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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What is happening: Incredible five days in Italy.

I just returned from 5 whirlwind days in Italy at La Fortezza. Renewing my residency went incredibly smoothly; I guess after 20 years, I’ve got this. I visited with all my friends and made the rounds in the village. Everyone was kind; they just wanted to ensure I was okay and the children were OK. I’m OK; they are doing well. But seeing me in person is believing me. I saw so many friends while I was there. The kindness, support, and outpouring of love was genuinely heartwarming. My friend group in Italy was full of hugs, kisses, and sincere help. I feel lucky.

While I was there, it was International Women’s Day, and I headed to the Parma Antiques Fair with three girlfriends to celebrate. We had a blast; I also met my Atlanta interior design friend, Erika Ward, who was an invited Design Delegate at the fair. She’d been there a few days and had some great things to show us. From incredible vintage clothing booths, to stunning antique and art vendors it was a feast for the eyes. I bought an amazing bentwood bench, it ships next week I can hardly wait to see it in my new house, stay tuned for photos.

It was a healing trip salve for the soul. I came back refreshed and excited about spending the summer at La Fortezza. It's just what I needed.

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Think about your retreat in 2026!

Start planning your 2026 retreat experience at La Fortezza. 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—birthday 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 fl our 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 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 Mine 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: Pantry Pasta

This week, I am making what I like to call a ‘pantry pasta.’ You got it: pasta made using things you most likely have right in your pantry. I love this dish, especially when it’s a little cold outside. Although it’s great anytime. Chef Leo tells us he’s not a fan of anchovies, but I LOVE them. Let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below the video. Thanks for watching and subscribing. If you have not subscribed yet please do I am trying to get to 1K subscribers by the end of the year.

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MY LATEST REAL-ESTATE YouTube VIDEO:

All About Annette YouTube: This week, I visited a magical palazzo with an incredible view and stunning garden with my friend Kim. Midway through the video, there is a big surprise about this property. Stay and see what it is. As always, in Italy, there’s always an unexpected hurdle.

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 almost 11.5K + subscribers! I'm trying for 20K this year; thanks for the support! Love you guys x