I am grateful to the experts, guides, scholars, and friends who assisted me over the last few years and to the many others whose passion impressed and inspired me.
From the beginning of my research, Lisa Pieraccini, an archaeologist and the director of the M. Del Chiaro Center for Ancient Italian Studies, and Christopher Hallett, a professor of classics and art history at the University of California, Berkeley, provided essential background on the Etruscans and ancient Romans.
In Rome, the archaeologists Clementina Panella of La Sapienza and Livia Galante brought the earliest eras of human history to vivid life. The passion of our friend Dr. Massimo Biondi of La Sapienza for Etruscan history and life enriched my appreciation of this remarkable culture.
I thank Marco Spagnoli, the movie director and critic, for his insights and his wonderful films, and Professor Valeria Della Valle of La Sapienza, a distinguished author and dear amica, for providing a wealth of information on Italian cinema, culture, and language. I extend great appreciation to Tracy Roberts and Jessica Edwards of LoveItaly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Italy’s treasures, and to the art historian Sara Magister, who guided me through Caravaggio’s Rome.
I am grateful to the endlessly resourceful Barbara Lessona of Countess Concierge, who specializes in making Rome feel like home for every client. She introduced me to worlds I’d never glimpsed, including the Sorelle Fontana atelier. I extend fond thanks to Luisella and Roberta Fontana for their memories of a glamorous golden age of Italian fashion and to Anna Fendi for the story of her family’s passion for elegance and design.
In Sicily, Lorenzo Capraro of Agrigento Experience, Claudio and Pina of La Mattina Travel in Palermo, and Frank Cappa of Siracusa guided me through three millennia of history. Verona brought special joy because of Maurizio and Antonella Barbacini and their passion for music and romance.
In Venice, the exceptional Cristina Gregorin of Slow Venice helped me navigate the long, complex, and ever-so-passionate history of La Serenissima. I appreciate the skill and knowledge of its accomplished artisans, including Gloria d’Este of Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua, the glassblowers of Seguso Vetri d’Arte, and the delightful sisters, jewelers Susanna and Marina Sent. A special thanks to master glass artist Lucio Bubacco of Murano, who melds passion into every piece.
I extend my gratitude to several of Perugia’s fine artisans, including Marta Cucchia of Museo Atelier Giuditta Brozzetti; Maddalena Forenza of the Museo Laboratorio di Vetrate Artistiche Moretti Caselli; Maria Antonietta Taticchi of Materia Ceramica; and Giordano Mangano of Cioccolato Augusta Perusia. My wonderful guide Daniela Maria Paci led me into some of Umbria’s loveliest settings to meet the weavers of Tela Umbra in Città di Castello and the jeweler Francesca Trubbianelli of Gioielli Raku in Assisi. I thank the ceramicist Maurizio Tittarelli Rubboli of the Museo Opificio Rubboli in Gualdo Tadino, who shared his family’s rich legacy with me, and Roberta Niccacci, who embodies the warm heart of Umbria.
Writing about food in Italy never seems to be anything but a pleasure. Gustatory delight reached a new height at the Spagnoli Confiserie du Chocolat in Sant’Enea, and I extend grazie di cuore to Luisa Spagnoli, not just for her exquisite confections, but also for her generosity in sharing her family history and photos. A special thanks to our mutual friends, the author and chef Silvia Buitoni and her sister (another distinguished chef) Viola Buitoni, for making my visit possible.
Emilia-Romagna more than lived up to its reputation as Italy’s well-fed “belly.” I thank Marcello and Raffaella Tori of Bluone Food and Wine Tours in Bologna for taking me behind the scenes of Italy’s signature flavors. I appreciate the hospitality of Stefano Tondelli of Salumificio Santo Stefano in Parma and Davide Lonardi of Acetaia Villa San Donnino in Modena.
I also thank the chefs, restaurateurs, and hoteliers who’ve contributed so much to my Italian culinary education, particularly Alessandro Camponeschi and Costantino Rossi of Camponeschi in Rome; Robert Sciò and Federico Morosi of Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole; Michelin chef Antonio Guida of the Mandarin Oriental in Milan; pizzaiolo Luciano Forte of the Transatlantico restaurant in Naples; Alberto Gaido of Assaggia in Rome; Gabriella Ganugi of Apicius and Florence University of the Arts; and several wonderful private chefs, including Marina Cerchi of Rome and Porto Ercole, Jeannine Salomons of Bellaria Catering in Monticchiello, Valentina Bardi of San Quirico, and Giancarlo of Le Cesarine in Bologna.
