Livio Colapinto Offers a Truly Genuine Experience of Italy

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

In an age of curated photo ops and surface-level sightseeing, Livio Colapinto is redefining what it means to experience Italy. As the co-founder of The Genuine Experience (TGE), Colapinto has turned his passion for authentic travel into a world-renowned luxury service—one that now finds itself shortlisted for the prestigious PURE 2025 award for transformative travel design.

What began as an unexpected pivot from a fast-paced career in banking and engineering has evolved into something extraordinary. “I never imagined this would be my life’s work,” says Colapinto. “But the moment I started organizing trips for classmates during my master’s in food culture at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, I realized I had found my path.”

The Genuine Experience offers more than just luxury—it delivers Italy through the eyes of a local, with itineraries crafted as though you're a long-lost cousin returning home. For over a decade, Colapinto and his team have led culinary icons like Nancy Silverton, Michael Mina, Alice Waters, and Eli Zabar on immersive journeys through Italy’s cultural and gastronomic heartlands. Now, those same once-exclusive experiences are available to travelers looking to taste the country like a seasoned insider.

“Our trips aren’t about checking boxes or following crowds,” Colapinto explains. “They’re about personal, meaningful interactions—having fresh ricotta with a cheesemaker who never opens his doors to tourists, or enjoying a private dinner with a winemaker who only hosts guests because of our relationship with him.”

From private truffle hunts in Umbria to vineyard dinners in Sicily and market-to-table cooking classes with Slow Food chefs, each TGE itinerary is crafted with care, authenticity, and attention to the smallest detail. “We approach every trip like we’re welcoming family,” says Colapinto. “What would I want my uncle or aunt to experience in five days? That’s our mindset.”

What makes The Genuine Experience particularly unique is its deep local network. Unlike traditional destination management companies that focus on a single region, TGE operates across all of Italy. This nationwide reach is powered by long-standing relationships with local artisans, chefs, hoteliers, and guides. “These aren’t just business contacts—they’re friends,” says Colapinto. “We’ve built trust over the years, and that trust opens doors that would otherwise stay shut.”

While the food and wine are undeniable highlights, the true value of a Genuine Experience trip lies in its emotional impact. “When you spend a morning with a truffle hunter and his dogs or share stories over lunch with a winemaker in his vineyard, something shifts,” Colapinto says. “It becomes more than travel—it becomes connection.”

And that connection starts from the very first inquiry. Each trip is fully tailored, beginning with a consultation to understand travel dates, group size, interests, and personal milestones. Whether it’s an anniversary celebration in Florence or a multi-generational family journey from Rome to Umbria, TGE builds the experience from scratch, handling everything from luxury accommodations and private transportation to curated dining and hands-on experiences.

For Colapinto, this work isn’t just about travel—it’s about transformation. “The people we host don’t just visit Italy—they feel it,” he says. “We want our guests to return home remembering not just the places they visited, but the people they met and the stories they lived.”

With its nomination for PURE 2025 and an ever-growing list of loyal clients, The Genuine Experience is more than a travel company. It’s a movement—bringing people closer to Italy’s soul, one unforgettable journey at a time.