When I set-out to find a way to encourage local Italians to continue doing the amazing things they do, carrying on traditions passed down through so many generations, I immediately thought of a way for people to connect.
A way to share a version of Italy that I feel so fortunate to experience when I visit, spending time with the locals and soaking in all the simple riches of the day-to-day culture…but how?
I had to find a way to connect people who truly wanted to experience this. People who truly wanted to immerse themselves in the local culture with the Italian people.
While these seemingly simple rituals and practices form part of everyday living, together they truly make the Italian culture what we know to love!
The more I embraced them, the more I witnessed these rituals and practices slowly drifting away, left to the generations who were getting on in age. Their children had moved away and there weren’t as many hands to chip-in.
The expenses were becoming a little too much and even though ‘è un’altra cosa fatta in casa’ (it’s something else when it’s made at home), the same thing could be found at the supermarket instantly and without all the work that would become increasingly more difficult as the years went on.
This is the reality that the beautiful Italian population face when it comes to traditions and all the incredible methods tied to the land and the fruit it produces. There’s a lot at stake and I believe that we as travellers can make a pretty inspiring impact: showing these people that what they do is appreciated, that it’s beautiful, authentic, original and that it’s definitely something worth continuing.
This is how I envisaged the role of Vera Italia: enriching travellers truly seeking to have that local experience and in the process supporting these locals working their hardest to not give up on the customs taught to them by their ancestors. Then I met Stefania…
Ciao! I’m Chiara. We’ve been journeying through my travel escapades which eventually led to a platform called Vera Italia which connects travellers with local Italians in the lesser-known areas of Italy who continue traditions - people I like to call Culture Creators.
Stefania is our ‘contadina’ which means farmer in Italian, but contadina sounds much cuter and is much more fitting for Stefania.
I was introduced to Stefania by her son who was helping me with the website. He said: "I was thinking, my mum does a lot of traditions, she cultivates the land, makes bread; she might be a good fit for the project.”
When I first called Stefania, I was staying in a little apartment overlooking the centro storico (historic centre) of Scalea (Calabria) where I had nestled myself away to bring life to this project.
It was a cloudy afternoon and eager to connect with what seemed to be like a ‘mystical creature’ of traditions and all things agricultural, I got my notepad and pen ready and I called.
We spoke for 35 minutes straight. The whole time listing all the traditions and ideas for experiences. My pen could hardly keep up.
Then we met! Stefania is the definition of sunshine! She greets you with her warm rays and every moment you spend with her is fuel for the soul. She is the proud daughter and granddaughter of the generations before her that cultivated the land and lived off its fruitful harvest, transforming the simple crops into traditional conserves, sweets and delicious dishes.
I think the thing that blew my mind the most about Stefania was her suggestion to offer an experience to make homemade bread in the wood-fire oven. The flour used to make the bread was sourced from the mill where she processes the grain cultivated from her crops, if making homemade bread the traditional way wasn’t impressive enough.
One of the sweetest, most humbling and touching moments that I fondly and frequently bring to mind was when we went to film Stefania’s video. She was the first person who truly wholeheartedly embraced Vera Italia as if it were just as much of a calling for her as it were for me.
"Chiara, I’ve been waiting so long for Vera Italia to come into my life,” she said.
On filming day, I walked into her incredibly cosy and quaint kitchen; fireplace alight and something delicious cooking away.
As I walked in Stefania had the biggest smile on her face and prompted me to notice the whiteboard behind me. In BIG BOLD letters was written ‘VERA ITALIA’. It was the first time I had seen someone else write the name, share the vision and so boldly and proudly present it.
This moment truly touched my heart along with the passion, enthusiasm and excitement I received from this incredibly proactive and talented individual who day after day rolls up her sleeves, gets stuck into the dirt and works hard to tend to the land and carry forth these traditions. It’s thanks to Stefania that the soul of Italy is kept alive.
Recently Stefania hosted her first few experiences and I was fortunate enough to witness one of them. It was a surreal moment where she was sitting around the table, talking to the travellers and I was observing their interaction. It was pure magic, I could visibly see the aim of connecting locals with travellers unfold, seeing them connect, laugh, enjoy and share culture.
A little way to help locals continue traditions, one experience at a time.
You can find Stefania and her many wonderful experiences here: https://www.veraitalia.it/culture-creators/stefaniacontadina/.
