the new year - 2004 - started with a couple from Texas who came supposedly to film Sting property in the nighbourhood…… They ended up filming our little farmhouse

Michelangel and Silvia!!
Ciao!!! Come' sta? Yes we did make it back... Back to our hectic life. But it
does help us to slow down and remember how much fun we had with you both
in Bella Italia!
We can't begin to tell you how much fun we had staying at your place!
The house is beautiful, the land is breathtaking, and the hospitality
was magnifico! We really feel we have gained some close friends with you and Silvia.
We will most defiantly be keeping in touch with you over the years. We really
are interested in your new baby, the home renovation project as well as your new
vineyard.
We will take some pictures of Il Poggio Secco and send them to you soon,
so you can see our land. We will keep you up with our building project as well.
Thank you soooo much for two bottles of your wine. It is just wonderful. We are holding on to these
for special occasions!
We are happy leave the extra books for you and your future guests! Enjoy the
sugar bowl as well. A little present from Deruta.
Our love to every one in Italy, Silvia and the cats!
Please keep in touch and let us know how your projects are coming along.
Thank you again for such a beautiful and fun week!
Ciao!
Jim and Peggy

Bonjour Michelangelo,
Tu m'avais caché que tu parlais français...et même très bien d'après mes parents.
Ils sont revenus très enchantés de leur séjour en Italie. Très belle région, et la nourriture excellente. Je note ton adresse pour le jour où on se décidera à venir à notre tour en vacances en Italie (pas tout de suite car nous rénovons une maison pour l'instant, cela prend du temps, et de l'argent).
Ci-joint une photo du gite tirée par mes parents.
Salutations de Belgique.
Hélène

novembre 2003

Siamo andati a visitare il vostro sito e abbiamo rivisto con piacere i vostri luoghi splendidi.
Invidiamo il vostro mondo e la vostra filosofia di vita.
Se vi servono foto nuove potete contare sulla mia disponibilità, tra poco tempo le pubblicherò nel mio sito.
Un cordiale abbraccio "la torta era favolosa, ne abbiamo il ricordo ancora adesso!!"

Federico, Mino e Rosella Ramella
Imperia - Liguria
Novembre 2003

Dear Michelangelo and Silvia,
Just a brief e-mail to thank you all for such excellent hospitality. We loved our holiday and then best bit was staying in your home. Delicious food, kindness and warmth; we couldn't have asked for more.
Today it's back to normal. I tried a wobbly run with the dog in the early sunshine and then went to work in Petersfield. Tonight I'm cooking, and it's a dull fare, bangers and mash..
Thank you - all of you - for a lovely week. All the very best, Judith
Judith and Eleonor from Hampshire UK

October 2003

Dear Michelangelo,
we still remember the days at your very nice place last summer. We have enjoyed it so much. Unless our night in the car... (We are the Dutch family Brassinga who arrived too late and slept in the car - untill your mother came by...) This year we will spend our holidays in Spain. But we will come back another year, if you don't mind! I wish you a very nice summer with very nice guests!!
Best wishes, also for your mother, Ida Schuurman (and Ron, Marc & Irma)

July 2003

Michelangelo and Silvia,
Sarah and I have made it home, safe and sound, memories of our trip still distracting us from our jobs. I just wanted to write you a quick note to tell you, once again, what a special and woderful time we had at your farm. Your hospitality was the perfect medicine for our stressed-out lives. I can't tell you what it meant to us.
I'll remember our dinner with your friends, and your mother's lasangne, forever! In fact, we want the recipe! We also want the recipe for Slyvia's pasta with spinaci and arugala. Sarah tried it the other night, and .....well...it wasn't the same. Sharing a meal with you and your friends was the highlight of our holiday, believe it or not. I think meeting new people is the best part of traveling, and the people we met around your table were great.
We plan to send a box off to you in the next few days, but I'm sure it will take weeks to arrive.
I took a picture of Sarah in your cellar before we left.
Remember, you've got a place to stay if you ever make it to California. And I certainly hope that Sarah and I will, one day soon, return to podere La Casellina.
Our very best wishes,
Peter and Sarah

