12/03/2026
Last week was a special one.
I completed the final test run for Suburbia, the first experience by Urbi Tour, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
So I thought I’d share a little bit about how it was born.
Suburbia is not the first tour I designed for Urbi Tour, but it is the one that came together most naturally — at least from a narrative point of view.
The idea behind it is actually the same idea that gave birth to Urbi Tour itself:
A guide’s role should be to show people what they don’t know — what they would never have the chance to discover on their own — rather than simply presenting what they already expect and what is already widely known.
At least, that’s the kind of guide I’ve always tried to be.
Urbi Tour was born from this belief.
And so was Suburbia.
To show the unexpected — for better or worse.
To surprise.
To create a continuous sense of discovery.
Avoiding the historic city center was therefore a natural consequence.
And so was designing an experience that moves through peripheral and semi-peripheral areas of the city.
Choosing the stops was not easy.
The list of possible neighborhoods, buildings and places was endless.
Suburbia went through cuts, changes and constant revisions.
Altogether, designing this experience took almost a year.
Some might think that’s too long.
In reality, it’s still not enough.
Suburbia was born out of love — my love for this city, for its culture and its people.
And love takes the time it needs.
Today, Suburbia is ready.
And it is beautiful because it is imperfect.
It is not curated like the buildings of Prague Castle.
It is not admired like Charles Bridge.
It is not carefree like a walk through Malá Strana.
It is authentic.
Sometimes it may surprise you.
Sometimes it may make you uncomfortable.
Sometimes it may make you smile.
That is love.
I hope Suburbia will make you fall in love with Prague as much as I did.
Wish me good luck.
See you soon.
- Paolo
Founder, Urbi Tour
