Alessandra travels to Sicily to learn about the modern royalty and craftsmen that represent the historic charm of the region. Visit the workshop of a puppet maker, a cart painter, and a coral carver; get exclusive access to palaces; explore culinary gems that include salt pans, granita, a fish market, and Marsala wine; discover Europe’s oldest archeological site; see a spectacular historic parade.
Join Alessandra as she gains special access to the area’s most skilled artisans using centuries-old techniques passed down through generations. Discover a bread maker’s traditional process, an innovative cheesemaker, a stone mason working on spiral domes for trulli, a master glass craftsman with unique lampshades, and a luthier making instruments using rare techniques.
Experience Umbria, the enticing region at the center of Italy. Join Alessandra as she visits with artisans continuing Renaissance-era craftsmanship for generations, attends a festival carried on since the Middle Ages, learns about an architectural wonderland, and makes a visit to a modern Renaissance Man who embodies the spirit of the series.
A behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic Venetian images. Join Alessandra as she helps prepare for the lavish Ballo del Doge masquerade ball, visits an artisan on Chioggia making traditional ceramic pipes, and takes a ferry over to the island of Murano, where she chats with a glass maker, and a choreographer dedicated to teaching historical dances.
Alessandra visits a father and son maintaining their Maiolic ceramic tradition, then travels to Chieti for the stunning Good Friday procession with hundreds of participants. On the Adriatic Coast, she learns about fishing off the traditional wood trabocch and discovers the lifestyle of artisans carrying on familiar traditions through copper, wrought iron, and stone.
Off-the-beaten-path Rome includes the street art district, the Pyramid, and the magnificent Palazzo Colonna. Alessandra introduces viewers to an eccentric artist who invented a language to describe his fantasy world, then travels to an ancient mint in medieval Viterbo. Finally, she tours a ghost village with a local chef and choreographer, and attends a charming tamburella concert.
Experience the dramatic Dolomite landscape with enchanting castles and charming towns. Artisans craft beautiful wooden creations with both tradition and modernity, and the culinary gems of Alto Adige utilize local flavors to make their dishes. Alessandra visits historic medieval castles and shows viewers the Diocesan Museum of Bressanone, a precious example of the region’s art and architecture.
Alessadnra travels to locations including Naples, Campania, Vesuvius, and La Gaiola to learn about the incredible craftsmanship and culinary marvels that await there. Discover skilled artisans using century-old techniques including a cameo carver, an umbrella maker, and an embroider. Taste delicious pastries, pizza, and wine from the Vesuvius region. Dive into a marine and archeological park.
In the beautifully captivating region of Molise, Alessandra discovers a family’s bell-making tradition, 11th generation cheesemakers, artisans crafting in stainless steel and wood, and a musician’s unique use for bagpipes. Additionally, Alessandra visits unique archeological and cultural sites, and the Museum of Costumes, where she gives insight on the complex traditions of the region.
Experience Tuscany, the enticing city at Italy’s center with artisans continuing Renaissance-era craftsmanship. Join Alessandra as she discovers the secrets behind creating mosaics and saving historic textiles, including one by Leonardo da Vinci. Visit a stunning palace, learn the recipe for renowned Cantucci biscuits, meet a marble sculptor, and see the architectural and musical wonder of Lucca.
Alessandra journeys to stunning Matera, an almost unknown region with wild beauty and captivating traditions. Experience a colorful and peculiar Carnival, and meet artisans including an impassioned embroiderer and an Aglianico del Vulture wine maker. Finally, discover the ancient techniques for creating nativity scenes and metal works in Acerenza, one of the 50 most beautiful towns in Italy.
Alessandra explores the stunning landscapes, architectural marvels, and artistic wonders of the Island of Sardinia. Destinations include Cagliari’s historic cathedral, a “sound garden,” temples, 12th-century catacombs, natural caves, and mining galleries. Artisans include a sea silk embroiderer, an innovative goldsmith, and a lawyer who dreams of making swimwear.