June 2003

ciao Michelangelo, ciao Silvia!
il nostro viaggio di ritorno è stato un po' lungo ma abbiamo evitato gran parte delle "code" che hanno invaso tutte le autostrade. Ci siamo fermati a Lucca fino alle 19.00 e ci siamo avventurati .......dopo aver percorso circa mezza pianura padana siamo arrivati a casa all'una passata.
Il primo pensiero delle mie bambine questa mattina è stato per voi e per i vostri micetti. domanda di Veronica: Chissà se Michelangelo è nell'orto a quest'ora? un grosso saluto e ...... buon estate! magari mentre andiamo in umbria ci fermiamo a salutarvi.
margherita & clan

giugno 2003

Hi Guys
Hope all is well with you and your family. Quick note to thank you very much for your gentle hospiltality - the kids loved it. Have sent you a few pics. First attempt with OK camera so theres lots of room for improvement I know Keep in touch.
(Was reading thru some prev comments - are we talking about thee Joe Jackson?)
Kind Regards
Philip and Family - from Irelan

June 2003

Dear Sylvia and Michelangelo,
We arrived safely back in the UK after our tour of Italy. We had a super time not least of which was our brief but immensely enjoyable stay at the Podere.Thank you for your generous hospitality, we really enjoyed the evenings with you and your fellow guests.
Do you recall the two families from Napoli that came to stay on our last night. I think they were Doctors. Is it possible for you to give me a contact E-mail address or postal address, I have some information for them on B&B in England which I wish to forward to them.
Hope to visit you again, I would love to bring my sister perhaps to help with the Olive harvest.......what time of year would that be?
Our very best regards
Roger and Sue Parker

June 2003

Rob and I got home late last night, some seven hours later than planned due to the inefficiency of Swissair (!). We followed our plan - went straight to the coast and found a nice little hotel in Viareggio and spent the day on the beach, resting and breathing.
We had a wonderful trip, and one of the best parts was meeting you. I have described you to our friends and relatives here as "Renaissance men(women)" (since you are not only warm and friendly people but also multi-lingual, great cooks, readers, farmers, gardeners, hikers, web-based business people, etc.).
I had told my father how much I was looking forward to that part of our trip, and he recently looked at your web site and gave you a great complement. His wife, my stepmother, died two years ago, but the two of them traveled a lot. He told me that your farm seems like the kind of place that he and my stepmother would have loved to visit. He is now 81, but he still likes to travel, so you may yet have him as a guest.
We will take our pictures in today, and within a few days should be able to send you some shots of the farm, the hike, and you two. Thank you for your hospitality -
Ciao,
Kathy

May 2003

Ciao cari Michelangelo e Silvia,
siamo ritornati alla nostra vita di sempre. Devo dire che gli effetti della nostra piccola vacanza si sono fatti sentire stamattina: sono rilassata, non me la prendo, sono supergentile con i colleghi, se le mie ragazze non fanno esattamente come le dico... non importa poi così tanto...insomma per farla breve dovrei fare una vacanzina così tutti i mesi! Voi vi siete riposati ieri? I castagni sono arrivati freschi come se niente fosse, speriamo che attacchino. Oggi a 1/2 giorno Vittorio andrà ad innestarli. Grazie del relax che ci avete regalato e soprattutto sono contenta che abbiamo già un'occasione per rivederci ad ottobre! Ogni volta che si parte da un posto in cui si è stati bene la regola è crearsi già il motivo per tornare! E la grappa mi sembra un ottima scusa!!!
Saluti a tutti e soprattutto a tutti i micetti!
Ciao Marida

aprile 2003

Dear Michelangelo
Getting back to work took some adjusting. It is much easier traveling around in Europe, especially when Brandon is driving.
From the three of us, thank you very much for making our visit to Tuscany so enjoyable. You can rest assured that we will certainlyr ecommend Podere La Casellina to all our friends.
We had some of your wine in London with some friends and everyone enjoyed it. Toni has decided to keep the rest until Estelle and her husband come around for dinner.
The pictures of Tuscany are really good and the ones taken on the last day, with you included, came out very nicely.
Please give our kind regards to your parents and we look forward to seeing you in South Africa one day.
Kind regards
Toni, Brandon and Tony Tidbury

