In a bid to capture the hearts and travel plans of Canadians, the Italian region of Tuscany hosted la Toscane à découvrir at Montreal’s Casa d’Italia, aiming to showcase its rich food, wine and culture.
“Tuscany is not just Florence, Siena or the Chianti area, there’s much more than that,” said Salvatore Basile, country manager at the Italian National Tourist Board.
Presentation showcasing Tuscan attractions at la Toscane à découvrir event in Montreal on Oct. 20, 2025. (Teresa Romano, OMNI News)
“Our marketing campaign is Renaissance, ‘never ending Renaissance’,” said Francesco Tapinassi, director at Toscana Promozione Turistica. “Renaissance is also the rebirth, the new knowledge of ourselves in travel, in tourism. It’s a new idea of mental wellness and well-being in Tuscany with the spa, but not only, it’s the lifestyle of Tuscany.”
The event comes as more Canadians choose European destinations over the U.S., amid shifting tourism trends and ongoing trade tensions
“The number of Canadian tourists is growing in Tuscany, Italy,” said Tapinassi.
people watching presentation showcasing Tuscan attractions at la Toscane à découvrir event in Montreal on Oct. 20, 2025. (Teresa Romano, OMNI News)
“We do see an increased flow of tourism,” said Basile. “We’re not happy when trade wars erupt, but we are there to intercept a number of visitors that will now look somewhere else for their vacation and we’re positioned to be one of the leaders, if not the leader in Europe.”
After the pandemic, Tuscany not only recovered, but surpassed its pre-pandemic tourist figures. A territory that deals with large number of tourists and is therefore promoting a “renaissance” to promote further exploration, beyond the tower of Pisa.
“You know, when you arrive in Pisa and you see the tower, you have finished,” said Andrea Fornai, project manager at Migrazioni Sonore. “Instead, you can continue, you can go in the Appennino, you can go in Piombino, for example, along the coast to see beautiful sea, to see the real aim of our country, that could be for example to discover the traditions that are inside.”
From Tuscany, Tommaso Novi, a world-renowned Italian a pianist, composer, and singer-songwriter joined the event to showcase the beautiful music Tuscany has to offer.
“I’m going to install some of the preferred tunes of Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet,” said Novi.
The event also featured traditional Tuscan dishes, offering guests a true taste of the region.
“This event is part of the Italian week of cuisine in the world, a series of events here in Montreal,” said Fortunato Mangiola, Deputy Consul General of Italy in Montreal. “We will have this event celebrating Tuscany, then another event celebrating Liguria and another event celebrating Sardinia. A way for the Italian minister of foreign affairs to celebrate and promote the Italian extraordinary taste.”
Dining and Cooking