I for Italia- 2026

Cari amici di I for Italia, 

We know we have not always been very good at sharing our travel adventures with you, but the reality is that we had a fulfilling, busy, emozionante 2025.

When I started I for Italia, I had one, grandissimo goal in mind: that of opening my heart to you, and sharing all that I love about the country where I was born and raised. 

It was not the easiest task. For a very long time, all I focused on was working as hard and passionately as I could to start gaining the trust of my first travelers. 

It was not easy leaving the country I so dearly love, and where all of my friends and family are. It was not easy starting a business in a new country. It was not easy, and it still isn’t, to passionately communicate the true stories and authentic identity of such a popular, “talked about” country. 

In a world where so much information is constantly, incessantly shared about every single topic, I learned about so many versions of my country, that I was often surprised, confused, even disoriented. 

I saw a country reduced to a cliche, or stereotype. I realized the travel world relies a lot on Italy’s capacity of attracting clients. And so many times, I felt like the travel world was telling a story that was perfectly, conveniently shaped to attract, almost like a sales pitch, rather than tell a true tale about Italy and its core.

And while that makes me sad, it has reinforced every single day my desire to keep working hard for this dream. The dream of reimagining the way people travel to Italy. I discovered a shocking data this year: more than 70% of travelers that visit Italy, focus on just 1% of its territory. 

Well, we’re here to change that!

Thanks to you, who decided to travel with us this year, we were able to plan trips in many unique regions around the country. In September, I personally escorted a small group of 12 lifelong friends to explore Italy’s 99% who nobody talks about. We learned about the tales and stories from Basilicata, or areas in Campania that are not Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri or the Amalfi Coast. 

Our Puglia small group tour took our travelers to Puglia, from Salento to Valle d’Itria, exploring towns such as Galatina, Martina Franca or Altamura. Our clients discovered Trentino Alto Adige, Sicily, Lazio, Umbria, Marche, Piedmont. 

In spring 2026, I will personally escort two private, senior groups on an educational journey discovering the secret Northern Italy. We will visit Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia. We will discover small towns that no one has ever heard of. We will taste wines whose names are a mix of Slavic, German and Italian dialects. We will walk borders, explore Italy’s hidden gems, meet locals, learn about architect prodigies who just like Palladio, influenced more than anyone all of the historical and modern US architecture. 

And travel is just a part of what we do! In 2025, we hosted monthly free events here in Charleston for Italy and Italian language lovers. We hosted wine tastings, cooking classes, and Spritz parties. We traveled around local libraries, communities and lifelong learning communities to host educational events about Italy. In January 2026 we will travel to Charlotte, Beaufort, and Charleston to host events in front of hundreds of people. What moves all of this?

This is not just travel. This is love for a destination like few in the world. This is us promoting a story of love, dedication, vocation. Italy is not just a beautiful country. Italy is a place where one can find rest for the soul. Where to find friends. Where to meet a kind of hospitality and love that asks for nothing in return. Italy can be busy, and heavily visited, but the other 99% is just there waiting for you to show up, say a few words in Italian and just let it spoil you. Italy is home, l’Italia e casa!

Here at I for Italia we want to continue providing our travelers with those experiences. Creating that bridge that will connect them to our beloved country. We don’t just want to promote tours in Italy, we want you to see, understand and love the Italy we know. 

So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for allowing us to keep doing what we do. To keep sharing the love for our country in the most passionate way. 

If you never travelled with us, thank you as well for following and supporting us. If you traveled with us, thank you immensely for your trust. If you are thinking about traveling with us, please reach out, we are always, always down to talk. If you want us to talk at your community or organization about Italy and its history, culture, or enogastronomic treasure, send us a ciao anytime!

In 2026, we plan to share more of ourselves, more of what we do, and more of what we love. 

If I is for Italia,

A is for Amore

P is for Passione

and G is for Gratitudine.

We are grateful to you, for allowing us to keep our dream, and mission alive.

We wish you a Happy New Year, full of love, and travel. 

A presto,

Stefano & the I for Italia Team