About us
ALESSANDRO MELAN
Alessandro Melan, Founder and President Dolce Vita Experience
As an Italian born in Belgium, my connection to Tuscany dates back to my young adulthood when my family had a house in the Maremma. This region has always fascinated me with its slower pace, its sincere hospitality, and its way of making time an ally rather than a constraint. Each return to Tuscany was a rediscovery, a new lesson, and a deeper immersion. It is this real and immersive Italy that I wanted to share. Far from the classic tourist routes, I envisioned journeys where every moment matters, where time stretches, where every place tells a story, and where encounters turn a simple destination into an unforgettable experience. For me, a trip must leave a lasting imprint. It should be an encounter, a discovery, a living memory that you carry with you. Dolce Vita Experience is my way of offering access to this Italy I love so much, through deep and authentic experiences. None of this would be possible without Nathalie, Julie, Sveva, Francesc, Alexis, Matteo, and Simone. More than just a team, we are a family, united by the same passion for deeper travel and the desire to share Italy in its truest light. Today, what motivates me most is seeing our travelers return with changed perspectives, enriched by what they have experienced. That is when I know the journey has fulfilled its promise.
HISTOIRE
History of Dolce Vita Experience
It all began in 1998, at a wedding in Tuscany where Belgian friends enthusiastically discovered agritourism, an authentic form of travel that celebrates the countryside, gastronomy, and human connections. Inspired by this experience, Alessandro Melan decided to bring this approach to Belgium and founded Dolce Vita, with the ambition of sharing a way of traveling through immersion, far from mass tourism. The success was immediate. Thousands of travelers discovered Tuscany through agritourism and carefully selected private homes, benefiting from a network of local partners cultivated over the years. Each stay designed as an encounter, where hospitality, discovery, and authenticity take precedence over simple accommodation. But over time, technology profoundly transformed travel. With digital tools, booking became simpler, but the essence of travel was sometimes lost, and the original spirit of agritourism evolved. In response to these changes, it became essential to rediscover the true meaning of travel: immersion, exchange, and discovery. Ten years ago, Dolce Vita became Dolce Vita Experience, embracing the concept of slow travel. The agency refocused its approach on unique experiences, meaningful encounters, and long-standing partnerships with locals, offering travelers far more than just a stay: a transformative journey, meaningful connections, and a gateway to a more intimate and authentic Italy. Today, Dolce Vita Experience offers immersive journeys not only in Tuscany but also in other regions of Italy, always in line with its philosophy: taking the time, living each moment with intensity, and discovering a region through the special people who bring it to life.