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.
What is happening: A little about my YouTube channel.
This week, I am commenting on the comments about my real estate YouTube channel, All About Annette. First, let me tell you how I created the channel's name. All About Annette is my company’s LLC. The truth is that I did not name it. It was named when I was doing a BRAVO pilot in 2011 called All About Annette.
The show's title became the name of the LLC. My entertainment lawyer at the time thought it was funny and catchy, so it stuck. I have been working on my channel for about 3 years. I have 12.3K subscribers, which I am pretty amazed by. I’ve been sort of a public figure since I started appearing on the Today Show 15+ years ago. People seem to like following my adventures in Italy. Plus, I am passionate about the abandoned run-down homes in my region. That’s why most of the homes need some TLC.
Okay, on to the comments people leave me…I am used to people criticizing and not liking me; it goes with the territory, and I have thick skin. However, I must say that the comments section of my YouTube videos, as one fan commented, comes with a lot of what she called “snowflakes”, which was what I assume is a clever way of saying that they are not nice and unfiltered. Much like me on my channel. However, I make crazy statements and accurate observations, and clue people into the daunting nature of buying a home in Italy. But I am always amazed that people comment rudely about me being RUDE. I am not rude…I am honest, and sometimes people don’t like that.
Calling me annoying is fine, even funny, but saying I am mean is untrue. Full disclosure, working with Federico is super challenging—the most disorganized man on the planet. As I tell everyone in my book about my real estate journey in Italy, agents in Italy are a nightmare. Federico is no exception. The one thing is that he is honest, so you won’t be ripped off if you buy a property from him. He usually shows up at filming with very little pertinent information about the property. He tells us very little other than the obvious, like “it’s a farmhouse.” He rambles about how stunning it is. Not one fact. So if I appear frustrated asking a million questions on the viewer’s behalf, I am!
The channel idea came from my frustration in finding an honest agent who would show me the real estate I was interested in. Federico still has some misfires and has no idea what a production schedule is, although my team has tried to get him to give us an idea of where we are going daily. So instead of getting mad… we all decided to feature the reality of going with an Italian real estate agent as is, no bars held. That’s why I am so distressed on camera sometimes, it’s real! His communication skills leave a lot to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a nice guy. But I always aim to share beautiful, affordable properties folks want to buy, and he often comes up short.
My point is that I have a passion for these old homes that need help. Now there is a place for people to see houses in a beautiful region that need their love. I feel fulfilled and happy when people buy their dream Italian home, it’s worth all the mean comments.
However, the idea that people would write me nasty personal comments about what is essentially a public service still stumps me. If you’re not a fan, switch me off. The internet is full of trolling, bad behavior, insults, and bullying. But I get enough positive feedback to carry on and ignore the haters.
The truth is, I love producing these videos. We all have a lot of fun. Even Federico loves it and is selling tons of real estate, so he’s a happy camper. Mikel, my producer, and Claire and Stephen, the camera crew, make it easy. They are three of the most talented people I know. I gain nothing from the videos, monetarily speaking. Still, people constantly email, message, and stop me in the piazza to tell me about their real estate adventures and how much they appreciate the channel, and that is all I need.
This week’s video features our film crew house hunting; It would be so great to have them in the neighborhood. Watch the newest YouTube video here:
*Please like and subscribe for more real estate adventures and great recipes from my little part of Tuscany.
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 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
La Fortezza Kitchen on YouTube: Canned Tomato Choices…
This week, I show you a variety of canned tomatoes. I am fascinated by all the different brands and types one can find in the grocery store in Italy. Please look and let me know what kind you like to use at home. Thanks for watching, and please consider subscribing to the channel.
MY LATEST REAL-ESTATE YouTube VIDEO:
All About Annette YouTube: This week, even in the pouring rain and swarming bees, I loved this property. It has a gorgeous garden.
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 12K + subscribers! I'm trying for 20K this year; thanks for the support! Love you guys x
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