Luigi Zurolo ( @LuigiZ ), a Level 8 Local Guide and software developer who lives inLucca, Italy (Tuscany), is this week’s Connect Live Attendee of the Week. An avid Google Maps contributor since 2017, Luigi discovered Connect through the Connect Live application process. Since publishing his first-ever Connect post on March 5, Luigi has become an active, helpful and friendly presence within the community with over 700 comments.
Luigi was nominated for Connect Live Attendee of the Week by fellow Italian attendee Giuseppe Ricchiuti ( @Giuseppe75 ) for the very traits he has exhibited on Connect. “Luigi has proven to be a very passionate Local Guide always available to support, encourage and advise. His kindness and smiling face are the best expression of a friend that everyone would love to meet,” Giuseppe wrote.
“Connect has been a great discovery. It’s not just a platform. It’s like a nice Italian ‘caffe’ where people can sit for awhile, drink their coffees and talk to each other—making friends, sharing experiences, and discovering more from each other,” Luigi said. “The thing is, Connect is a worldwide ‘caffe’ with people and experiences from all over the world who have one common element: being a proud Local Guide.”
In his Connect Live application video, Luigi describes his love for New Zealand, but for those traveling to Italy, he suggests a visit to Naples where he grew up. “The Lungomare Caracciolo is one of the most beautiful parts of the city: directly on the sea, bars and restaurants all along, and a small harbor just underneath Castel dell’Ovo where there are some amazing fish restaurants. It is close to the center so you can walk up into the city, just around the amazing Piazza Plebiscito, and straight on to the street Via Roma or to the famous Quartieri Spagnoli.”
“If you walk there in the evening, the atmosphere is just magical. You can hear the sea waves, see the city lights reflecting on the dark water, and walk along the small Castel dell’Ovo bridge to enter the harbor where you can see many couples sitting admiring the sea. There are some street artists which makes the atmosphere even more special. If you are lucky, in the summer time you may find many spouses taking pictures in this beautiful place. In fact, it’s where I got married 10 years ago.”
Just like the worldwide connections the Local Guides program has given him, Luigi encourages his daughters, ages 4 and 9, to make friends all over the world. He has already taken the opportunity to meet fellow Italian attendees Ermes Tuon ( @ErmesT ) and Emanuele Persiani ( @manulele81 ) at a Local Guidesmeet-up in Norcia. He also met with Giuseppe for a coffee in Parma while driving home from a business trip.
“I feel proud to be an Italian Local Guide, especially after finding out we are such a (well-rounded) group,” Luigi said. If his description of Lungomare Caracciolo has you wanting more of Luigi’s recommendations, check out his Google Maps List of the Top-7 Five Starred Experiences in Lucca. You can also get to know Luigi by tagging him in the comments below.
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