Entering the Embassy of Brazil in Rome last night, just a few steps away from Piazza Navona, feels like crossing the Atlantic even before boarding an aircraft. The presentation dedicated to Northeastern Brazil does not carry the tone of a simple tourism workshop or an institutional conference. Instead, it feels like an invitation to travel, built through stories, images, scents, historical memory and sensory impressions capable of transforming a Roman diplomatic hall into an open window onto Recife, Fortaleza, São Luís and Fernando de Noronha.

The event, dedicated to the theme “Northeastern Brazil: Fly Towards Summer All Year Round,” is introduced by Raphael Nascimento, Counsellor and Head of the Trade Promotion, Investment and Tourism Office of the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, who highlights the steady growth of the Italian market towards Brazil and the importance of new air connections in making the Nordeste increasingly accessible to European travelers. His words clearly convey the image of a Brazil that does not wish to be perceived merely as an exotic destination, but as a vast cultural and territorial mosaic capable of offering profound, layered and contemporary experiences.

Making the presentation even more engaging is Flaminia Mantegazza, who guides the audience through an elegant and deeply personal narrative of the different regions of Northeastern Brazil. Her speech naturally alternates historical and geographical explanations with lived memories, encounters, travel impressions and everyday details. This is not the typical presentation built on slides and statistics. Each destination emerges through emotional imagery and sensory fragments: the golden light of sunsets over the Delta do Parnaíba, the constant wind of Ceará, the rhythm of Recife’s streets, the colors of handcrafted fabrics, the sound of music echoing through colonial squares.

For me, having already been to Brazil, listening to these stories also means reconnecting personal memories through images and words. Certain places re-emerge in my mind with surprising clarity: the sound of the wind along the beaches of the Nordeste, the humidity of the tropical air, the intense flavors of local cuisine, the light reflected on colonial azulejos. The presentation does not simply create a desire for discovery; it reactivates that very particular emotional dimension that belongs to journeys truly lived.

Listening to the story of the Nordeste, it becomes evident how this region now represents a new image of Brazil. Certainly, the beaches exist, and many of them are extraordinary, but the sea is only one element within a much larger cultural ecosystem.

Northeastern Brazil brings together nine states — Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe — spread across more than 3,000 kilometers of Atlantic coastline. It is an immense, complex and surprisingly diverse region where travel constantly transforms itself: from the azulejo-covered colonial cities of Maranhão to the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses, from the windy coasts of Ceará to the semi-arid landscapes of the sertão, all the way to the musical and cultural traditions of Pernambuco.

One of the most fascinating moments of the evening revolves precisely around the cultural stratification of the Nordeste. Portuguese presence, Dutch and French incursions, Atlantic trade, indigenous populations and African heritage have, over centuries, built a unique identity. This encounter of cultures remains visible today in colonial architecture, decorative arts, textiles, iconographic production, music and, above all, cuisine.

The case of Pernambuco is emblematic. Recife and its surrounding region become one of the great centers of the sugar cycle between the 16th and 17th centuries. Sugar cane transforms the Nordeste into one of the economic engines of colonial Brazil, attracting merchants, investors and European interests. Even today Recife preserves this historical memory through Recife Antigo, Olinda, frevo, maracatu and a cultural heritage that blends Europe, Africa and Latin America in an almost organic way.

Ceará, on the other hand, tells a different story. The inland sertão region, marked by long periods of drought and a semi-arid environment, develops over centuries a culture connected to cattle raising, resilience and climatic adaptation. It is fascinating to observe how these very conditions contribute to the formation of an extraordinarily strong cultural identity, still perceptible today in the landscapes, music, cuisine and character of its people.

Today, however, Ceará also presents itself as one of Brazil’s great coastal destinations. Fortaleza, Praia do Futuro, beach clubs immersed in tropical vegetation, nature resorts, Jericoacoara, Canoa Quebrada and the Araripe Geopark create an extremely diverse tourism offering, where the sea coexists with kitesurfing, popular culture, ecotourism and the desert-like landscapes of the sertão.

In Maranhão, São Luís appears almost suspended between Europe and South America. The azulejos covering its colonial façades transform the historic center into an open-air museum. Not far away, Serra da Capivara preserves one of the most important archaeological heritages in the Americas, while in the Delta do Parnaíba the sunset turns deep red with the flight of the guará vermelhos, the scarlet ibis crossing the mangroves and creating one of Brazil’s most evocative natural images.

In Rio Grande do Norte, destinations such as Pipa offer a slower and more experiential form of tourism. Oyster-related itineraries, small coastal communities, cliffs, lagoons and relaxed rhythms reveal a Brazil made of human connections, contact with the territory and immersion in local daily life.

Completing this mosaic is Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic archipelago and UNESCO-recognized marine natural park, where environmental protection and biodiversity transform travel into an almost contemplative experience.

While the story of Brazil takes shape through images and sensations, another central theme of the evening strongly emerges: air connectivity. This is where Fabrizio Di Diego enters the scene, illustrating the strengthening of Iberia routes towards Brazil, particularly Recife and Fortaleza.

His speech goes far beyond technical or commercial aspects. The description of Iberia’s Business Class takes on an almost synesthetic dimension. While he speaks about the cabins, it feels as though one is already onboard during a transoceanic Madrid–Recife crossing. The seats are described not as simple aircraft seats, but as inhabitable spaces designed to allow passengers to read, work, relax or sleep with the same natural comfort of sitting in one’s favorite armchair at home.

The interior design, the soft cabin lighting, the organization of personal space, the possibility of fully reclining during the flight: everything contributes to transforming the journey into an experience of continuous comfort. Particularly interesting is the discussion about the company’s technological evolution, with Airbus A350s and Airbus A321XLR aircraft designed for transoceanic routes, equipped with extended operational range and highly efficient configurations.

Di Diego also emphasizes the strategic role of Madrid’s hub, whose geographical position allows extremely fluid connections from Italy to South America. Codeshare agreements with LATAM and numerous partner airlines further extend the journey toward many destinations within Brazil.

Equally interesting is the reference to Iberia’s new digital tools, including artificial intelligence-based assistance systems designed to help passengers plan their journeys and choose the best comfort options. Great attention is also devoted to the airport experience, with lounges such as the Velázquez Lounge at Madrid Terminal 4S, conceived almost as an extension of the journey itself, offering relaxation areas, dining and carefully designed environments accompanying passengers before long-haul flights.

Yet one of the most representative moments of the entire evening is also the simplest: the preparation of the caipirinha by the embassy’s bartender. Behind the counter, every gesture follows a precise ritual. The slicing of the lime, the preparation of the ice, the citrus aroma spreading through the room, the careful dosage of cachaça: everything contributes to transforming a cocktail into a small cultural narrative.

In that moment, it becomes evident how Brazil succeeds in communicating itself not only through grand landscapes or promotional campaigns, but also through seemingly minimal details. Hospitality, conviviality, human connection and the ability to transform a professional meeting into an emotional experience are all integral parts of Brazilian culture.