, and come home with fish and fruit along the way – a concept I can’t begin to comprehend just yet. It’s little stories that hold the heart of Italy, and it’s the families, like those of Serena and Davide’s, that exemplify them.
With a rich heritage in Capri rooted in generations of family legacy, Serena shapes this kind of storytelling into her work alongside Privilege Italia – a destination company that specializes in travel concierge services for their guests. By translating the rusticity and opulence of this kind of Italy into unforgettable experiences, Serena helps to curate country-wide journeys, accommodations, activities, and adventures – from food, restaurants, and land excursions to hotels, villas, boats, personalized transit, and everything in between. Privilege Italia, and Serena’s work, act as a lens into an Italy that is more than just a city, monument, or popular destination – it’s a connection to a way of life.
Though I haven’t travelled as much as I’d have liked to in my adult years thus far – there is a younger me, somewhere across the ocean, that is waiting for that person to dream again.
— DYLAN DIAS
As I sat there, steeping in the stories of well-travelled people with well-travelled hearts, I began to recognize the parts of myself I have yet to meet as an adult. The parts of myself that found pockets of life in the places I went, not just the places I dreamed about. The parts of myself that would take a pilgrimage into the mountains instead of the train to work. I suppose that’s a bit dramatic, but still, I hope to meet that person again soon.
Thank you to our new friends – chef Davide and Serena – for sharing a piece of your Italy, and your warmth, with us. – VV
Images courtesy of Unsplash, Privilege Italia, and Lao Lao Bar
