My Beautiful Fortress in Italy.

Thanks for stopping by. This space is devoted to my life in the Italian countryside. In the furthest northern part of Tuscany. A region known as Lunigiana. I am a photo/prop stylist and author.

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It’s happening: Order your cookbook TODAY! Now available for pre-order: The Sweet Life at La Fortezza.

It’s time to pre-order The Sweet Life at La Fortezza, my new dessert cookbook. It features all the sweet things served at La Fortezza. You will be the first to receive a signed copy of the cookbook when you pre-order. You will receive your books on September 16, 2025. Thank you in advance for ordering it. I think you’re going to love it. Beautifully photographed by amazingly talented photographer Cliodhna Predergast and lovingly styled by moi. Insane touches by the talented artist Betty Soldi. Big, big thanks to Chef Marina, Chef Leo, Cristina, and Maria for their support and assistance. The layout is gorgeous thanks to my amazing book packager, Janice Shay. And big, big thank you to my publisher Katie Parla of Parla Publishing. She has been amazing. Stay tuned for many more updates. I will share recipes from the cookbook on the paid portion of this newsletter. I can’t wait to share this stunning book with you, three years in the making.

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Start planning your 2026 retreat experience at La Fortezza NOW.

We are completely sold out for this year. Check out the menu of experiences from which you can choose for your custom retreat. Consider a corporate retreat. Please bring your friends and family and celebrate with us—birthdays, anniversaries, or simply the sweet life in the Italian countryside.We look forward to hosting your perfect Italian holiday next year. Please feel free to email Gen with any inquiries or general questions. For more in-depth information, please visit the retreats page.

Menu of Experiences:

● Cooking Classes from my cookbook, At the Table of La Fortezza - Learn to create authentic Italian dishes from the Lunigiana region*

● Cocktails and Charcuterie board lesson*

● Yoga by the pool - Start your day with yoga taught by a local teacher in Italian and English*

● Truffle Hunting with lunch (seasonal - Fall only) - Forage for truffles with an experienced truffle hunter, then linger over a four-course truffle-infused lunch. Moderate difficulty hike

● Foraging and Flower arranging*

● Styling and Photography lesson*

● Olive Mill/Flour Mill - Tour our local olive oil or flour mill, learn about the process of pressing oil or grinding flour, and sample the freshest ingredients

● Amaro Factory Tour and Tasting - Learn about the famed Italian digestivo and enjoy a tasting

● Tour of Fivizzano - Tour this lovely historic town, including one of Annette’s favorite local cafes

● Tour of Sarzana - Tour a medieval town and fortress

● Tour of Modena - City tour and balsamic vinegar tasting with lunch at an artisan purveyor

● Tour of Parma - Tour the city and experience a tour and cheese tasting at a Parmesan cheese factory

● Winery with Wine Tasting - Learn about biodynamic winemaking, followed by lunch with wine tasting

● Slow Food Lecture and Cooking Class - Visit the town of Fivizzano and learn about the slow food movement, followed by a cooking class at a local shop

● Panagacci Dinner - Experience this delicious specialty of the Lunigiana region at a local restaurant

● Pizza Party* a must

● Day at Cinque Terra, Portovenere (seasonal - Fall only) - Enjoy a day taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Italian Riviera

● Lunch or Supper at a farm-to-table winery

● Hiking, caving, rafting, mountain climbing, biking

● Flea Markets

● Tour of Pietrasanta - Tour this historic town, famous for its artistic contributions to Italian culture

● Private Carrara Quarry Tour with Lunch at the top of the mountain

● Private Castle Tour and art collection

● Testaroli Maker - Discover this ancient pasta, prepared by a local food purveyor

● Forte dei Marmi Market (seasonal - Summer only) - Experience this vibrant open-air market and enjoy a day at the beach

● Harvest at our Vineyard, dependent on the harvest timing

● Private boat rental; cruise the Bay of Poets with friends and have a picnic lunch on board.

*Indicates an experience personally hosted by Annette on-site

We have loads of choices and options for excursions and experiences. This is just a sample. You’ll get to know a little-known beautiful part of Italy. My special place. ~Annette x

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La Fortezza Kitchen on YouTube: Italian Flours Explained

This week, on La Fortezza Kitchen, Flour is one of my favorite subjects. I will walk you through the variety of flour available in Italy. I think you will enjoy this little detour from the usual content.

Thanks for watching, and please consider subscribing to the channel.

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MY LATEST REAL-ESTATE YouTube VIDEO: This project might ruin you…

All About Annette's YouTube channel: We tour a large estate this week. I have a case of deja vu…because I realized early on that this is not my first visit. It’s a fun with loads of laughs. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Check it out, and please like and subscribe to keep this crazy adventure going.

Thanks so much for watching my YouTube Channel, All About Annette. Please share my channel with your friends.

The channel has 12. 6 K+ + subscribers! I'm trying for 20K this year; thanks for the support! Love you guys x