I cannot separate my passion for Italy’s wines from my deep affection for its winemakers. Many years ago, the extended family of Monte Vibiano Vecchio in Umbria—Maria Camilla, Lorenzo, and the greatly missed Andrea Fasola Bologna—welcomed us into their home and their hearts. We have treasured our times with them.
In Piedmont, thanks to our outstanding guide Paolo Ferrero of Buon Gusto Tours, my husband and I enjoyed the hospitality and the wines of several remarkable vintners: Beppe Dosio and Marco En. Dotta of Dosio Vigneti; Flavio Meistro of Azienda Agricola BUT; Augusto Olearo of Castello di Razzano; Enrico Orlando of Cà Richeta; Giorgio Pelissero of Pelissero wines; and Aldo and Milena Vaira of G.D. Vajra. In Val d’Orcia, we made the delightful acquaintance of Simonetta and Nicolò Magnelli of Le Chiuse, Annibale Parisi of NostraVita, and Giulitta Zamperini of Poggio Grande.
We greatly appreciated the wine and the art of the magnificent Castello di Ama in Chianti, and we thank our hosts, Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, and our friend Dr. Stefano Pallanti for his assistance.
I thank Michele Pignatti Morano di Custoza, the head of the Ferrari Museums, for his gracious welcome; Gina Chinchilla, who helped arrange my tour of Armani/Silos; and the art historian Morena Ghilardi, my guide in Milan. Over the years, the journalist and author Federico Rampini, the educator Stefania Scotti, the cinema scholar Gianfranco Angelucci, the composer and conductor Mario Ruffini, the art historian Ludovica Sebregondi, and the singer Lua Hadar have greatly enhanced my appreciation of Italian passion.
Grazie di cuore to our wonderful companions on sea and land: Capitano Tonino Palumbo, Salvatore Forte, Giusy Iaccarino, Giorgia Messina, and Nicolà Iacono of Silver Star Yachting. The d’Ambrosio brothers of Pallenberg Travel—Crescenzo, Simone, and Andrea—have taken the very best care of us in Rome and beyond for many years.
Thanks to John and Brigid Ash in Val d’Orcia and to Hamish and Carolina Tabor of Isola Rosa in the Maremma, I was able to complete the final draft of La Passione in two idyllic writing retreats. Grazie infinite to Samuela, Nicolà, and Angela for their many kindnesses and to Alessandro Pierangioli of Montalcino Travel, Fabio Spigarelli of Autonoleggio Spigarelli of Assisi, and Iuri Nutarelli of Capital Chauffeur Service.
I am deeply grateful to many who offered ideas, read early drafts, and provided unswerving encouragement, including Frances Mayes; Simone Schiavinato and the editorial staff of L’Italo-Americano; JoAnn Locktov of the Dream of Venice book series; Kathleen Gonzalez, author of A Beautiful Woman in Venice; Kathy McCabe of Dream of Italy; Rita Morgan Richardson, founder of the Friends of San Filippino; Ann Reavis, author of Italian Food and Life Rules; and Donna DiGiuseppe, author of Lady in Ermine. Heartfelt thanks to Paolo Barlera and Franca Cavallaro of the Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco for their support and enthusiasm.
I am always thankful for my career-long agent and cherished friend Joy Harris and the invaluable Adam Reed. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my Italian guardian angel and consultant, Valentina Medda, and to my brilliant web designer Madeira James and the ever-helpful Jen Forbus of xuni.com.
My thanks to Tricia Boczkowski and Jon Darga, my editors at Crown, who embraced La Passione with a passion of their own. Jon’s perceptive insights and deft editing shaped my draft into a more compelling and cohesive narrative. I applaud the beautiful cover by Gary Redford, and I offer admiration and appreciation to every member of the Crown team, including Cathy Hennessy, production editor; Maureen Clark, copyeditor; Elena Grivaldi, art director; and Jen Valero, designer of the interior layouts.
My heart spills over with love and gratitude for my adorati—my husband, Bob, and my daughter, Julia—the sunshine of my soul and the inspiration for every passionate pursuit.