(energetic music)
- The open road has always been an open invitation to me.
Winding through new adventures and personal experiences.
Can I help work for you?
I wanna work for you here, okay.
'Cause this, this is the greatest gift ever, man.
And nowhere does this happen more often
than along the Yellow Roads.
On a Michelin map,
one will find many different colored roads.
While red are the major highways,
it's the yellow roads I'm chasing, the more scenic roads,
winding through a country, through cities and towns,
and never knowing what lies just beyond the horizon.
I can't get over that we're on the top of a wall
bike-riding right now.
It's these roads that are calling me on a journey
unlike any other.
My name is Paulino Duran.
And I travel the world looking for exotic
and unique experiences.
I'm always up for making new friends,
listening to tall tales, and trying fantastic cuisine.
(epic music)
So I planned out my trip.
My agenda is set.
And I'm ready to explore the Yellow Roads.
- [Announcer] Funding for Music Voyager
provided in part by.
(mellow music)
Celebrating culture.
Encouraging communication.
Create For Change, a nonprofit for bridging cultures
through film.
Look, listen, learn.
- [Announcer] Tauck, guiding travelers around the world
since 1925.
Because we believe once in a lifetime only happens once.
How you see the world matters.
- [Announcer] Additional funding for this season
of Music Voyager provided by
Prom Peru, commission for travel and tourism, Peru.
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
(upbeat music)
(vocalizing in foreign language)
- Within the romantic and spirited country of Italy,
there are many different regions with their own
architecture, cuisine, and traditions
which have influenced our world for thousands of years.
I start my journey in the birthplace of the Renaissance.
(bells tolling)
(gentle music)
Firenze, or Florence, is made for walking,
which suits me perfectly.
My legs could use the exercise after a long flight.
It's a city that instantly strikes me
as stylish and soulful.
(camera clicks)
I make some friends.
That's intense, that's intense.
(laughs)
I'm gonna just be your background dancer.
You just keep doing it,
I'll just dance behind you like this.
I'll just background dance.
And get some good advice about Florence street food.
So this dish right here is specific to Florence, he says.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Bollito is the muscular part of the cow
and they cook it for hours, a day at least.
- [Paulino] My new friend Terry fills me in on the Bollito,
her favorite Florentine meal.
- The Bollito is like a pot roast, it melts, but it melts.
- That sounds delicious, wanna try some with me?
Do you mind?
Come on, come on, have some food with me, come up here.
- Who are you?
- You be my translator, I'm a man who's hungry
and needs help eating, come on, let's get in here.
- Bollito. - Bollito, okay.
- Very delicious. - Very delicious.
- Yes I like. - Like, muah, Bollito.
See okay, okay, I'm gonna give this a go.
Alright, cheers. - Cheers.
(cheerful music)
That's the best thing on the earth.
- I agree.
I'm also interested in the city's history.
What better way to learn about the influence of Florence
than to attend an art history lecture.
- Florence was once a Roman town,
it was a Roman town called Florenzia,
that's where we get our word Florence from.
I take it very seriously.
That is, to try to present the history of the city
and get people excited and knowledgeable
about this great city.
- I'm told the best pizza in Florence is at Finisterrae.
- Paulino! - Colin, what's happening?
- Great great, Brenda said you were on your way.
- And that is where I go to learn how to make
an authentic Italian pie.
Let's get to it.
- My friend Paulino. - Ciao, Paulino.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Nice to meet you.
- Today we're gonna make some pizza.
- Yes, let's do this.
(epic music)
(vocalizing in foreign language)
So how many pizzas do you make a day?
- 300 pizzas in three hours.
- 300 pizzas. - In three hours, yes.
For lunch. - Are you kidding me?
Wow.
- Paulino pizza, yes!
- It's hot in there, man, it gets very very hot.
- They do an awful lot of work, these guys.
But last night, I must tell you, we had a group just here,
and these kids, eight, 10, 12-year-old,
and they made the most amazing pizzas ever.
- My name is Arry, I make pizza at Finisterrae.
- There was 25 of them, there was flour everywhere,
and the great thing was all the adults were all sitting
having coffee and drinking a glass of wine on their own.
- Yeah but who's pizza was better, mine or the kids'?
- Oh the kids, easy.
Sorry mate.
(laughs)
- [Paulino] Colin is not just passionate about good food.
His restaurant is adorned with portraits
of Florence's Renaissance masters.
- These are amazing people.
All buried in this beautiful church behind, outside.
Here we got Michelangelo, greatest Giorgio Vasari as well,
and Titian as well, don't forget him.
Listen, while you're in Santa Croce,
you have to go and see this church that we got outside.
- Colin gets me into the Santa Croce church.
(vocalizing in foreign language)
(solemn music)
Suddenly, the history of Florence comes to life
as I am in the presence of the great masters
of the Renaissance.
Come and look at this, this is Michelangelo's tomb.
