It is with great pleasure and a touch of pride, because it is not every day that one gets the attention of a national media outlet, that we hosted the capable and very likeable Sara Brusco and Gian Marco Tavani of SkyTG24 - Yes Weekend. The programme is an section of Sky's TG (ch. 50 of digital terrestrial), a travelling column masterfully conducted with the skilful use of verve and irony in the format Sara and Gian Marco created, of which they are also the authors and producers. It is always the 'poor' Gian Marco who has to pay the price, accommodating and at times posing as the beloved Disney's Donald Duck in order to cope with the resolute and sprightly Sara... who makes it clear who is in charge at home. Well, they are really good, they know how to stand in front of a camera needing no much introduction.
The Yes Weekend column deals with the theme of travel to rediscover special places and not-so-common products and services, such as where to sleep, special things to do: glamping, tree houses, 'wow' attractions, etc. However, the tourist products, services and places that the format deals with must stand out from the crowd.
Sara Brusco and Gian Marco Tavani from Yes Weekend
Sara, Piedmontese and beautiful, one of the finalists in the Miss Italy 2004 contest (the year Cristina Chiabotto won) studied acting, singing and diction. A fifteen-year-long apprenticeship has enabled her to obtain a hundred or so starring roles in national commercials and worldwide press campaigns. Also a journalist, she has worked as a presenter on Sky's Meteo programme.
Gian Marco, from Emilia, has a degree in Management Engineering and studied acting in San Francisco and at the film-theatre school in Paris, L'Atelièr. In his career, he has to his credit important roles on the small screen as the protagonist in the series RIS 4. Then, in films such as 'I giorni della Vendemmia' in 2010 and 'Canepazzo' in 2012. His most important role was in the film 'Barbarossa' (2008) by Renzo Martinelli where he played the part of Lorenzo Della Pigna opposite Raz Degan, the immense and late Rutger Hauer and F. Murray Abraham.
The episode shot in Sellano 📺
The unique features sought by the SkyTG24 newsreel were fully satisfied in Sellano! In fact, the programme begins with the Sellano Tibetan Bridge, an imposing piece of engineering that connects the village and the hamlet of Montesanto by means of a single-span "Tibetan" rope suspension bridge.
The length of the bridge is not a Guiness world record and is 517 metres. The longest single-span Tibetan bridge in the world is in fact in the Czech Republic and is the 721-metre Sky Bridge.
What distinguishes the Sellano bridge are: its height of 175 metres, the difference in height between the two stations of +68 metres and the fact that it is in Umbria!
In fact, the Tibetan bridge in Umbria, together with the Arouca bridge in Portugal, is the highest in Europe! When you climb it, get halfway up and look down you will realise it!
Special design feature: the floor is made of spaced out steps, this was desired to increase the adrenalin effect.
Sara and Gian Marco well explain during the clip the "wow" effect of walking along it: Gian Marco is scared, while Sara makes a bold statement: "it's adrenalin-fuelled relaxation..." 🙄
And then... a cooking class at Casarampi 👩🏻🍳👨🏻🍳
Casarampi is one of the many small hamlets in the municipality of Sellano. Yes, because you have to know that although small in terms of inhabitants (less than a thousand), the municipality has no less than 42 hamlets spread over a vast territory of 86 square kilometres. Before visiting the Walden tree house, Sara and Gian Marco try their hand at a "cooking class", i.e. a cooking lesson for tourists on holiday. Cooking classes on holiday have become a very popular and trendy experiential format in the last couple of years. The lesson is hosted by the "Il Casaletto" restaurant. Granny Angela, an expert cook who has been running the restaurant for over 50 years with her sisters, puts the two to the test with the preparation of typical local dishes that are simple but not exactly trivial to make: Fojata, Rocciata (also Attorta) and homemade Ravioli stuffed with nettles.
Gian Marco didn't know it, but when he realises that the cooking class is intended for him, he calls his mother worriedly, telling her that he fears that from now on it will be him who will have to cook in the Tavani household! Serenity then returns and the two show what they are made of (in fact, Grandma Angela immediately puts them to work kneading and rolling out the dough!).
Discover all the places to eat, all the things to do in Sellano and the bookable experiences!
Walden House, in Casarampi, Sellano 🛖
We are welcomed by Francesco Rampi, a lover of design, photography and grandson of grandmother Angela, who explains how this project started about ten years earlier with his sister as a dream of theirs, very futuristic for that small hamlet in 'the middle of nowhere' as he himself defines it. But, adds Paolo Borroi our destination manager, this is exactly what people are looking for: a return to nature and the genuine roots of the Umbrian hinterland. Rural, genuine tourism with the right product innovation is a mix that pleases and works. To confirm this, Francesco tells us that the house is practically in demand all year round and it is difficult to find a free day to stay there.
Walden House - Casarampi has recently received an award as the best design Glamping project in central-southern Italy; a bedroom with a glazed bathroom suspended a few metres from the ground by a steel pipe entablature, leaning against a centuries-old oak tree. The house enjoys a wonderful view of open space, meadows and, in the distance, the Sibillini Mountains with their national park.
The house, to the east and west, has two large windows that literally immerse guests in nature. Part of the roof to the east is also glazed.
To the west, on the other hand, the shower window looks right into the tree for an evocative illusion of being inside the tree itself.
If you would like more information on this particular and award-winning tree house in Umbria, discover it on our portal together with all the beautiful accommodations in Sellano!
Curiosity during the backstage.. 🎥
At the same time as filming the episode of Yes Weekend at the bridge there was also the Channel 4 - UK crew intent on filming the weekly programme "Help! We Bought a Village" centred on Sellano and our town councillor Roberto Battista, the protagonist of the programme which is very popular in Great Britain and soon to be shown in the USA. If you would like to know more about this programme, click on the link in the text.
Special thanks to:
Agriturismo I Casali di Morro for hosting Sara Brusco, Gian Marco Tavani and Paolo Borroi in Sellano, the mayor of Sellano Attilio Gubbiotti, the destination manager of Visit Sellano Paolo Borroi, Angela Rampi of Il Casaletto restaurant and Francesco Rampi of Walden House Casarampi.
In particular, to Sara Brusco and Gian Marco Tavani of SkyTG24 - Yes Weekend for their availability and welcome presence in Sellano.
Cover: Sara Brusco, councillor Roberto Battista and mayor Attilio Gubbiotti
