I hold a specialized degree in Teaching Italian as a Foreign Language (LS/L2), a path that has deeply shaped my understanding of how culture and language are transmitted. My passion for this field is rooted in a lifelong love for reading. I have always loved books, and through them, I have traveled extensively across borders, cultures, and eras without ever leaving my room. Reading has been my first form of exploration. Now, I have reached a turning point: I want to travel for books, turning my passion into a professional mission.
My academic background has taught me that a language is not merely a set of grammatical rules, but a living organism that thrives through social interaction and cultural immersion. I am firmly convinced that the Italian language, as well as our heritage, is conveyed through literature but, most importantly, through shared spaces and community engagement. My interest is concentrated in the “cultural industry” sector, where education meets entrepreneurship. I don’t see a bookstore as a simple retail point, but as a dynamic laboratory where stories come to life. In an international context like Lisbon, an Italian bookstore acts as a dual bridge: it is a vital reference point for the expat community seeking a connection to their roots, and simultaneously a welcoming gateway for new learners who are approaching the Italian world for the first time.
My decision to participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program is driven by the need to bridge the gap between my academic expertise and the practical realities of running a business abroad. I chose Lisbon because it is currently one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural hubs, offering a unique demographic mix.
I hope living and working in Lisbon will challenge my adaptability and intercultural communication skills. This project represents a total immersion in the challenges of entrepreneurship: managing risks, building networks, and navigating a different bureaucratic and social environment. I am confident that this journey will provide me with the maturity and the technical toolkit necessary to eventually launch my own innovative project, centered on the promotion of the Italian language through social and literary conviviality. I am ready to transition from a reader who travels through pages to a professional who moves through the world to bring those pages to others.