That's unbelievable.
The history of Italy can literally be found at your feet
in the floor of this church.
You know, I live in New York City
and I see the Statue of Liberty every day.
But to be here standing in front of this statue
that inspired it, it's mind-blowing.
(cheerful music)
- Ciao.
- I head over to Hotel Brunelleschi,
where I'll be staying tonight.
I was told to ask for Mario.
- Welcome, sir. - Mario.
- Welcome to Florence.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Welcome to the oldest building of Florence.
- We are right next to the duomo,
we are right in the middle of the historical center
so everything is walking distance.
- Let me show you something unique for this hotel,
you know that this building was built on Roman ruins?
- No I didn't.
- Underneath the reception, we do have a Roman ruin museum,
the only hotel in Florence with a Roman ruin museum.
- In the basement, artifacts and plates of the Roman
and Byzantine period have been found,
as well as a Roman bath.
Please watch your step and pay attention,
the ceiling is very low.
- [Paulino] Tight squeeze.
Wow.
- This is what it had been possible to put in light
of a Roman bath, it's called the Calidarium,
where the Romans were used to come and relax.
- So that's a top of an arch.
- That's it.
- So it goes further down, you think?
- Exactly. - You can really smell
history right here, right now.
- That's true. - Unbelievable.
- That's very true.
- [Paulino] It's late afternoon, and I head over
to the Ferragamo Museum to attend an exclusive tour.
For me, this is a one-of-a-kind experience,
and includes a private tour with the famous
fashion designer's family members.
- It's a story of love and passion, this company,
and it still is today.
- I learn about the history of Salvatore Ferragamo,
the legendary shoe designer, and his rags to riches story,
before we head outside and end our evening in style.
(upbeat music)
The culture and spirit of Florence fade
and my journey takes me into the countryside,
where I am greeted by rolling hills and golden fields.
(gentle music)
Here, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see.
Once harvested, they will produce Chianti,
one of Italy's most famous red wines.
The timeless landscape and medieval villages
perched on hilltops guide me along the Yellow Roads
to my next destination.
Where I meet up with Christiana Menza
to show me around Lucca on wheels.
Now you told me something about bicycles and the wall.
- Oh, and this is a great way to see the city
because the walls today are a public area and today
you can do the entire ring of walls with the bikes.
- On top? - yes,
so definitely the best way to see the city
is bicycling on the walls.
- Let's go have a ride. - Okay, so let's go.
(speaking in foreign language)
- We grab two bikes and embark on our journey.
(gentle music)
- So now you worked out something, Paulino,
that no enemy ever does, or did,
you conquered the walls of Lucca.
Because we are right on top, we are in the park.
- I love the shade, the shade feels so nice.
- Yes, in the summer, it's beautiful, yeah yeah.
And you see, from 1972, you have these walls,
are without traffic, so only pedestrians and bikes
are allowed on top.
- Do you ever do any fancy tricks on the bike?
How many tricks do you know?
- No, I don't trick the bikes.
- You just stick to the big ramps, jumps?
(laughs)
Here in Lucca, my Yellow Roads have turned into a bike path.
Now I hear, and tell me if I'm wrong,
but is it true the Rolling Stones are gonna be
playing here in Lucca?
- Yes, right where we are now.
- [Paulino] Can you get me tickets?
- I think this will be very difficult,
but I have got two, I've got two, yes.
- You've got two, so you're a Rolling Stones fan!
- Yes, I am. - Okay, so do you know
Little Satisfaction?
- Actually, my favorite is Jumping Jack Flash
and Brown Sugar, but okay, everybody has his favorite.
- You're my favorite for those two being your favorite.
(laughs)
Wow, that's incredible.
I always like a little
* I can't get no
* Satisfaction
- Yeah, take it away, take it away, girl.
(whimsical music)
My journey on the Yellow Roads across Italy
takes me to the Italian Riviera.
(upbeat music)
Where I meet up with my friend Brenda.
She arranged a private cruise.
And together, we make our way up the coast to five fishing
towns known appropriately as the Cinque Terre.
(vocalizing in foreign language)
- I love the Yellow Roads because those are the ones
we love to take, they're the roads less traveled,
the ones that are most scenic, but of course
in the Cinque Terre, there are no roads,
we simply, the Yellow Roads are the water, blue water,
or the train, yeah, exactly, which is a really
wonderful way to get off the beaten path.
- I find the captain and ask if he minds
if I take the wheel for a bit.
Can I help work for you, I wanna work for you here, okay?
'Cause this, this is the greatest gift ever, man.
He gives me a quick lesson on five towns
that make up the Cinque Terre.
- Cinque Terre. - Si, si.
- Cinque Terre. (speaking in foreign language)
The first, first.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Tell me about some of these villages,
how do they differ from village to village?
I mean, they're so close in proximity
but I know they definitely have a unique personality.
