Benvenuti to Italy Unseen!

Ciao! I’m Renata. I’m here to share some amazing off-the-beaten-path places and experiences that I’ve discovered while living here in Italy.

I want to give you an insider’s perspective of a different Italy. An Italy still not overrun by mass tourism, full of surprisingly gorgeous cities, paradisiacal beaches, friendly people and, really, really important… great food,  wine and drinks!

I would love to inspire you to explore beyond the typical tourist destinations like Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice and discover these lesser-known Italian places.

If you’re curious about who I am and why this blog may be for you, let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m a former tech manager with 20 years of corporate life, married to Flavio, the best partner in my adventures, and mother of two amazing daughters.

We are Italo-Brazilians born in Brazil, and we’ve traveled to countless cities in 22 countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. 

We’ve lived, studied and worked in several cities in the US, Brazil, Canada and many European countries. Currently, Flavio and I have settled in the stunning town of Lecce, in the Salento area of Italy. We are not alone in choosing the city for a less chaotic Italian experience, as many Europeans, Americans, and Canadians often do the same.

But make no mistake, we’re no nomads! Instead we have lived for several years in each place we called home. During our stays, we create roots, work, set up our home, put our daughters in schools, make friends, adapt, and try to live as much as a local as possible.

As our friends and family know well, there’s just something about Italy that we can’t resist. We have spent countless vacations exploring the different areas of this amazing country and have dreamt of living in Italy for years.

But we wanted to wait until our girls were grown up. Finally, when the opportunity arrived, we knew it was time to pack our bags and head straight “home” 😉 to Rome, a city that has always been so special to us.

Coming from a large and noisy Italian family,  Italian cuisine has always played an important role in my life. So when we moved to Rome, I enrolled in a professional cooking course to up my Italian cooking skills! 

During my time at A Tavola con lo Chef culinary school, I shared my tasty adventure on my Instagram and YouTube channels called “Receita Italiana”. There, I published video recipes and daily experiences in Portuguese to Brazilians who shared my love for all things Italian – from food to lifestyle!

After Rome, we moved to Valencia, Spain. Although we loved it there, after 5 years the time had come to return to Italy. However, not to Rome, as we were at another stage in life and wanted a city where we could have a different lifestyle.

In this process of choosing our new home, we were surprised by the lack of information and borderline disinformation about several lesser-known places in Italy, even among native Italians themselves. 

So, after some major detective work, we decided to go to the Salento area in Puglia, to the stunning city Lecce. I also thought about making this “discovery” easier for other people who crave Italy, and so I created this blog.

In my mission to encourage you to discover Italy in a whole new way and help you create an unforgettable travel experience, I also want to do my part in promoting sustainable tourism, boosting local businesses, and making a positive impact on the lives of residents in lesser-known destinations.

So If you love Italy and would like to explore places not overrun by mass tourism while experiencing a quintessential italianess, this blog is for you!

Besides, If you are always on the lookout for crystal clear beach waters, ancient forests, scenic trails through the mountains and cool outdoor activities, this blog is also for you!

Since we live in Lecce, I’ll be initially focusing on Puglia – its Idyllic coasts, charming cities full of history, inviting locals, delicious masserias and wineries, restaurants, and so much more!

So come along and join me on my adventures in Italy, places Unseen. Follow me in real-time through Instagram. 

Thanks for being a part of this journey!

Have fun! 😎

Baci,

Renata