Exerpted from the St. Augustine Record

ANTHONY DeMATTEO
anthony.dematteo@staugustine.com
Published Monday, August 31, 2009
They are not America's reality stars.

The women of Italy's popular adventure reality show, "Donnavventura," are engineers, students and photographers.

Unlike the instant celebrities American reality TV often produces, the young women of "Donnavventura" are not stopped on European streets for autographs or followed by paparazzi. And when their time ends on the long-running show that sends them to report on destinations across the world, -- most return to everyday lives.

The cast and crew of "Donnavventura" was in St. Augustine on Sunday, touring the city by sightseeing train in the afternoon, and at sunset, walking the 219 steps to the St. Augustine Lighthouse observation deck. St. Augustine is part of the 2010 series, "American Grand Raid," that will air on Italian television beginning in January.

"We came to St. Augustine because it is the oldest town in the United States," said cast member Sara Tentorio, an engineer, as she looked out at St. Augustine from the lighthouse. "I think it's nice because, here in the United States, the buildings are not usually as historic and attractive as they are here. It will be a good city for reporting."

Fellow cast member Francesca Cirrincione said she likes the quaint atmosphere in parts of St. Augustine.

"There were a lot of nice bed and breakfasts, and small streets to walk without traffic," said Cirrincione, a photographer.

Each year, "Donnavventura" films in a group of areas. For this year's cast it is the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the United States and Canada.