A Trade Mission to Italy
October 8 - October 18, 2008
INDEX: About the Region | Preliminary Schedule | Trip Details | Contact Information
Join the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce as we explore a potential sister city relationship with one of the only undiscovered gems of Italy – Ascoli Piceno in The Marche region, east of Rome on the Adriatic. We truly hope that you find this to be a unique opportunity to travel with our Trade Mission and learn about an area of Italy that has yet to be discovered by anyone outside of Europe.
About the Region:
Traces of inhabitants in the Piceno region going back to the Paleolithic era have been found and the town of Ascoli Piceno itself is older than Rome by a few centuries. It had a stormy history with Rome going from official ally in 269 BC to the leader of the rebellion of the Italic people against Rome in 91 BC. After a devastating 30 month war against Rome, Ascoli capitulated and ultimately became known as the “noblest colony” of Rome.
Locals say you can still find the acorn shaped lead missiles in the fields and stream beds that were launched by the Romans during that 30 month war more than two millennia ago.
Over the centuries, Ascoli has been a center of culture and trade. When you visit, you will find yourself in an environment of Roman bridges, Roman and Gothic churches, Renaissance and Neo-Classic palaces, astonishing squares, fountains, gardens and artwork, all within a few square miles.
The central historical part of the city is built in travertine marble extracted from the surrounding mountains. Its central Renaissance square, Piazza del Popolo ("Square of the People") is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Historical records report that during the Middle Ages Ascoli Piceno was home to more than two hundred towers. More than fifty of these ancient towers are still in existence.
Today Ascoli Piceno enjoys a renaissance of its own with new government leadership and a focus on entrepreneurial businesses. One of the last regions of Italy to be brought on-stream, it is nonetheless eager and energized to overtake their more advanced sister provinces. Ascoli already boasts an established wine industry (Sangiovese, Verdicchio and Cabernet), a leather industry specializing in high-end Italian Designer shoes (Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Tod's and many others), a world-class architecture and industrial design university, an established alternative energy industry, and a burgeoning robotics and nano-technology effort. Already discovered by some multi-national companies like Motorola and Texas Instruments, the area has also produced some of its own successes including the first hydrogen car “Smile H2” which is the supplier of the official vehicle to the Beijing Olympics.
Join us as we visit this ancient Italian city and meet the local and regional officials and dignitaries who will welcome our group. We will be hosted by them at several luncheons and dinners – remember that in Italy everything happens with fabulous food and excellent wine.
The Trade Mission begins on October 8th and ends on October 18th after 10 incredible days of creating indelible memories.
Preliminary Schedule
Day 1 - Wednesday (10/8): Leave the US for Rome-Fiumicino Airport.
Day 2 - Thursday (10/9): Arrive in Rome in the early morning and taxi to a four-star hotel in the center of Rome near the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
In the afternoon, meet the other delegates (and our two Ascoli-US Liaisons who will accompany us on the trip) at an informal reception. Optional Tour: Board a chartered bus for a short tour of Roman Empire antiquities such as the Coliseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Square, and the Forum.
Day 3 - Friday (10/10): Learn Italian with your morning coffee. A short, practical lesson on conversational Italian and phrases you may need on your journey.
Mid-morning, attend a meeting at the US Embassy in Rome with US Ambassador and Department of Commerce Trade Representatives.
Return to the hotel and at 1:00 pm board a chartered bus for the trip east along the historic Via Salaria to Ascoli Piceno.
After checking into your room at an elegantly restored 13th century mansion built by Ascoli nobility, “Residenza 100 Torri”, attend a welcome reception hosted by local officials and businesses.
Following the reception, attend a gala soiree at the Soroptimist Club of Ascoli hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Adriano Federici, President of Confindustria Ascoli Piceno (similar to a Chamber of Commerce where members pay annual membership dues - the Confindustria dues are up to 30,000 euros per year depending on the size of the company). Mr. Federici is also CEO of the industrial refrigeration company, Marconi.
Day 4 - Saturday (10/11): Another Italian lesson with your morning coffee. Ask our instructor about phrases you heard or would like to learn.
The morning is free providing an opportunity to tour the historic Piazza del Popolo, city museums and of course excellent shops.
In the afternoon, attend a symposium organized by TecnoMarche, the development agency of the Marche region. This organization has been involved in research and application development for companies such as Motorola and Texas Instruments. It has also been given the task of creating a feasibility study for a former factory located at the conjunction of Ascoli's two rivers – Tronto and Castellano.
The symposium will include a panel of speakers including local and national political, economic and scientific leaders as well as local entrepreneurs.
Following the symposium, a dinner with all participants attending will allow more personalized discussion between the US delegation members and our hosts.
Day 5 - Sunday (10/12): Another Italian lesson with your morning coffee. Clarify phrases heard or words you would like to learn.
The day will be dedicated to visiting and enjoying the vineyards and wineries of the Tronto Valley. Il Piceno is an area renowned for the quality of their Rosso Piceno and Rosso Piceno Superiore montelpuciano-style wines. Our trip should coincide with Vendemmia (grape harvest) providing an especially unique experience. We will have lunch in the nearby hill town of Offida looking out to the Adriatic Sea. Our group will be met by local Offida officials and we will be taken on a tour of their historic theater and church. This area is also renowned for its lacemaking and several shops will be displaying their beautiful creations.
The afternoon will be spent in the vineyards, olive groves and enchanted towns in an area that predates Rome and are even older than Ascoli.
In the evening enjoy an exquisite dinner prepared by a celebrated chef at a four-generation family winery – all of this while overlooking the beautiful Adriatic. Wine producers, winery owners and enologists will discuss the quality and business of wine in Italy.
