Some places are meant to be seen. Italy is meant to be lived.
Away from crowded landmarks and fast-moving itineraries, another Italy reveals itself through long conversations over wine, family kitchens fragrant with regional recipes, quiet village streets, and landscapes shaped by centuries of care and cultivation. Here, food is not simply something you taste. It is the doorway into culture, community and the rhythm of everyday life.
Renowned hospitality professional Luke Wright shares the Italy he knows best, one shaped by regional kitchens, vineyard conversations, small producers, and the quiet rituals that define everyday life beyond the tourist trail.
1. There’s a strong emphasis on “living” rather than just visiting for this tour. What does slow travel look like on this tour, and why is it so important right now?
The idea of slow travel is going to a place and having the ability to feel the energy of what life is like in that particular place and at that particular time. I think it’s so vital in modern life as the world gets ‘smaller’ through technology and connectivity, vast areas of the world are becoming more and more homogenised. Being able to see and really experience a place like Italy, a unique country and culture that’s very safe and stable makes travelling and living another experience easy.
2. In a world of fast itineraries and bucket lists, what do travellers gain when they slow down and immerse themselves in a place like Italy?
Italy really has a way of putting time and relationship with time into perspective, which I guess is why it’s synonymous with ‘La Dolce Vita’. It’s funny because things really feel like they slow down in Italy, yet at the same time I always feel so energised when I visit. I put it down to art, food, sun, music, family, conversation and not being judged for having an afternoon nap. All these things you’ll find in abundance and these simple things are what makes us happy and feel connected.
“Italy really has a way of putting time and relationship with time into perspective, which I guess is why it’s synonymous with ‘La Dolce Vita'".
3. Food is clearly at the heart of this journey. Why do you believe culinary travel in Italy has become a must-do experience for travellers today?
I think you would be hard-pressed to find a more universally loved cuisine than Italian food! Plus, it’s so varied from region to region. Now more than ever, with so much unhealthy and fast food, I think experiencing what Italy does so well is a must-do experience.
4. Italy is known for its regional diversity. How have you selected the locations and food experiences to ensure travellers truly feel that local depth and authenticity?
We’ll be visiting Piemonte and Tuscany, probably Italy’s most iconic Food and Wine regions. Piemonte is famous for truffles and high-quality wines like Barolo and Barbaresco. Tuscany needs no introduction, with Chianti and Fiorentina steak. Both areas are stunningly picturesque, and the local producers of food and wine are committed to protecting the quality of their produce.
6. Can you share a moment or experience from Italy that completely changed the way you think about travel, food, or culture?
I was 19, walking through a town in Sicily during the infamous siesta lunch part of the day where nothing is open. I passed a house with a older lady cooking by the window and I stopped and told her how the aroma of what she was cooking had been torturing me for the last couple hundred metres. Without a second thought, she grabbed a plastic plate, loaded it with food and gave it to me with the biggest smile on her face. It was amazing. I remember that more than the visit to the Colosseum, and it made me realise that you need to leave space for real moments to just happen when travelling, not just fill all the time up with the big classic tourist attractions.
7. This tour feels very personal and curated. What kind of connections or moments are you hoping travellers will take away from the experience?
I hope the travellers will meet people who they can form real connections with that last longer than the tour itself, as well as make memories that don’t need a photo to remind us of something we did. I think the real memories are the ones that the camera misses.
8. How does travelling through food create a different kind of connection to a destination compared to more traditional sightseeing??
Food is what brings us together, and is like a glue for creating memories. It literally forces us to slow down just through the act of eating, and in Italy it becomes sacred. I truely believe it’s what makes people keep going back to Italy.
8. Wellness travel is now a multi-hundred-billion-dollar global industry, with more travellers seeking experiences that nourish body and mind. How does Living Italy tap into this shift, and where do you see wellness showing up through food, pace, and lifestyle on this journey?
There’s a couple days of the tour reserved for free time in a wellness area. One of the days is at the infamous Thermal Baths in Saturnia, which have been in use since the Romans. Time to bathe and reflect - an ancient remedy to the stresses of modern life.
10. Who is this journey really designed for? What type of traveller will get the most out of Living Italy?
I think anyone who needs to remember something that modern life has made them forget would get the most out of this tour.
10. If someone is sitting on the fence about joining this tour, what would you say to them about why now is the time to experience Italy this way?
I read recently that one of the main regrets people have over a lifetime, apart from the obvious ones, was that they wished they had travelled more. So I would say don’t sit on the fence about something that we universally regret and wish we could do more of.
Luke is an accomplished hospitality professional with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Having managed leading venues and studied wine extensively, he brings deep knowledge and genuine passion to everything he does. Luke currently manages the renowned Buon Ricordo Restaurant in Sydney. Fluent in Italian and having travelled extensively throughout Italy for decades, he now curates and leads immersive tours that connect guests with Italy’s food, wine, culture, and people.
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