Francesco, or “Franz,” lives at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites, a place he considers among the most beautiful in the world. He grew up near Lake Garda, just an hour from where he currently resides. At age 20, Franz took his first trip to Argentina and fell in love – not with a beautiful girl in Buenos Aires, but with the mountains of Patagonia. When he first approached climbing and mountaineering, and the “whirlwind of emotions” that come with it, he immediately understood it was something he excelled at, and turned his passion into his career. In addition to the Dolomites, he has led mountaineers and trekkers in Patagonia, Nepal, and in an incredibly wild place he loves very much: Sardinia. When he is not guiding, Franz spends time exploring different mountain ranges. In 2016, he spent 300 days in the mountains, with 50 of the nights in a sleeping bag!

I deeply love my work, and every time I get up to face the day I consider myself privileged… what thrills me the most and pushes me to improve myself is the chance to share with other people the feelings of a true adventure.”