Day 6 - Monday (10/13): Enjoy another Italian lesson with your morning coffee if you like. By now you will be able to pick up words and phrases in conversation and may be eager to learn even more. You will also receive a briefing about the press conference being held later in the day.
In mid-morning, the entire Delegation will be received by the President of the Piceno Province, Mr. Massimo Rossi, at the San Filippo Palace. All local leaders will be in attendance as they formally welcome our group, including the President of Piceno Promozione, Algeo Marcozzi.
At noon attend a press conference for members of the delegation to share their impressions about Ascoli.
Following the press conference adjourn to one of the oldest and most refined coffee houses in Italy (Caffe Meletti) for a lunch prepared by one of the most appreciated chefs of the area.
In the afternoon meet with the Mr. Federici and other industrialists to discuss common ground and explore options for collaboration between our two areas.
The evening is free.
Day 7 - Tuesday (10/14): Once more you can learn a bit more Italian with your morning coffee as you become more and more adept at your conversational Italian phrases.
In the morning the Delegation will travel to San Benedetto, the main fishing port of the Adriatic and the second largest port in all of Italy. The Confindustria of San Benedetto will greet our group and the industrialists from the coast of the Piceno Province will provide an overview of their businesses.
For lunch we will be hosted by Mr. Federici at the offices of the Confindustria in San Benedetto.
Also on the trip you will visit Grottammare (the “Pearl of the Adriatic”) and the famous Riviera delle Palme (one of the most beautiful sea resorts in Italy).
We will make a stop at Faam, the company that has surprised the world by producing the first hydrogen car “Smile H2” that won the contract for supplying the official vehicle to the Beijing Olympics this year.
Mr. Federici will join us for a tour of Western Company, a technology firm that harnesses photovoltaic solar energy to provide power for public lighting, rural electrification, emergency lighting and to power emergency water supplies.
At dinner, Mr. Federici will again be our host as we join him at his summer villa in San Benedetto overlooking the sea for what will truly be a very memorable evening.
Day 8 - Wednesday (10/15): Yes, one more Italian lesson with your morning coffee for those interested in continuing their education. Participate or not – it's up to you.
The day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure, or participate in an optional tour of the magnificient Piana del Castelluccio, the Apennine plain that changes color according to the season and offers the best Cotechino and Lenticchie this side of the Milky Way.
Don't forget that Ascoli Piceno is the noted “shoe capital of Europe” and those stores await!
For dinner the Delegation will enjoy a soiree in the over thousand year old, elegant Castel di Luco. We will be welcomed by the mayor of the town who will tour us through the historic theater and other remarkable points of interest.
Day 9 - Thursday (10/16): Morning coffee in Italian. You will be proficient enough by now to greet your fellow travelers in Italian and inquire about their evening.
In mid-morning, the Delegation will be hosted by the Faculty of Architecture of Consorzio Universitario Piceno. The delegates will be briefed on the Project for the Biennial of the Industrial Design.
Lunch will be served in the Renaissance Cloister of the Architecture Department in the old Convent of the Annunziata.
The afternoon is free to enjoy Ascoli, the Piazza and the shops.
In the evening, dinner will be in one of the most spendid villas on the outskirts of Ascoli. The delegation will be the guests of the Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili (Association of the Construction Companies).
Day 10 - Friday (10/17): Yes, one last Italian lesson with your morning coffee. You may be proficient by now, but if there are still a few words you want to learn, then please listen in.
The morning is free, but at lunch learn the secrets of 3,000 years of Piceno gastronomy. Participate in a cooking lesson by the famous Chef Vitelli and then enjoy the fruits of your labor!
In the evening, the local and national political and industrial leaders that you have met in the past 10 days will join us for an Arrivederci ceremony.
Day 11 - Saturday (10/18): Transportation to Rome Fiumicino airport – and back to reality!
Please Note: All schedules are subject to change based on local conditions. Remember, the Italians are less interested in rigid time schedules than we may be used to.
Trip Details
In order to provide the maximum flexibility to our Delegates, air transportation to and from Rome is not included in the following costs. You may arrive earlier or depart later. You may use award miles or upgrades as you wish and fly on whatever airline you prefer. You are free to plan your air travel itinerary to meet your personal preferences.
The Trade Mission includes the following in the cost:
- 8 nights in premier hotel accommodations,
- All delegation transportation while within Italy,
- The services of 4 translators who will travel with the group,
- 8 Italian lessons,
- 2 Private receptions,
- 4 Luncheons,
- 1 Cooking lesson,
- 6 Elegant dinners.
The Total Per Person cost is $3,450 based on the current 1.65 euros per dollar. The final cost will depend on the exchange rate at the time your payment is received. (Additional charges apply for hotel room single occupancy.)
For the 100 Torri hotel in Ascoli Piceno, the cost includes a standard room. Two upgraded “Comfort” rooms are available for an additional $79 per person for the 7 nights, and 3 “Superior” rooms are available for an additional $211 per person for the 7 nights. These upgraded rooms will be available on a first requested, first reserved basis.
The delegation is limited to 18 people and again will be based on a first requested, first reserved basis.
We truly hope that you find this to be a unique opportunity to travel with our Trade Mission and learn about an area of Italy that has yet to be discovered by anyone outside of Europe. Based on the reports returned by a fact-finding emissary in May, the pictures on the web do not even do it justice. It is incredibly beautiful and so much has been left undisturbed for centuries – all just waiting for you to explore.
For more information contact:
Penny Pompei
President & CEO
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
Reston VA
E: pennyp@restonchamber.org
T: 703.707.9045
Additional information about Ascoli Piceno can be found on the following web sites:
http://www.heartofitaly.net/town/ascoli.html
http://www.rinascita.it/rinascita_web/pag_ascoli/info_tur_ingl.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascoli_Piceno