L’Arte del Vivere Lentamente: A Conversation with ‘La Solenta’ Dia on Slow Travel and Visual Storytelling
Great visual concepts rarely emerge out of nowhere; they are shaped through shared thinking, and years of mutual professional trust. Dia and I have been consulting on visual direction and digital structures for a long time. While she built her website herself, my role as a webdesigner has naturally been to help refine her aesthetic vision and sharpen her brand steps along the way.
I conducted this interview shortly before the official launch of La Solenta.
At that moment, her approach to slow travel, conscious presence, and capturing the atmosphere of unique spaces—the spirit of “L’Arte del Vivere Lentamente” -was already fully formed, simply waiting to take its final shape.
This conversation captures that transitional period: how editorial photography, boutique stay narratives, and a quiet visual philosophy converged to bring the brand to life.
Sifnos, where “life doesn't always have to be rushed” - Dia, La Solenta
If someone had never seen your work before, which photograph would you show them first—and why?
Honestly, probably something from Rome. Every time I go there, I feel so inspired. There is just something about that city, the history, the colors, the light, the shadows, the architecture even the atmosphere and the little details around you. I feel like Rome has so many layers, and every time I visit, I see something new. I think it’s a good representation of how I naturally see the world, I mean I’m always trying to notice the small things around me, the little moments and the beauty in places or situations.
Your photographs feel less like memories. What are you really trying to capture when you press the shutter?
For me photograph is not just proof that something happened, it’s more like a way of returning to how it felt, so I think most of the time I’m trying to capture the feeling of being there. Of course, for me it’s deeply connected to creating memories, especially since one of my biggest fears is forgetting the beautiful moments I’ve experienced so far, so having these images allows me to return to them whenever I want.
Has there ever been a moment so beautiful that you chose not to photograph it?
It happened a few times, lately I've become more intentional about leaving my camera behind so I can be fully present. But honestly, it is hard to resist, most of the time I still end up taking “just one quick photo" with my phone or with my analog film camera. But I know that some moments stay with you not because you captured them, but because you were fully there for them.
What has travelling taught you about yourself that staying in one place never could?
It taught me how curious I really am and how much I love stepping outside of my comfort zone. My first flight was to the US when I was 21, and it completely changed my life. It felt like the world suddenly opened up in front of me. Traveling has a way of pushing my boundaries, showing me what I’m capable of, and helping me discover new parts of myself along the way, it made me more confident for sure.
Your work has taken you from the Greek islands to the Riviera. What is it about the Mediterranean that keeps calling you back?
It's definitely the slower rhythm of life and it is very inspirational for me. Longer meals, the sound of cicadas, salty air, beautiful architecture and the list is infinite. I love seeing people gathered around a table playing cards, or older locals sitting outside for hours, slowly sipping their coffee without looking at the time. It reminds me that life doesn't always have to be rushed. Whenever I'm there, the stress of everyday life just fades away. It's like every trip feels like pressing a reset button.
Do you believe beautiful places change people—or simply reveal who they already are?
I think they do both. Beautiful places give you the space to slow down, and when you slow down, you often discover parts of yourself that everyday life keeps hidden. My first bigger trip abroad definitely awakened something in me, whether it changed me or revealed who I already was, I'm still not sure, but it became a huge part of who I am today.
