CALUPO PHOTO STORY

Take a Slow walk through our neighboring hamlet of Calupo.

Un ringraziamento particolare a Mariella, Nori, Mirko e Tiziana per un piacevolissimo pomeriggio in Calupo.

Special thanks to Mariella, Nori, Mirko and Tiziana for a wonderful afternoon in Calupo.

UPDATE: PROJECT GIARDINO

This summer was dedicated to finishing up the last major renovation at Villa Favolosa, namely creating a garden within our courtyard. Between the Villa and San Giuseppe chapel is a large garden space that was once filled with 2 barns, a huge hill of earth and an over-grown fig tree.



Thanks to a wind storm that split the fig tree in half, as well as numerous truck loads of earth being moved in and out, we now have a lush green lawn surrounded by medieval stone walls on three sides.

The jewel of the garden is our 400 year old scau, which is a small barn once used for drying chestnuts. This summer we discovered that our scau predates the adjacent San Giuseppe chapel. We now have a pergola covered patio next to the scau for guests to use.

After all the construction was done we were able to plant some perennials, so next spring promises great things in our new giardino.

SAN SEBASTIANO

This Saturday evening Montaldo di Mondovì held its annual procession in honor of San Sebastiano. Mass was held next door in the San Giuseppe chapel and afterwards everyone carried candles along Roapiana to the San Sebastiano chapel located in the woods just at the end of the hamlet. This is a centuries old tradition and it is wonderful to see it still being observed today.

ARTISTA FAVOLOSA

Our talented friend and neighbor, Enrica Siccardi, surprised us with this wonderful painting of the Villa. Enrica, grazie mille for your thoughtful gift.

FUNGHI

We have had several storms during the past two weeks and as a result of all the rain, porcini are popping up all over our woods. This morning we went foraging and came back with 3.2 kilos (a little over 7 pounds) of mushrooms in less than 30 minutes. Our guests will be ejoying these forest treasures at breakfast tomorrow morning.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

We are celebrating Independence Day at Villa Favolosa. This afternoon we are having a classic American barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, creamy potato salad, cole slaw and watermelon for dessert. The one Italian concession: We will be drinking our local Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi instead of beer.

We are very proud to be a family of Americans and Italians together.

MONGOLFIERE A MONDOVÌ

Mondovì is blessed with atmospheric conditions that are perfect for hot-air ballooning (mongolfiere). This area, called the Monregalese, is protected by the Alps to the south and west. It is a common sight to see balloons drifting across the rolling hills of the Langhe Monregalese and the wine-country.

Imagine passing a morning floating above castles and vineyards in a hot-air balloon. Waiting for you is a picnic lunch of Raschera and fresh Toma cheeses, some salame di Cuneo and a bottle of chilled Favorita. It doesn't get much better than this.

Thank you Renè D. for your kind permission to use this photo.