- Sure, sure, well the first one, Riomaggiore,
and the second one, Manarola, they're truly small,
little fishing villages, built into the rocks.
We get to Vernazza, right behind us, which is spectacular,
it has a church, it's really one of the most beautiful ports
and with a little castle up on the hill,
and then another one is way up top, while Monterosso,
further along, is really the largest village of all.
(camera clicks)
But this whole area is a national park,
in the last 10 years, I would say it has become
much more popular and people do know more about them,
but back in just 20 years ago, very remote place to get to
and very hard to get to and there weren't many people
who knew about them.
(camera clicks)
(gentle music)
- We leave the coast and head to Siena.
Where I'm told the history and architecture
is extraordinary and the people are passionate
about their heritage.
- Look what I've got us. - Wow.
- One for you, one for me. - Thank you, cheers!
- Hey, cheers, only from Siena.
- Brenda takes me to the Grand Hotel Continental,
where I'll be staying.
I meet Nathalie, the hotel manager of this incredible,
old, private home, now a five-star boutique hotel.
- The Grand Hotel Continental is originally
a noble palace, it was commissioned by the pope,
Alexander VII, who came from the Chigi family.
He requested the building of the palace as a wedding gift
for his niece.
- [Paulino] She takes me to see the view
from the penthouse suite.
- And we did offer a 360 degrees view.
- Oh yeah, wow, this is beautiful.
What region is that here?
- You can see all the way towards the Chianti region,
where the excellent wines are produced.
And just in front also is the historic seat
of the Monte dei Paschi bank, the oldest bank in Italy.
- [Paulino] It's literally a 360-degree view, isn't it?
- Yes, because over here,
you can look over to the duomo.
- There's no bad window here. - Yes, on every side,
and you even see the Torre del Manggia,
which is the big tower standing in Piazza de Campo,
where the pallio takes place.
- But that is not my room, unfortunately.
However, she does invite me to a private wine tasting
in the hotel's wine cellar.
Jackets are required.
(gentle music)
Nathalie introduces me to Denilo,
the suave gentleman sporting a tux.
- Let me show you this.
So this, so twice a year, they have this race
and it's a twice a year because each time,
only 10 contrade, 10 districts can participate.
- And this is Piazza del Campo?
- Piazza del Campo, 200 yards from here,
just exit the hotel, turn right, and you see this.
- This is incredible. - They put the sand
and there are also other photos and they will tell you,
if you manage to see the one that you look the eye
of the horse, then you get the essence of Siena,
the passion of Siena.
(bells tolling)
(whimsical music)
- The next morning, I find Brenda,
and we explore the city together.
We head into the heart of the city
and I ask her to tell me more about the Pallio de Siena.
- All of this during the race,
during the Pallio race, are reflective of the 17
different neighborhoods and oh my gosh,
I can show you the flags over there.
And you will see that each of the 17 different
neighborhoods, each one is called a contrada,
they each have their own flag, which is amazing,
and they're very proud to wear them,
and here, each one, it's amazing because you can choose
and for example, here's the turtle,
and these are the colors of the turtle.
- The turtle seems more my style, slow and steady,
super slow.
- And this piazza where we are is called Piazza del Campo.
This is where it all happens.
(applauding, cheering)
The Pallio race, the actual pallio,
takes place twice a year, every year, for hundreds of years
but they do, they fill in the exterior,
this whole ring around the shell, they fill it with dirt
and everyone dresses in this pageantry,
they have their own costumes in the same colors
and they will march, they have a whole parade
around this piazza for many hours before the actual race
takes place in the evening, which lasts about 90 seconds.
And the contrada really, it's not just about the horse race
but the whole idea is that you leave and breathe
with your contrada, it's part of the Sienese people
and it's their family, it's their community,
and it's really something that everyone is so proud of.
If you ask somebody from Siena what is the most important
thing about their city, it's the life of being
a member or a person in the contrada.
(drums beating)
- Exploring the city further, I come across a contrada
practicing for the race.
This is the Tartuka contrada.
Ironically, their mascot is a turtle.
It is now clear to me that the passion of Italy
is on display around every corner.
(camera clicks)
(epic music)
From the Renaissance in Florence to the spirit of Siena.
For me, the Yellow Roads have woven together
Italy's beautiful Tuscany region.
But it has also revealed to me that the Yellow Roads
are not just lines on a map, but the journey itself
that opens up a world of wonder and adventure.
And once again, I hear the road calling.
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] Funding for Music Voyager
provided in part by.
(mellow music)
Celebrating culture.
Encouraging communication.
Create For Change, a nonprofit for bridging cultures
through film.
Look, listen, learn.
- [Announcer] Tauck, guiding travelers around the world
since 1925.
Because we believe once in a lifetime only happens once.
How you see the world matters.
- [Announcer] Additional funding for this season
of Music Voyager provided by
Prom Peru, commissioned for travel and tourism Peru.
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.