History, architecture, regional cuisine, and the atmosphere of Czech castles. The CzechTourism agency is introducing Czechia to Italian travelers in an unconventional way—through a podcast series inspired by a historical novel. The series is narrated by popular Italian actor Stefano Fresi, and listeners can already find the first five of a total of fifteen episodes on the Loquis platform.
A Story Instead of a Guidebook
How can we spark interest in places that aren’t yet at the top of travelers’ guidebooks? The answer may lie in a compelling story. This is the foundation of a new initiative CzechTourism’s foreign office in Italy. The series Among the Castles of Bohemia and Moravia (Among the Castles of Bohemia and Moravia) was created in collaboration with the Loquis platform, one of the world’s leading apps focused on travel podcasts. Last year, it surpassed 10 million plays and 2.2 million unique listeners.
“Today’s travelers aren’t just looking for places worth seeing. They want to experience their atmosphere, stories, and the people who have shaped them over the centuries. A well-told story can spark curiosity and inspire a journey. Thanks to it, we can showcase our regions and demonstrate that every place has its own unique character. That’s why we’re constantly looking for new ways to showcase the beauty of Czechia to international visitors. I’m delighted that our representative office in Italy has come up with a project that presents Czech regions in a different light—through emotions, history, and unforgettable stories,“ says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
When a Pastry Chef Tells History
The main character of the audio series is the fictional Roman pastry chef Cesare Forti, who travels through the Czech lands in the second half of the 19th century in the company of the nobleman Rudolf von Haase. He explores the castles, their owners, the kitchens, and the countryside. From each stop, he takes away not only new experiences but also inspiration for an original confectionery creation modeled after the castle he visited.
The narrative weaves together real historical events, architecture, gastronomy, and local traditions. Listeners find themselves in castle kitchens, hunting lodges, and sprawling parks, and together with the protagonist, they gradually discover places that have shaped Czech history and culture for centuries. The authenticity of the story is underscored by carefully researched historical sources, period culinary references, and architectural documentation of individual landmarks.
When the Journey Doesn’t End in Prague
Italy has long been one of the most important source markets for Czech tourism. Last year alone, over 426,300 Italian travelers visited Czechia, spending more than 1.1 million nights here. Nevertheless, approximately 82% of Italian visitors head only to Prague. A new project therefore highlights that the true richness of Czechia is also hidden in its regions—from historic towns to castles and gardens to unique cuisine.
“Most Italians are primarily familiar with Prague. Yet it is precisely in the regions that stories lie hidden that can truly surprise you. We wanted to create content that wouldn’t just inform, but above all spark curiosity. Once listeners get a feel for the atmosphere of a castle kitchen, discover old recipes, or hear stories about noble families, they often get the urge to visit these places. Our goal is to introduce lesser-known corners of Czechia to Italians, inspire travel across the regions, and encourage longer stays for travelers seeking quality experiences, cultural and historical sites, and fine cuisine. The podcast offers them specific inspiration for croad trips through Czechia and for discovering places that are often overlooked on a first visit,“ explains Luboš Rosenberg, director of the CzechTourism representative office in Italy.
From wild garlic to carp in black sauce
Each of the fifteen episodes takes listeners to a different historic estate and tells its story in a way that engages all the senses. In addition to architecture and the fates of noble families, the podcast explores local traditions, scents, and flavors that have shaped the character of individual regions over the centuries. For example, in Manětín, travelers are greeted by the scent of wild garlic wafting through the Baroque forests; in Buchlovice, the tradition of baking wedding cookies comes to life, and at the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž, the story of Pohořelice carp in black sauce with gingerbread and dried plums tantalizes the taste buds. In Hradec nad Moravicí, Cesare Forti creates an original confectionery masterpiece inspired by the shape of the Neo-Gothic towers of the Red Castle.
The voice that opens the gates of Czech castles
The entire series was narrated by the well-known Italian actor Stefano Fresi, whose voice lends the narration a unique atmosphere.
“It was a great pleasure for me to become the voice of this podcast. Ibelieve that a well-told story can inspire listeners to want to see the world they’ve just heard about with their own eyes,“ sums up Stefano Fresi.
The Loquis app uses the user’s current location. As soon as a visitor approaches one of the places featured in the podcast, it automatically suggests the corresponding episode. The stories thus accompany travelers not only while planning their vacations but also directly as they explore the regions of Czechia.
The first five of a total of fifteen episodes are already available for free on the Loquis platform. Another five will be added at the end of July, and the final part of the series will be released in early September. Italian listeners will thus be guided through Czechia by the podcast all summer long.