october 2002

Hi Michelangelo,
Thanks for your email, with my attachment on "Chicken curry pies"!
After leaving you, we had another full day and evening in Florence (doing all those last minute touristy things like climbing up the Duomo cupola, which I must admit was worth the 400 over steps for the sheer experience and view) and at Mr & Mrs Cote's suggestion, some of the museums at the Pitti Palace.
Since I returned to Malaysia, there's been plenty to catch up on, assignments to complete, correspondence to attend to, etc. but I've finally managed to sort through most of my pictures. As promised, here are some taken at your place. They are not "big" pictures (as I was trying not to use up too much memory space on my camera), but relatively clear. Please feel free to download/ use them if you wish.
Thank you once again for a lovely stay at Podere La Casellina and for being such an accommodating host (especially the countless trips to and from Figline train station!). When I get organised enough, I promise to send you some of my cookbooks!
Take care and please give my best wishes to your parents and to Sylvia.

Rohani
October 2002

Dear Michelangelo,
Sadly, we have arrived home in Canada, farther away than we would like to be from bell' Italia. The rest of our trip was filled with rich experiences wherever we went
We climbed the 300+ steps to the top of St. Peter's for the best view of Roma, sipped 15 year old scotch in Piazza Pubblico in Siena under a full moon, and watched the sun set into the sea in Sperlonga, not to mention the delicious food which at times approached the standards of Podere la Casellina. I also had the pleasure of meeting my Italian cousins in Benevento which, for my family here, was the first time in about 30 years that we had been together.
I'm writing to you on behalf of Catherine and myself to extend further thanks for the short but very sweet time that we shared with you and your friends at the Podere. We actually ran into Jill at the train station the next day and felt that we were seeing a friend. We'd love to return sometime and spend more time in the area so I'll keep your address, and in the meantime I'll try to send as many people as possible to your oasis.
Good luck with the olive harvest. We'll raise our next glass of chianti to you all.
Sincerely, Warren and Catherine x/x

September 2002

Hello dear Michelangelo and Sylvia,
We're back in Belgium and are really unhappy to be not in Italy anymore. We already mis the good food (your meal was delicious!!!!), the hospitality, the ice-cream, the beautiful landscape, the good wine, etc. of Toscany.......... (but not the Italian way of driving). We had really a splendid time in Podere la Casellina and we're sure to come back. We hope we can stay at your place again.
We hope you're both doing well and hope to see you soon again!
Jeroen and Katrien.
N.B.: Always welcome in Belgium! Really, when you want to visit some place in Belgium, France, the Nederlands, ... don't hesitate to contact us.

August 2002

Rivalta Bormida, lì venerdì 9 agosto 2002
Cari Michelangelo e Silvia,
grazie per il bellissimo soggiorno che abbiamo purtroppo appena terminato presso il vostro agriturismo. Vi volevamo innanzitutto ringraziarvi per i bellissimi giorni trascorsi da voi e per l'eccellente cucina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ora a distanza di tre giorni vogliamo porgervi una domanda: ci adottate? Si sta veramente bene nel vostro casale, l'accoglienza, la simpatia e la gentilezza (e il mangiare) sono davvero al top e ci è dispiaciuto tantissimo dovervi lasciare, con la promesse comunque di ritornare a farvi visita, speriamo ancora quest'anno…
Per quattro bellissimi giorni ci avete fatto assaporare il piacere della vita contadina, i mezzo alla natura e al di fuori delle rumorosissime e grigie cittadine dove viviamo; il cenare tutti insieme all'aria aperta alla sera ci ha fatto ricordare i pranzi che facevamo da piccoli con i nostri nonni, senza ipocrisia e rancori ma con tanta sincerità ed accoglienza.
Assieme a questa e-mail ti inviamo anche la foto che abbiamo scattato insieme il giorno della nostra partenza, noti delle differenze?
Comunque grazie ancora di tutto, e un arrivederci a presto: se non riusciamo a venire ancora quest'anno, sicuramente ci rivedremo l'anno prossimo…
Ciao a tutti
Marco Piana e Katiuscia Bertoia
P.S: l'olio è veramente buono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did not take one BLOODY picture of your parents! (We regret that now.)
How is everyone, how are the cats, the mice, the chickens, (we miss the rooster in the morning)..?
The bus-ride to Urbino was incredibly beautiful. It is only ?5, so if you have nothing to do one day, it is worth it (one bus goes at 5 in the morning, so you could even make it back the same day). Urbino is also beautiful. Small (that is a good thing.)
Our bloody time on computer is running out, alora (?), we will try again domani.
By the way we are trying to find a place in Capri for a week before we go to France.
Ciao, Hana & Mario

