A Project of Community and Innovatione
The Visit Serramanna project was created to promote the cultural, environmental, and unique identity heritage of the region through innovative Destination Management tools. The initiative, supported by the Municipality of Serramanna and funded through the GAL Campidano call for tenders (RDP Sardinia 2014-2022), aims to transform the town into an organized and competitive tourist destination.
Activities implemented for the territory
The process of building the destination involved the implementation of an operational plan structured around four key areas managed by Sintur:
- Technical-Digital Area: Development of the DMS (Destination Management System) platform integrated with the tourism website, and creation of interactive maps to digitize the cycle touring itineraries and points of interest.
- Content Area: Production of original texts, photo shoots, and emotional videos dedicated to telling the soul of Serramanna.
- Communication Area: Creation of a family of AI-powered virtual assistants with the goal of making the information and discovery experience of the region more welcoming, recognizable, and engaging.
- Coordination and Analysis: Surveying of production activities, qualitative and quantitative analysis of tourist flows, and constant monitoring for the development of the territorial brand.
The Smart Destination Model: The Future of Inland Areas
In addition to the specific activities for Serramanna, the project adopts the Smart Destination Model, a strategic framework designed by Sintur Sinergie Turistiche for the revival of local territories. This model stands out for:
- Centrality of Human Capital: We do not just present services, but people. Every operator (artisan, restaurateur, or manager) becomes a ‘voice of the town’ through first-person narratives that showcase local stories and traditions.
- Ethics and Economic Sustainability: The model promotes a ‘zero-commission’ supply chain. Transactions made through the portal directly fuel the local economy, allowing operators to invest in an increasingly authentic hospitality experience.
- Innovation and Virtual Assistance: The integration of an AI-powered virtual assistant acts as an always-on digital infopoint, guiding visitors to discover routes, artisan workshops, and traditional menus.
- Active Participation: A process where citizens and operators take center stage, with content shared and validated together, alongside specific training to ensure the community’s digital autonomy.
The Smart Destination Model represents a pilot project of excellence, demonstrating how the combination of advanced technology and human authenticity can turn the small towns of Sardinia into destinations of international significance.
The Visit Campidano Virtual Assistants
Territorial identity, storytelling, and digital innovation
As part of the Visit Pabillonis, Visit San Gavino Monreale, Visit Sardara, Visit Serramanna, and Visit Villasor projects, a family of AI-powered virtual assistants was introduced with the goal of making the information and discovery experience of the region more welcoming, recognizable, and engaging. Rather than opting for generic avatars, original characters inspired by the most representative elements of local identity were created. Each virtual assistant thus becomes a true ‘territorial mascot,’ capable of telling the town’s story through symbols that are instantly recognizable to both the local community and visitors.
🏺 PINGIADEDDA – Visit Pabillonis
Identity element: the tradition of terracotta pottery making.
The name Pingiadedda recalls the traditional terracotta pot used in the region’s rural and domestic culture. Pabillonis is, in fact, historically known for its artisans and kiln-masters who have passed down the art of clay craftsmanship over the centuries.
The avatar takes on the appearance of a friendly, smiling pot that welcomes visitors and accompanies them on a journey to discover the town, its traditions, and its itineraries.
Values represented: tradition, hospitality, craftsmanship, local identity.
🌸 ZAFFY – Visit San Gavino Monreale
Identity element: saffron.
San Gavino Monreale is one of the main centers of saffron production in Sardinia. The Visit logo already reflects the flower’s pistil, an element that has been transformed into a smiling and welcoming character.
The name Zaffy blends the word ‘zafferano’ (saffron) with a modern and catchy sound, perfectly suited for a virtual assistant
Values represented: agricultural excellence, quality, tradition, color, and creativity.
💧 SORGI – Visit Sardara
Identity element thermal water and springs.
Sardara is universally known for its thermal heritage, which represents one of the region’s main tourist attractions.
The character Sorgi is born from the transformation of the water droplet featured in the Visit Sardara logo. The name directly recalls the concept of ‘sorgente’ (spring), a symbolic element of the destination’s thermal history. The avatar represents wellness, regeneration, and hospitality.
Values represented: wellness, health, relaxation, and hospitality.
🌿 CIOFFU – Visit Serramanna
Identity element: the artichoke.
Serramanna is one of Sardinia’s primary horticultural hubs, and the artichoke represents one of the region’s most characteristic and recognizable agricultural products.
The name Cioffu derives from the local term used to describe the distinctive tuft (‘ciuffo’) of the artichoke, directly recalling the graphic element featured in the Visit Serramanna logo.
The virtual assistant takes on the appearance of a friendly artichoke that shares stories about the agricultural world, rural traditions, and the Campidano landscape.
Values represented: agriculture, sustainability, rural tradition, and authenticity.
🏰 CASTI – Visit Villasor
Identity element: ithe Siviller Castle.
The Siviller Castle represents the most recognizable symbol of Villasor and is one of the best-preserved examples of fortified architecture in Sardinia.
The name Casti derives from the immediate association with the word ‘castello’ (castle), reinterpreted into a short, friendly, and catchy form perfectly suited for a virtual assistant and a territorial mascot.
The avatar was designed starting from the stylized shapes of the Siviller Castle featured in the Visit Villasor logo, transforming the monument into a welcoming and recognizable character capable of guiding citizens and visitors to discover the town’s historical, cultural, and unique identity heritage.
Casti thus becomes the digital guardian of Villasor, a narrator of the village’s stories, its traditions, and its main symbolic monument.
Values represented: history, culture, memory, hospitality, and territorial identity.
A single family of virtual assistants
While maintaining a strong local character, all the avatars share a common graphic and narrative style, becoming an integral part of the Visit Campidano regional system.
The family composed of Pingiadedda, Zaffy, Sorgi, Cioffu, and Villy represents an innovative example of applying artificial intelligence to territorial marketing, transforming digital information tools into experiences that are more human, engaging, and aligned with the destination’s identity
Each virtual assistant is not merely a chatbot, but a true digital ambassador for the region, capable of welcoming, informing, and guiding visitors to discover local excellence.
