How Our Story Began and Evolved

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It all started back in 2001, when we began taking American youth soccer players to Italy as part of the international programming of AC Cugini, our unique family-owned Italian scuola calcio (soccer school) originally based in the Washington, DC, metro area and sanctioned by the Italian National Olympic Committee. The "Play Soccer in Italy" program was developed to further expose American youth to Italian player development, allow players the opportunity to add international playing and training experience to their soccer background, offer the most talented players access to Italian talent scouts, and have players and their families experience the countless wonders of the Italian culture.

It's clearly in the blood! Our team consists of highly experienced Italy travel designers and tour leaders, including Fabio Diletti and Lisa Cherubini Diletti, President and Executive Director, respectively, of our partner organization, Cugini Soccer Services, Intl. Fabio is also a talented cabinetmaker and museum exhibit specialist and Lisa is an award-winning cross-cultural communications consultant. The team is rounded out by Cristian Diletti and Daniela Diletti (dual U.S.-Italian citizens), who began working in the family business at an early age, and earned their university degrees in Florence (at Florence University of the Arts and Polimoda). Both Cristian and Daniela enhanced their travel planning experience through additional roles at external travel companies specializing in Italy and working with international students attending university in Florence.