May 2002

Cher Michelangelo,
Nous sommes de retour en Alsace après un trajet sans problèmes.
Merci pour votre accueil et pour tout.
Une affectueuse pensée à la mamma et à Sergio.
Il va falloir maintenant faire du régime pour perdre les kilos en trop.
Nous garderons un souvenir ému de la Podere la Casellina. A propos, que veut dire "podere" ?
A bientôt peut-être. (Si vous passez par Strasbourg, n'hésitez pas à appeler)
Daniel & Jocelyne

maggio 2002

Dear Michelangelo,
Maybe you remember us. We visited Podere la Casellina at the beginning of April.
(I send u some pictures)
First of all we want to thank you and specially your parents for the incredible stay we had in your house.
It was the 4th time we visited Toscana but this one we we allways remember.
Please say hallo to your parents (also from Ellen). Tell your mama that I often prepare some of here excellent meals over here.
But, I write you this mail because i have a question.
When we where in podere la casellina Sergio explained us about Nocino (that is is always made on San Giovani 24/06 wiht nuts picked by the local virgins ;-)) )
I found the recipe for Nocino in Artusi's "la scienza in cucina e l'arte di mangiar bene"
Since we have a big walnuttree in our garden I want to try it out.
But: June in Belgium is not like June in Italy.
I know the nuts still have to be green.
But at this time the nuts in Belgium are only as big as a bean.
So could you explain me about what size they have to be?
We Wish you and your family a nice summer and a very good nocino on San Giovani.
I hope to be reading you Soon.
Petra , Dirk and Ellen Huibers

Aprile 2002

eccomi qua!
con enorme sorpresa verso mezzogiorno ho trovato una crostata di crema
pasticcera nel forno: anche a castellanza le torte si fanno da sè, incredibile!
mi sono portata via un po' di magia dalla toscana, chissà se vale anche per il lavoro: se si facesse da sè ogni tanto, ti immagini quante belle vacanze? ho già una lista lunghissima di posti da vedere e ti dirò che per come sono messa in questo momento (vispa ed energica, senza più malattie) salirei in macchina subito subito!
i miei omaggi all'agriturista che produce un olio a basso contenuto di acidità... che io non ho comprato!!!!!!
Ciao
Elena

gennaio 2002
Elena, Claudio, Giovanni, Luca, Ambra, Max, parenti ed amici l' ultimo dell'anno indimenticabile!

WE HAVE JUST RETURNED. WE SAW A GREAT DEAL OF TUSCANY, LOVED BEST OF ALL YOUR PLACE, AND REGRETTED NOT HAVING SPENT A FEW MORE DAYS JUST ON YOUR PROPERTY AND WATCHING YOUR OPERATION. YOUR PARENTS WERE DELIGHTFUL AND WE SHALL NEVER FORGET HOW MUCH SHE ENJOYED THE FIVE MONTH OLD BABY FROM ENGLAND!!! WE LOVED SAM GIMIGNANO AND DID ENJOY THE AGRITOURISMO'S ALONG THE WAY. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT LAKE COMO, WERE NOT TOO IMPRESSED WITH THE BUSY TOURISTY AREA AND DROVE ON UP TO BELAGIO. THE MIST WAS HEAVY AND FOR 2 DAYS WE WERE UNABLE TO TAKE IN THE TRUE BEAUTY OF THE AREA, HOWEVER WE TOURED AND SAW WHAT WE COULD OF THAT LOVELY AREA AND THE MORNING WE LEFT, THE HEAVENS CLEARED TO A MAGNIFICIENT SUNNY DAY AS WELL AS TREMENDOUS SCENERY. WE SPENT SOME TIME IN MILANO, AND WERE FINALLY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OBTAIN TICKETS TO LASCALA (DORIE'S DREAM HAS NOW COME TRUE, I HAVE NOW SEEN LASCALA AND THE OPERA, BEFORE THEY RENOVATE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.)
THANK YOU AGAIN MICHELANGEO FOR MAKING OUR VACATION AT YOUR HOME SUCH A MEMORABLE ONE. WE HAVE TOLD ALL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT YOU AND NO DOUBT NEXT SPRING AND SUMMER YOU WILL BE HAVING ADDITIONAL GUESTS FROM TORONTO.
OUR KINEST PERSONAL REGARDS TO YOU AND YOUR PARENTS!!!
WE HAVE NOT HAD OUR PICTURES RETURNED FROM DEVELOPING, BUT HOPE TO SEND YOU ONE IF IT TURNS OUT!!
SINCERELY, BAIN & DORIE

