Greeter To Greeter: My Greet in Malegno, Italy
I have been a New York City Big Apple Greeter since 2012. My husband Nick and I booked an organized tour to Northern Italy and the Dolomites to begin in April 2026.
A few weeks before we were scheduled to go, I received the Worldwide Greeter newsletter announcing a new Greeter destination in Malegno, Italy. I looked at a map and saw that Malegno was near Pisogne, where we were staying for three nights. I did not know much more, but I applied online for a Greet.
The very next day, I received an email from Giovanna, director of Malegno Greeters, saying that we could take a train from Pisogne to Malegno, which was about thirty minutes away. We agreed on the date, and she gave me the times of the train Nick and I could take. We emailed for about a week and worked out details. Giovanna said we would be their first English-speaking visitors.
Although Giovanna did not speak English, her emails were in perfect English, perhaps facilitated by AI. She arranged for two English-speaking Greeters—high school students Emanuele and Anita—to accompany us. Giovanna and English-speaking Roberto (friend, not Greeter) met us at the train station in Breno and drove us to meet our Greeters in Malegno.
Our walk through the small village of Malegno was most interesting and exciting. It seemed Giovanna knew everybody we met in the street. She introduced us, and we conversed in Italian, English, and hand gestures. Many hugs were exchanged.
We started our Greet in the cemetery and strolled through many cobblestoned streets with houses dating back many centuries.
We went to the high school where there was a Rubik’s Cube competition, and then to the Artichoke Festival, which was the highlight of the day.
Artichoke treats and drinks were served, prepared by chefs at a local cooking school. Many of the residents we had met during our Greet were gathered there, and more hugs were exchanged.
I met the mayor of Malegno, and I was interviewed for Italian television, talking about Greeters.
The day was filled with joy, learning, and discovery. We will always remember the warm welcome we received in Malegno, the friends we made, and the welcoming warmth of this beautiful Northern Italian village.