My Beautiful Italian Fortress

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WHATS HAPPENING:

Women Supporting Women

The Southern C Summit 2024

Ciao Tutti! This week I had the pleasure of conducting two sessions at the The Southern C Summit it was a Styling/Photography and Branding Workshop and a Mentoring session. The Summit is designed to mentor and share valuable business information with Female Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. I was blown away with the support and the positive culture this organization has cultivated. Mind blowing actually. It is designed to support women and encourage collaboration, but somehow it is so much more. It’s the ultimate mind share and safe haven all at the same time. For three days various speakers told their stories and shared their experiences, challenges, and knowledge with two hundred attendees. Held on the grounds of the spectacular Cloisters on Sea Island off the coast of Georgia. It’s a stunning location. Themed parties and events sprinkled the days with shopping, swag and pickle ball and prosecco and a silent disco party. The last day at a breakfast books were on sale including my books. It was great to connect with everyone and talk about my books and my retreats in Italy. Of course signing my books is always a blast. It was an amazing week of meeting the smartest most interesting women. I made connections but mostly, I made new friends. Thank you to Cheri, Whitney and Alison for having me. I loved every minute. If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing organization click here.

If you like what you see, please feel free to forward this on to your friends and family.

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Grazie xo.

LA FORTEZZA RETREAT NEWS:

2025 retreats are getting booked up…

We are now taking retreat reservations 2025. We are excited to welcome our guests this year. I can’t believe I am saying this but we are starting to fill weeks in 2025. Note these are custom retreats and are designed just for you and your group. We no longer do set retreat dates. You pick your own dates and we work together to make sure your experiences in Italy are perfection. Leave all the details to us. Custom itineraries, whether it is food forward, exploring the slow food and wines, and olive oil or flours, cheeses of our region. Partake in our flea market crawls, and hiking or climbing, biking, truffle hunting are on the menu. We have you covered. We work with your schedule, your perfect week at your convenience That’s what makes us unique. Minimum groups of four. Come see us in Italy. Stay on the stunning La Fortezza grounds, twenty seven acres and enjoy.

Here’s the Menu of activities that we offer:

● Cooking Classes from my Cookbook

● Cocktails and charcuterie board lesson with me

● Yoga

● Truffle Hunting, with Four Course Truffle Lunch - *Fall only

● Foraging and Flower arranging

● Styling and photography lesson

● Olive Mill/Flour Mill

● Amaro Factory Tour and Tasting

● Tour of Fivizzano

● Tour of Sarzana

● Tour of Modena

● Artisan Balsamic Tasting at a Private Villa, near Modena

● Parma- Cheese Tasting and City Tour

● Winery with Wine Tasting

● Slow Food Lecture and Cooking Class

● Panagacci Dinner

● Pizza Party* a must

● Day at Cinque Terra, Portovenere* - Fall only

● Lunch or Supper at a Farm to Table Winery

● Hiking, caving, rafting , mountain climbing, biking

● Flea Markets

● Tour of Pietrasanta

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

● Private Castle Tour with an amazing first edition book collection

● Testaroli Maker (Local Food purveyor)

● Forte dei Marmi Market* - Summer only

● Harvest at our Vineyard, dependent on the harvest timing, usually mid-September

● Private Boat rentals

We have loads of choices and options for excursions and experiences. This is just a sample.

Come cook, eat, drink with me.

You’ll get to know a little known beautiful part of Italy. My special place. ~Annette x

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

THE LA FORTEZZA SPECIAL DISPATCH:

Artist in Residence Program Returns

Artist in Residence: I am really excited to announce that the Artist in Residence Program at La Fortezza is BACK! After many years we’ve decided to bring an artist to La Fortezza for the month of July. Melinda Beck will be showing on July 27th at her opening a collection inspired by her time with us. The opening will be our big summer bash. If you’re in the neighborhood July 27th let me know and come party with us. I am so thrilled to welcome Melinda. Melinda is the cover illustrator for two of my books, My Italian Guestbook, and The Killer Menu. She is super talented. Her collection will be for sale online and in person in July. Watch this space for news and updates.

MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO:

One of my favorite antiques stores right in the heart of Fivizzano, come meet Claudio.

All About Annette YouTube Move to Italy : Come shop with me today, this week we visit my friend Claudio’s antique store/treasure trove, right in the heart of Fivizzano. Claudio has the best eye, and fills his place with simply amazing finds from all over Europe. I also found out the building was originally used as a laundry which was a surprise, Watch it let me know what you think in the comments. Fun Fact: Claudio bought a beautiful abandoned hotel in the middle of Fivizzano and he is lovingly restoring it to it’s former glory. Stay tuned because we have an appointment to tour it as well. If you’re in Fivizzano please stop by and say Ciao to Claudio.

Thanks so much for watching and please feel free to share with your friends. Come and move to Italy with me.

The channel is now at 3200 + subscribers! I am beyond thrilled! x Please like and subscribe.

BUY MY NEWEST BOOK:

The Killer Menu, a delicious murder mystery.

Order : The Killer Menu, By Annette Joseph

Finding love and a family is never easy, but when you’re Henry Miller it’s terrifying. Henry is a deliciously charming chef—talented, handsome, and intensely obsessive. The extreme measures Henry employs to insert himself into the lives of his girlfriends take readers on a chilling journey from the streets of Paris to the chic restaurants of Italy and the vibrant Cuban enclaves of Miami. As we delve into the mind of the reluctant murderer, it becomes clear that his habits of love and loss create a recipe for disaster. Come meet Henry and decide for yourself: Do you like him? Or do you hate him?