Toronto oct 2001

Michealangelo & Maria
Thank you very much for a lovely holiday at your house, we enjoyed ourselves very much. We also had another good week near Volterra, did more walking and siteseeing plus being lazy by the swimming pool. Hope you are enjoying a quieter week or 2 with less visitors.
We recommended your place to a couple of friends so they may come another year.
First week back home weather not too bad but has now gone cold and grey and the clocks have gone back so dark before 5pm. Wish we could have captured the Tuscan sun to bring back with us!!!
Could you send us the recipe for the grape cake / flan you made while we were visiting. we have been given a lot of grapes by our neighbour who has a vine in a greenhouse, not quite enough to start up in wine competition!!!
The offer for any of you to come to visit if you get to England is still open, hope one day we will see you again.
Will send photos as soon as we have them back
Best wishes to you all, Joseph sends a big smile and a hug to Maria

Lis, Steven and Joseph October 2001

Dear Michelangelo
Just a short email to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Also to thank you for looking after my friends Geoff, Meredith and Dugal so well when they stayed with you.
Their time with you was one of the highlights of their trip.
All the best
Hetty

Sydney sep 2001

I just got back to Seattle last night. I referred a man from Japan and his wife to you. I hope he was able to visit you (and spend money!).
So how about a list of your Joe Jackson collection, in case I can add to it?
Ciao,
Dave Richardson

Michelangelo:
Sorry for the delay in my reply. I was hoping to find time to write more, but you know how we Americans are always too busy doing nothing.
Thanks you for the kindness.
I have written a story about our holiday for the US Moto Guzzi owners and I mentioned your place. Hopefully some will contact you for reservations! Same with my local wine expert.
We will soon have some nice illegal copies of Joe Jackson CDs to send you with our compliments.
Ciao,
Dave

Dave and Lana Richardson Seattle September 2001
Dave and Lana will come to get married at Lake Como, in two years time.
They stayed with us again and wrote this:

