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The Discovery Compass
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Michael Kovnick
Author @TravelCDV

Michael Kovnick


Michael Kovnick is the Co-founder & CEO of Culture Discovery Vacations, the small-group cultural travel company he's run as a direct operator since 2006. An Italian-American who's spent 40+ years with one foot in The USA and the other in Italy, he built CDV around a simple, stubborn idea: keep the majority of every travel dollar in the local community, and treat guests like family instead of customers. He's a CTIE-certified travel professional, published in 2025 on the anti-extractive tourism model CDV is built on. He still writes here about the gap between how Americans and Italians see the world... and which side got it right.

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Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 12: “Bury The Mice In The Ground… Slowly.”


12th part in a series of the story of an American moving to small town Italy in the 1980's, learning the culture and finding a lifetime love.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 5, 2020
  • 9
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My Life in Italy, Part 11: “Winter is Coming”


If you are just jumping in here, please start with Part 1. It is January 1985 now, and the weather has been in the mid 70’s in L.A. Now I know many people reading this think OMG! Mid 70’s in January, but I am an L.A....

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 17, 2020
  • 16
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My Life in Italy, Part 10: “Paola Meets The Megalopolis”


In Part 10 of the My Life in City series, we are back in Los Angeles. But this time, it is Paola's first time in the United States, and me showing her MY world.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • June 30, 2020
  • 3
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My Life in Italy, Part 9: “An Italian Love Story”


If you are just jumping in here, please start with Part 1, otherwise, this will just make no sense at all! I mean, seriously… You can’t just jump into part 9 of a series, right? September 19, 1984 I’m...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 27, 2020
  • 6
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My Life in Italy, Part 8: “A Tale of Two Italys”


Part 8 in my story that chronicles my 37 year journey, living with one foot in the US and the other in Italy.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • October 20, 2019
  • 5
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My Life in Italy, Part 7: “The Roof is On Fire”


Part 7 in my story, chronicling my 37 journey of living with one foot in the United States and the other in Italy. This chapter covers a dark period in my fife, when I had just returned from my first trip to Italy in 1983.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 23, 2019
  • 4
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My Life in Italy, Part 6: “Amalfi, Rome & A Two Horse Town Called Soriano”


Part 6 in my story that chronicles my 36 year journey, living with one foot in the US and the other in Italy.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 19, 2019
  • 4
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My Life in Italy, Part 5: “If feathers are floating, It’s chicken for dinner”


So I left off on in Part 4 on my second full day in Italy. If I keep going at this rate, there will be roughly 5,000 parts to this series, so in Part 5, I will focus on some of the events of the next 8 days, then I will move on...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 1, 2019
  • 8
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My Life in Italy, Part 4: “Death Comes to Those That Swim After Lunch”


Part four in my series of my life in Italy, in which I discover a whole new world and culture, learning that America is not the center of the universe.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 22, 2019
  • 13
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My Life in Italy, Part 3: “Scratch Your Balls 13 Times and never make eye contact with the Witch”


Part 3 of my story of an American that slowly became part of Italian culture.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 5, 2019
  • 16
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Small Groups
Culture Discovery Vacations
Leading Small-Group Culinary & Cultural Immersion Tour Operator
Authentic culinary experiences with Culture Discovery Vacations

Experience the true meaning of luxury travel with Culture Discovery Vacations - the leading small-group culinary tour operator, offering immersive experiences that go beyond traditional opulence.

  • Hands-on cooking classes with local families
  • Authentic all-inclusive pricing with no hidden costs
  • Boutique accommodations with character
  • Exclusive access to family vineyards
★★★★★
5.0/5 from 384+ reviews on TripAdvisor
"We didn't feel like tourists—we felt like family. The cooking classes changed how I think about food."
Mark S., Tuscany Tour
Discover Our Tours
Italy • Portugal • Spain • Croatia

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