My Beautiful Fortress in Italy.
Thanks for stopping by. This space is devoted to our 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.
What’s happening at La Fortezza this week: It’s fall, and the harvest is done. Some critters invade our property.
The harvest is finished. We were shocked as the wild boars decided that our vineyard was an open buffet. We do have heavy-duty electric fences around the vineyard. But somehow, they infiltrated the boundary and had a feast. ( in the winter, we will look into a more impenetrable solution) Needless to say, the harvest diminished this year. It was still a decent harvest, just not as large as we’d hoped. This year, the boars were everywhere. It was not unusual to see them at the back of the property. The hunters are out in droves every weekend, so I hope we can reduce the population. We had boar for supper a couple of weeks ago with polenta. See below for the recipe. It was delicious.
In other news, I am editing my dessert cookbook. The final title has finally been decided. The Sweet Life at La Fortezza. Beloved desserts served at La Fortezza. Pre-order will be up on the site in November.
We will start filming more YouTube videos next week. The crew will be here for two weeks, and there’s going to be a lot of new content over the winter. Can you believe it’s already October?
INSIDER Flea Market Retreat for Spring 2025 is almost SOLD OUT. 2 spots left.
June 1-6th, 2025. Sign up NOW.









You’ve been asking for it. Here it is… the Shopping Retreat of all shopping retreats. The Top Secret Flea Market Retreat…is on the site. Join us and delve into secret flea markets with me and local experts leading the way. I have a few surprise guests who will show you things you never imagined. Lunch in magical settings with delicious seasonal food. A genuinely incredible flea market/antiques fair crawl. A stylist’s list of places to see and places to shop.
Bring an empty suitcase or two to haul your stash. June 1-6th 2025. Plus, we suggest that you take in the Arezzo Antiques Market right after June 8-9th. We will help you plan these extra days of treasure hunting.
Of course, there will be a cooking class in the La Fortezza Kitchen, and massages will be available after a day of intense hunting. Drink the wine we make and enjoy a custom cocktail aperitivo hour every evening on the terrace. Meet the most amazing dealers face-to-face. Lunch in the most elegant antique showroom in Prato.
If this sounds good to you, please email Gen for the details ASAP. We have limited spots available. So don’t wait; these retreats tend to sell out quickly. Gen can get you booked.
La Fortezza Corporate Retreats:
Have you considered a Corporate Retreat at La Fortezza? We hold a few every year, and they are becoming more common. La Fortezza is the perfect place to relax, hold inspirational meetings, build teams, and more. We offer creative alternatives to bonding with your team or saying thank you to your best clients.
Email Gen, and she can explain all our options in the Italian countryside. Treat your employees and clients to incredibly memorable days in Italy. We can build the perfect retreat for you.
Private Retreats: ARE YOU BOOKING A LA FORTEZZA RETREAT IN 2025?
PICK YOUR DATES!
WE ARE NOW taking reservations for 2025 Custom La Fortezza Retreats: If you’re interested in planning your custom retreat in June or September 2025, please email our guest liaison, Gen, and she will get you started. We are filling up.
Check the calendar and start planning. Every retreat comes with a pasta cooking lesson and a custom itinerary!
Contact Gen to reserve your place in 2025: Gen is our La Fortezza Guest Service Liaison: genesis.carlina@gmail.com
La Fortezza Kitchen on YOUTUBE:
La Fortezza Kitchen IS UP AND RUNNING. This week’s episode 5 great Italian party snacks. This one is great. These are some of my go-to party favorites. I make these for aperitivo for guests. Have a look, and please like and subscribe.
MY LATEST REAL-ESTATE YOUTUBE VIDEO:
All About Annette YouTube: In this week's episode, It’s All About Federico. We sit down with my real estate agent in Fivizzano for updates and insights.
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 8500+ subscribers! I am beyond thrilled! Now, let’s get to 10,000 by the end of this year…Please like and subscribe, and ring the bell to be notified when new videos are released.
Grab a copy. It’s a fun read.
The latest five-star reviews are in….
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