Dear Silvia and Michelangelo:
Rome was an adventure for us in many ways. We stared with an 8-hour tour arranged by Lana's friend on the trip, Rebecca. Rome is difficult for one's head. Indeed, the immense achievements are beyond belief. Then again, it was all built by slave labor. Still, the simple quantities of stone and marble are beyond my comprehension. The Pantheon captured my imagination the most. We had 1 rude moment when a drunk took exception to Americans in his piazza. With all that the US has done to the world in recent years, I cannot say that I blamed him!
I am not a Christian but I wanted very much to see the Vatican. Again like Rome, the pleasure contains a pain. Yes the art collection was expansive and enjoyable but it was mostly the spoils of war. My most anticipated site in all of Rome was the Sistine Chapel, and yet, it was a disappointment, largely due to the constant reminder not to talk. How can one view such beauty without a murmur?! My greatest surprise was my reaction to the Pieta, which of course was familiar to me from photographs. Your namesake has a remarkable way of getting beyond simple history to display the very human emotions behind it. Here was simply a mother whose son no longer lived. I cried in the joy of such power as I am crying now. How does one view such a thing and then eventually walk away, knowing it will most likely never again be viewed in one's life? Obviously, though, it stays with me. And it helped me realize that for me a lot of so-called art is more like craft or skill without inspiration, and so not art at all.
We looked forward to a grand conclusion of our stay in Rome with their all-night celebration of the arts called la Notte Bianca. Best of all, we had to be on our shuttle to the airport at 4:00 the next morning, so why not stay up all night? We got to hear opera for the first time in our lives for free at the Rome Opera House! I have seen pictures of such grand concert halls but never in my dreams did I think I could ever visit one, due to the cost of entry and the need for fancy clothes. But on this night, the common man gleefully filled the seats and boxes. Afterward, there was a break before chamber music, requiring a separate admission, so we went outside for coffee. There we saw the baritone, who we saw in the program to be the only performer with an Anglo name, talking with a few people. We waited our turn to thank him, only to discover that he is from Seattle, too! The night of course ended in unexpected ways when the big power outage turned it into la Notte Nera! We were lucky, as our wake-up call came as expected at 3:30 and the power went off 7 minutes later. Imagine the difference 10 minutes would have made, as the telephones quit working as well! The shuttle arrived on the expected minute. Lucky for us, Rome isn't Seattle, as back home traffic would be completely stalled without working traffic lights. In the Rome traffic system, lights are almost without purpose; we easily got to the airport, which like the hotel was operating under emergency power from their own generator. The adventure did not end with the plane, as I sat next to an older nun from India on her way to Africa. She old me of her many joyful years of helping the poor and loving Jesus, all the while not being all so very happy with the church and its history. So here through this woman I learned to respect this huge institution like all others with good traits as well as ones not so good. One would think that at this point all possible adventure had occurred, but this was not the case. Arriving back home in Seattle, the laptop bag I carried for important documents caused great excitement in the dog used by US Customs to check for illegal drugs. Maybe people flying in from Holland have extra interest to them! No, I am not writing you from prison! Lana bought me the bag used for a few dollars, so apparently the previous owner carried something besides a laptop in it. After an inspection of some of my luggage and a pat-down of me, we were released through Customs. And so we are home with our memories, planning our official wedding for 12 October. Staying with you was the greatest joy to all of us after the pressure of the cities. Traveling on to Rome only confirmed that your home was for all of us our favorite place in Italy. Our thanks as well for the special gifts and considerations for our wedding. It was especially nice to return to visit an old friend. As promised, here is the poem about Silvia. Usually we only hear recited the first 8 lines, not also the last 6. If you have difficulty understanding its meaning, please ask and I will try to help. Excerpt from 'Two Gentlemen of Verona"
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?
What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by?
Unless it be to think that she is by
And feed upon the shadow of perfection
Except I be by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon;
She is my essence, and I leave to be,
If I be not by her fair influence
Foster'd, illumined, cherish'd, kept alive.
I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom:
Tarry I here, I but attend on death:
But, fly I hence, I fly away from life.
- William Shakespeare, 16th Century
- Ciao, Dave and Lana

October 2003

Dear Michael Angelo,
Here we are safely back in Berkhamsted after a good journey home. We bought some nice wine in the Castello di Querchetto which we found easily thanks to your directions, and we bought some more in a French town called Sault near the Mont Ventoux so we have a good lot in the 'cellar' for drinking in the winter. I am going to ring Sylvia later on today and get her wine round to her. We may meet in the gym!
We really enjoyed staying with you very much and were very pleased to get to know you a little and also to meet your mother. We shall be thinking of you at this difficult time.
We have come back to rain, rain and more rain. Ugh!
With very best wishes
Ellis and Suzie

UK, july 2001

They will be our guests again, a year later, in November. Working guests, this time since they spent three entire days in the fields, with us, picling olives. One of their following letters:

Dear Michaelangelo
in haste a brief note to say we got back safely (seems like a long time ago!) and enjoyed ourselves very much. Haven't heard from Kate yet, but that's not unusual she's always so busy. She really had a good time, which was important.
Can you give any advice about those olives?
I put them in water for 9 days, changing every day, then in salt water, but they are still quite bitter and not like 'real' olives. HELP!
Ciao! Greetings to everyone, it was so nice to get to know them.
Ellis
PS Don't put this on the website! I'll do you something better if you really want. The photos haven't been developed yet.

