THE FOUNDATION

From Florence to the World through the Culture of Dialogue

From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity.
From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity. From the encounter between cultures comes the knowledge that transforms the tourist into a world inhabitant, capable of protecting the planet and its diversity.
The Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco – Life Beyond Tourism is an international hub for the Culture of Dialogue, bringing together people, cultures, and experiences from around the world. Through hospitality and cultural heritage, the Foundation creates opportunities for encounter and exchange, fostering cooperation, respect for diversity, and the peaceful development of communities.

Our Origins

In the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the experience of welcoming young people from Central and Eastern Europe gave rise to an idea that would shape the Foundation’s journey: encounters between people from different cultures can create opportunities for mutual understanding, dialogue, and cooperation.

This experience led to the creation of the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco – Life Beyond Tourism, which for over thirty years has promoted cultural heritage as a means of building relationships between people, communities, and territories.

The Roots of Our Vision

Before the Foundation, there was an experience: international hospitality.

Through the Florentine hotel company COMI S.p.A., daily encounters with people from around the world revealed the potential of travel to bring people together and of cultural heritage to foster mutual understanding across cultures.

It was through this experience that the vision that continues to guide the Foundation today began to take shape.

An Evolving Vision

Over time, the Foundation has developed a vision of travel and cultural heritage as opportunities for mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue, and peacebuilding.

International Hospitality

Within a hospitality company, international hospitality became a space for experimentation, where tourism and welcoming people from different cultures created daily opportunities for encounter, mutual understanding, dialogue, and friendship.

Cultural Heritage

Heritage is a living space where people and communities meet, build relationships, and share experiences.

Life Beyond Tourism

Travel becomes an opportunity for dialogue, respect, and the appreciation of local identities. From this vision, the Life Beyond Tourism® philosophy takes shape.

Culture of Dialogue

Relationships between cultures become a tool for generating trust, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.

Heritage for Building Peace 2025 Appeal

Cultural heritage is recognized as a shared resource for building dialogue and peace.

Industry of Peace

Dialogue, heritage, and multiculturalism generate social, cultural, and economic value for communities to contribute to the construction of an Industry of Peace.

HOW WE OPERATE

A Bridge Between Cultures

Through international programs, collaboration networks, cultural activities, and training initiatives, it fosters dialogue between cultures and the enhancement of cultural heritage as a resource for mutual understanding, cooperation, and sustainable development.
FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION

Heritage for Building Peace

The Foundation promotes the international Heritage for Building Peace Appeal, which invites institutions, organizations, universities, businesses, and citizens to recognize cultural heritage as a tool for dialogue, cooperation, and peace-building. Today, the Appeal represents the main value reference for the activities of the Foundation and its international network.

An International Network

From the relationships established over time, an international community takes shape that continues to grow through dialogue, cooperation, and the enhancement of heritage.

111

countries

84

Universities

50

Public bodies

197

Collaboration agreements

NEWSLETTER

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