25 August 2026
A globetrotter for work, but a creature of habit when it comes to holidays.
For Alessandro Ortisi, who constantly travels the world as a manager for a major multinational company, a vacation has always meant the week at the Meeting. "I have always found truth in what Don Giussani said, pointing to this time of the year as the most noble because it calls people to spend their time on the values they identify with. That is why the Meeting is my vacation."
An affection for this place is shared by his whole family, especially his wife Alessandra: "We brought our daughters when they were very little, and they were thrilled to take in this atmosphere." The significance of the Meeting also shone through during painful times. Alessandro continues, with a hint of visible emotion: "Even when my wife fell seriously ill, we tried to be there somehow. And when she could no longer come, she insisted that I take our daughters anyway. Her determination made me even more aware of how important the Meeting is for our lives."
This connection proved contagious that over time, a group of about twenty friends formed, for whom the Meeting has become a fixed part of their summer break. Overcoming some hesitation and prejudice, Alessandro’s daughter-in-law's mother joined this year too!
"One thing I love about the Meeting is 'doing the rounds'. Walking through the fair's stands isn't just about viewing an exhibition; it's a prime opportunity to run into long-lost friends or meet new people. Yesterday, for instance," he shares, "I befriended a young man who, after an hour and a half of pleasant conversation, ended up telling me all about his master's thesis in medieval history. In any other setting, that would have been impossible. If you imagine that multiplied by everyone present, you realize that encountering others isn't just a theoretical concept, it simply happens!"
For Alessandro, moving from being a mere visitor to actively supporting the Meeting was a natural step. "Helping the Meeting not to just exist, but grow year after year, is the most natural thing I can imagine. From this experience, I have received, and continue to receive, far more than I could ever tangibly give back. What drives me to do this is the need to let all this beauty reach more and more people, just as it did for me."
