May 18 (UPI) -- Six-time Emmy-winner Stanley Tucci says his cooking and travel shows have opened up his world and changed his life.

His latest docu-series, Tucci in Italy, premieres on National Geographic Sunday, and Hulu and Disney+ on Monday. It follows his previous hit, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, which ran for two seasons on CNN.

"it's brought me to places that I never thought I would go to meet people I never thought I'd meet, given me access to places that I wouldn't normally have access to," Tucci, 64, told UPi in a recent Zoom interview.

"I'm just learning more and more about the things I'm interested in -- two things -- which are food and Italy."

Tucci said Mother Nature dictates when and where the series is filmed as much as his own work schedule and personal life do.