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.

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NOTE* the Friday Newsletter ~

It’s a day early this week….

We are off to Greece early Friday morning…so I am posting this newsletter a day early. Enjoy the weekend, and thank you for subscribing. XO

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What’s happening at La Fortezza this week? The Sarzana Antiques Fair

It’s August; truth be told, not much happens at this time of year—the occasional Sagra (A village food festival). The only exciting event is the Sarzana Antiques Fair. It goes on for two glorious weeks and makes August, well, frankly, bearable. It’s been epically hot, the temperatures above 100 degrees. Even walking the streets in your swimsuit and eating a gelato would not make it any less scorching. We tried the gelato bit, but only for a moment did we feel cooler. We did arrive around 5:30 when booths were starting to open for the evening. Fewer people did make it a little more enjoyable. The town was just waking from a hypotonic trace-like nap. We grabbed a beer and sat awhile to watch the people make their way to the events of the evening. There are always great finds at this fair.

However, oddly, only one item caught my eye— a woven basket ringed with pompom cherries. It was whimsical, well-crafted, and unusual. But the heat made it less appealing to even try to negotiate a better price. I was lethargic, sweaty, and less than motivated to carry it back to the car, so I passed. But I was very happy I attended this year, even though it was like slugging through Dante’s Inferno.

I have often written about this fair, and I am not convinced it did not factor into my decision to buy our house here. I love Sarzana, an untapped treasure of a town. It’s arty, filled with great people, and dappled with delightful boutiques. If you’re passing by, do stop for a little birra and a stroll.

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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 2025, please email our guest liaison, Gen, and she will get you started.

Check the calendar and start planning. Every retreat comes with a pasta cooking lesson and a custom itinerary!

*Remember that the earlier, the better! So you can get your desired dates next year.

Contact Gen to reserve your place in 2025: Gen is our La Fortezza Guest Service Liaison: genesis.carlina@gmail.com

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BIG NEWS ON MY NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL: La Fortezza Kitchen IS UP AND RUNNING

Do not miss this ancient pasta episode. A new one posts every Monday. Please subscribe to be the first to know.

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MY LATEST REAL-ESTATE YOUTUBE VIDEO:

All About Annette YouTube: This week on Move to Italy, we will travel to a small village known for its hot springs and wellness spa. Full disclosure: It’s not what you think. It's more like a Russian spa from the 50s, nonetheless. It’s a fun tour with a really wacky home tour. We are calling it “the home tour from hell.” 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 7300+ 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.

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Best Summer Read, now hop to it!

The latest five-star reviews are in….

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GREAT TRAVEL TIPS OFF THE BEATEN PATH, GIVEAWAYS, INSIGHTS, EVENTS, DISCOUNTS, AND WEEKLY RECIPES ARE ALL GREAT REASONS TO BE A…PAID SUBSCRIBER

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