On 16 June, journalist and writer Giovanni Vale arrived at the offices of the Council of Europe, completing a bicycle tour that started in Bergamo, then passed through Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, Treviso, and ended in Venice. The purpose was to present the first "Extinguished countries" guide-book, dedicated to the Republic of Venice and written by Vale.

Extinguished Countries is the first travel guides’ series that instead of following current borders, traces a journey through time and space to kingdoms, republics and empires of the past, searching for what unites us rather than what divides us. This is not a nostalgic tour, but on the contrary a documented, entertaining and unusual voyage to explore a common past and heritage.

At each stop the book was presented in collaboration with the Italian Federation for the Environment and Cycling (FIAB) and a local bookshop. Venice City Councillor Paola Mar opened the meeting together with Director Luisella Pavan-Woolfe. The presentation, part of the events held to celebrate 1600 years since the foundation of Venice, was streamed live and is available at the following link: Facebook