Overview of the individual episodes of the podcast series:
How can we spark interest in places that aren’t yet at the top of travelers’ guidebooks? The answer may lie in a compelling story. This is the foundation of a new initiative CzechTourism’s foreign office in Italy. The series Among the Castles of Bohemia and Moravia (Among the Castles of Bohemia and Moravia) was created in collaboration with the Loquis platform, one of the world’s leading apps focused on travel podcasts. Last year, it surpassed 10 million plays and 2.2 million unique listeners.
“Today’s travelers aren’t just looking for places worth seeing. They want to experience their atmosphere, stories, and the people who have shaped them over the centuries. A well-told story can spark curiosity and inspire a journey. Thanks to it, we can showcase our regions and demonstrate that every place has its own unique character. That’s why we’re constantly looking for new ways to showcase the beauty of Czechia to international visitors. I’m delighted that our representative office in Italy has come up with a project that presents Czech regions in a different light—through emotions, history, and unforgettable stories,“ says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
When a Pastry Chef Tells History
The main character of the audio series is the fictional Roman pastry chef Cesare Forti, who travels through the Czech lands in the second half of the 19th century in the company of the nobleman Rudolf von Haase. He explores the castles, their owners, the kitchens, and the countryside. From each stop, he takes away not only new experiences but also inspiration for an original confectionery creation modeled after the castle he visited.
The narrative weaves together real historical events, architecture, gastronomy, and local traditions. Listeners find themselves in castle kitchens, hunting lodges, and sprawling parks, and together with the protagonist, they gradually discover places that have shaped Czech history and culture for centuries. The authenticity of the story is underscored by carefully researched historical sources, period culinary references, and architectural documentation of individual landmarks.
When the Journey Doesn’t End in Prague
Italy has long been one of the most important source markets for Czech tourism. Last year alone, over 426,300 Italian travelers visited Czechia, spending more than 1.1 million nights here. Nevertheless, approximately 82% of Italian visitors head only to Prague. A new project therefore highlights that the true richness of Czechia is also hidden in its regions—from historic towns to castles and gardens to unique cuisine.
“Most Italians are primarily familiar with Prague. Yet it is precisely in the regions that stories lie hidden that can truly surprise you. We wanted to create content that wouldn’t just inform, but above all spark curiosity. Once listeners get a feel for the atmosphere of a castle kitchen, discover old recipes, or hear stories about noble families, they often get the urge to visit these places. Our goal is to introduce lesser-known corners of Czechia to Italians, inspire travel across the regions, and encourage longer stays for travelers seeking quality experiences, cultural and historical sites, and fine cuisine. The podcast offers them specific inspiration for croad trips through Czechia and for discovering places that are often overlooked on a first visit,“ explains Luboš Rosenberg, director of the CzechTourism representative office in Italy.
From wild garlic to carp in black sauce
Each of the fifteen episodes takes listeners to a different historic estate and tells its story in a way that engages all the senses. In addition to architecture and the fates of noble families, the podcast explores local traditions, scents, and flavors that have shaped the character of individual regions over the centuries. For example, in Manětín, travelers are greeted by the scent of wild garlic wafting through the Baroque forests; in Buchlovice, the tradition of baking wedding cookies comes to life, and at the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž, the story of Pohořelice carp in black sauce with gingerbread and dried plums tantalizes the taste buds. In Hradec nad Moravicí, Cesare Forti creates an original confectionery masterpiece inspired by the shape of the Neo-Gothic towers of the Red Castle.
The voice that opens the gates of Czech castles
The entire series was narrated by the well-known Italian actor Stefano Fresi, whose voice lends the narration a unique atmosphere.
“It was a great pleasure for me to become the voice of this podcast. Ibelieve that a well-told story can inspire listeners to want to see the world they’ve just heard about with their own eyes,“ sums up Stefano Fresi.
The Loquis app uses the user’s current location. As soon as a visitor approaches one of the places featured in the podcast, it automatically suggests the corresponding episode. The stories thus accompany travelers not only while planning their vacations but also directly as they explore the regions of Czechia.
The first five of a total of fifteen episodes are already available for free on the Loquis platform. Another five will be added at the end of July, and the final part of the series will be released in early September. Italian listeners will thus be guided through Czechia by the podcast all summer long.
Overview of the individual episodes of the podcast series:
- Episode: Prague, Lobkowicz Palace
- Episode: Dobříš
- episode: Manětín
- episode: Kynžvart
- Episode: Duchcov
- episode: Sychrov
- Episode: Kuks
- episode: Castles on the Orlice River (Častolovice, Doudleby, Kostelec nad Orlicí)
- Part: Litomyšl
- episode: Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou
- episode: Hradec nad Moravicí
- episode: Kroměříž
- episode: Buchlovice
- episode: Lednice and Valtice
- Part: Český Krumlov