Where do you begin as ambassador if not as representative of your homeland? I therefore invite you to my home, Maniago, a small town at the foot of the Alps near Pordenone, known since the Middle Ages for its blacksmiths. Here you can enjoy some of the history of knife making at the museum opened in 1998, and buy some high-quality antique knives and weapons at the Consorzio or the various outlets known in Italy and abroad for the quality of their articles

And while there, you can admire an unusual square with its beautiful fountain in the centre, which is dressed up for every carnival in an event celebrated annually and now at its 52nd edition, with the Gothic church providing a backdrop.

The square is framed by the Loggia and the beautiful 18th-century Palazzo d’Attimis, with the stable gardens that can be visited during the Castelli Aperti (Open Castles) event, and which welcomes you with a restaurant in which to taste dishes and produce of the territory and beyond.

Recently the venue for major events such as the Giro d’Italia, Paralympics, the world knife-throwing championship, the San Giacomo fair, and the Lama and Trama event, the town hosts many noteworthy events.

Looking up, you can see the ruins of the castle that invite you to take an explorative walk, and indeed, on clear days, the castle offers a great view of the surrounding plain. The fittest can then continue up to Valpiccola or on to the Jouf, where they will find many hiking trails and mountain biking routes, but we will talk about that in the next episode.