The summer of 2024 was amazing!  We finalized the purchase of our new guest house,  made a few changes and  welcomed 42 guests from the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia to our little village!  Some have roots in San Pietro Apostolo, others have roots in nearby small towns and some have no italian roots at all...they just love Italy.  

One guest came to honor her father and his experience in the World War II concentration camp of Ferramonti in the comune of Tarsia, just north of here (did you know about this?  I did NOT!).  We also visited the nearby village of Serastretta and explored the Jewish roots of Calabria with the wonderful Rabbi Barbara Aiello in the first synagoge in Calabria in over 500 years.  

We enjoyed the town of Squillace with its deep history of ceramics and the ancient technique of graffito and the town of San Floro where the economically and culturally impactful art of silk production has been resuscitated at the Nido di Seta.  

Family roots were explored and discovered.  Bonds that had been broken by time and distance were formed again, strong and deep.  

The Ionian and the Tyrrhenian seas welcomed us with blue skies, sunshine and warm waters.  

The ruins of Greeks, Romans and Normans were explored at the Museo e Parco Archeologico di Scolaceum. 

A tour of the the Azienda Agricola Statti with its centuries old olive trees, vineyards, citrus groves and also a dairy herd (which produces five thousand litres of milk per day as well as all the electricity needed to run the farm!) was surprising, educational, delightful and delicious!  

We explored the two rivers of our village on peaceful walks and found solace at the beautiful minor basilica of The Madonna di Porto.  

There was the Cherry Festival and the Feast of San Pietro Apostolo and the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and  the Feast of the Madonna della Lettera.  The town was full of live music and theater in the piazzas, street food, games and activities for the children.  

Good food was abundant!  Cooking lessons, local restaurants, and the kitchens of both Mary and Santina were  sources of incredible clean, fresh meals prepared and served with love and laughter.  

The Wild West Pistoleri arrived in town with guns ablazin' presenting a show in the piazza and another one at a local agriturismo where the western theme traveled through a western dinner...with an italian twist! It was delicious!  

It was a truly incredible summer in San Pietro Apostolo.  Thank you all for new friendships, incredible memories and hope for the future.   Ci vediamo prestissimo!  Non vediamo l'ora!