About Denise
“I like to think of Italy as a collection of microcosms, within which other microcosms develop. It is much like what happens when you throw a stone into a pond: with concentric circles, each of the regions of Italy knows how to express its own uniqueness and peculiarities, while keeping connected to the overall communal, shared, beauty of the nation”
Denise | CEO & Founder
I am Denise Sipione and I welcome you to my beautiful country, a land of excellence – natural, artistic, and artisanal – with a strong aesthetic identity and a blend of ancient cultures.
I was born in Sicily, where I return to recharge after every business trip. When I introduce myself to someone, I always say that I am a fortunate woman because I was born and live in Val di Noto, a corner in the southeast of Sicily that is like an open-air museum. It features architecture (even entire cities) listed by UNESCO for years, beaches and coastlines of wild beauty, and globally recognized quality agri-food products: the DOP cheeses from Ragusa, the IGP chocolate from Modica, and the Cerasuolo DOCG from Vittoria. (Vittoria is my hometown and the birthplace of Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor who became famous for the “Charging bull,” of Wall Street, one of the most iconic monuments in New York).
Driven by the desire to share my discoveries with those travelers eager to fill their vacation with emotions, I founded DS Journeys to offer destinations and experiences among the wonders of Italy – its cities, regions, territories, and its small and large islands. I will take you to discover the most authentic Italy, unveiling its well-known gems and hidden treasures, its tangible beauties (both natural and architectural) and its intangible ones (like relationships with artisans, guides, farmers, chefs, wine makers). Years of experience, networking, and dedicated study have prepared me to showcase in detail the style and excellence of the Italian dream.
Sicilian identity and global experience
I deeply love my island, not only because it gave me my roots but also because it has imparted so much to me: the value of transparency and keeping one’s word. The uniqueness of its history and cultures, a tapestry of peoples and ancient traditions. A calling to beauty, whether natural or man-made. The ability to open up, mentally and geographically, to the world, while never forgetting to make one’s home welcoming and rejuvenating. It is to this corner of Sicily, in this southeastern coast made up of beaches, olive groves, valleys, and Baroque architecture, that I return to recharge after a business trip touring Italy and the United States. I have been doing this for 10 years, ever since I started focusing on experiential and emotional tourism, tours and excursions, and trip organization and management. Each time, with the awareness of falling in love with my land and the people of my community all over again, I also enjoy living there a bit as a stranger, as a guest.
Sensitivity and relationships
By connecting with artisans, chefs, farmers, guides, producers, and winemakers with whom I built friendly relationships before I added professional ones, I have created a true team throughout Italy. We delve into workshops, shops, restaurants, hotels, resorts, ancient villas, olive groves, and wineries. From small details, we reconstruct the harmony of the whole: the magnificence of the land; its generous countryside tended by farmers who are custodians of quality; its myths, rites, and traditions; its artistic sensitivities and craft creativity; its rich culinary culture and breathtaking landscapes that enter through the eyes and settle in the soul.
A journey of emotions
This is the way that I savor and recognize the marvelous tapestry that renders a place “that special place”, i.e. characteristic, inimitable, surprising. A special place that is unique at a spiritual, cultural, esthetical and ethnic level. Just like a beautiful dress, tailor made and in which you feel perfectly at ease. It is this lesson that I have learned during my professional apprenticeship between Sicily, Italy and the United States: a true journey changes you because it moves you, it brings you feelings and emotions. Once home, you discover another self. I understood that dealing with tourism today means building relationships and experiences made on location: human relationships of authentic friendship and reciprocal trust.
The marvels of Italy, even the invisible ones
The most precious things I carry are the relationships that I was able to cultivate in my 10 years of experience. They enriched me personally and they allowed me to entwine a tight knit network of acquaintances, collaborations, partnerships, services, destinations and experiences first in the territory of my Sicily and then in the most beautiful villages and towns of Italy. Thus, I became an Italy Travel Specialist. It was thanks to the passion of sharing my discoveries with those like-minded and discerning travelers who understand the experience the same way and are ready to fill their holidays with emotions. I founded DS Journeys with this intent: to make you touch the invisible, i.e. to offer destinations and experiences among the marvels of Il Bel Paese. The holiday will remain sculpted in your memories once you return home. When you look at your pictures, you will smile, laugh, and your Italian journey will come alive again.
