Turisti per Casa has been awarded the Best Creative Food Tour at the 13th Creative Tourism Awards — a recognition that celebrates its remarkable ability to transform Turin’s Porta Palazzo market into a living laboratory of multicultural culinary storytelling, human encounters, and socially impactful creative tourism.
The Jury highlighted the project’s immersive and anthropological approach, which brings to the forefront the culinary influences of the Maghreb, Sub‑Saharan Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. This perspective reveals the cultural richness embedded in everyday life at Porta Palazzo, offering residents and visitors a sensory and human reading of the city. Through tastings, workshops and storytelling moments, the tour fosters intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and social cohesion, linking cuisine to identity, memory and urban transformation.
A key element of this success is the creative vision behind the project — embodied by Il Gastronomade, whose life’s work has been dedicated to exploring, narrating and celebrating the world’s food cultures. Defined years ago by his son as “someone who travels, writes, organises and cooks foods from around the world,” Il Gastronomade has spent more than 30 years journeying across five continents, collecting stories, flavours and encounters. His work spans food writing, journalism, radio, television, digital media and social platforms, always guided by curiosity, cultural sensitivity and a deep passion for the diversity of culinary traditions.
His approach to events is rooted in edutainment — informing, inspiring and entertaining at the same time. As an art director, event designer, consultant and educator, he has created countless experiences in Italy and abroad, always aiming to spark curiosity, encourage discovery and bring people together. His creativity, shaped by decades of travel and intercultural exchange, also fuels his work as a food designer, collaborating with companies, foundations and institutions seeking innovative, world‑oriented ideas. Today, he also dedicates part of his time to teaching, sharing the knowledge accumulated over three decades with students and professionals of all ages.
This spirit permeates Turisti per Casa. The Jury praised the project’s deeply community‑centred design: merchants, artisans and restaurateurs act as co‑creators of the itinerary, welcoming participants, sharing culinary knowledge and hosting tastings that increase their visibility and generate sustainable economic opportunities. Local associations, cultural institutions and academic partners contribute with mediation, training and research, while continuous stakeholder feedback guides iterative improvements. This collaborative governance ensures authenticity, mutual respect and tangible benefits for the market’s micro‑economies.
For Caroline Couret, President of the Creative Tourism Network®,
“Turisti per Casa’s added value lies in its ability to combine gastronomy, cultural education and social inclusion. The initiative amplifies under‑recognized culinary traditions, fosters intercultural dialogue and channels direct economic benefits to the market’s micro‑enterprises. By privileging low‑impact, participatory experiences over spectacle, the project strengthens community resilience and offers a replicable model of creative tourism rooted in everyday life.”
Turisti per Casa now stands alongside this year’s distinguished award‑winners — from Bangkok to Ljubljana, Barcelos, Barranquilla, the Vanilla Islands, Belo Horizonte, Tunisia, Budapest, Essaouira, Cannes and Charentes — all demonstrating how creativity can shape a more human, sustainable and inclusive future for tourism.
The global creative tourism flagship
Internationally recognized for its commitment to innovative and responsible tourism, the Creative Tourism Network® continues to lead the way in promoting tourism models that are both creatively enriching and socially empowering. Founded in 2010 with the support of the European Union, the Network has rapidly expanded worldwide and now collaborates closely with UNESCO, UN Tourism, and numerous national ministries.
As a global platform, it works hand in hand with destinations, tourism professionals, cultural organizations, and creative industries to strengthen the visibility and impact of creative tourism. Through these collaborations, the Network fosters sustainable development, supports local entrepreneurship, and ensures that communities of all kinds benefit directly from tourism.
Best Creative Food Tour: Turisti per Casa vince il Creative Tourism Award