Ciao Michelangelo,
speriamo che non ti sei dimenticato di noi!?
Devi sapere che non appena siamo entrati in autostrada, volevamo fare l'inversione ad U.
Daniela ora sta continuando le lezioni di scuola guida ed ha scoperto che non si può fare l'inversione ad U in autostrada ....
Abbiamo ripreso le nostre rispettive attività, ma spesso ricordiamo bene e volentieri quei giorni trascorsi presso il tuo podere e nella tua beata terra toscana.
Abbiamo bevuto il tuo vino ( 1999 ) a pranzo con i ns familiari ed ha avuto un gran successo.
un affettuoso saluto da Tullio e Daniela.
PS1 un saluto a tua madre
PS2 un saluto anche ai tuoi gatti
PS3 prossimamente saremo in grado di inviarti le foto.
p.s. hai letto l'articolo su "Specchio - la Stampa - Sting: da Newcastle alle colline Toscane"?
l'articolo, la foglia d'acero campestre che ci hai inviato ed il ricordo dei giorni trascorsi da te
c'hanno messo una nostalgia… facci sapere se ci sono delle occasioni per comprare (tipo capanna da 20milioni…)

giugno 2001
Tullio e Daniela hanno trascorso la loro luna di miele qui da noi

Vogliono vi dire che abbiamo passato une maravillose vacanze en la sua casa La casellina.
Abbiamo fatto molte bene il viaggio di ritorno. Ho datto la tua indirizzo a molta gente, sopratutto a la mia professora di italiano anche a molte persone del mio lavoro che stanno molto interessati per andare li. Abbiamo fotos ma Cesar deve passarle per il scanner per inviartelas.
Come sta la tu encantadora mama ? Me e piacutà moltissimo la tua mama. Dale molti bacchi da parte di Paul e de mi. .Come sta il tuo babo ? Speró che migliore.
E tu ? Con molta gente in la tua casa perche siamo sicme in estate.
Grazie mille per cuestas vacanzes que ricordaremo per sempre.
Tchao

Isabel, Cesar e Paul Zaragoza may2001

Michelangelo & Family, Kerrie arrived back safe last night. But, her bags went to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia! She did not stop talking until about 2am this morning. It is very obvious that she had a great holiday. Italy to her was all she needed for a culture fix. She really enjoyed the time at Figline. I feel that you made her very welcome which helped her relax and enjoy what was around her. It was the perfect place to stay for the tripping about that she did. I'm glad you made her welcome and happy. Thank you for looking after her and thanks to your parents. Kerrie hasn't stopped talking about your Mum's great cooking! (And, the delicious coffee!!) Kerrie does talk a lot. Saves me from worrying about what to say. Hopefully, one day soon, we will be able to meet. It would be a great pleasure. All the very best for Christmas, and may your New Year be prosperous and pleasurable. Again, thanks from myself. I appreciate all you have done.

Pete, Sidney, 11 dec 2000

Ciao Michelangelo, We are back home, unpacked, and mostly readjusted to California. Our memories of staying at your farm are still in our mind, and one of the best parts of our 4 weeks in Italy. Just tonight I fixed some "bruchetta" using your olive oil and some pepper mushroom stuff we bought in Calabria. The wine we drank while we were still in Rome. It was delicious. Thank you again. We hope to see you in person again some day.

Mitch and Mary Keil, San Francisco, 28nov2000

Hello Bensi family First of all we want to thank you again about your hospitality. We enjoyed it very much!! We didn't write until now because we try to contact you through the email, but the site of agriturismo in Italy is allways under constractionsÖ Our travel in Italy was great. Italy is very beautiful country. We are hope that the nice place you are building will be successful and that you will have a lot of guest. You are very invited to visit in Israel at anytime. We will be happy to hear from youÖ Arividechi

Alon & Yael, Israel, october 2000

Ciao Michelangelo, Thank you for all your help, it was really wonderful to get some local assistance. My search for a house was unsuccessfulÖÖÖ. My photos of your house and the house/church next door have been much admired and I have copies for you in the mail. Is there any news of the bishop closing the church? It would be wonderful to have an adjoining property to yours! Cheers for now, Give my best wishes to your family, Barrie

july 2000 Barrie from Sydney - the photo of the church "S. Piero a Terreno" in this site was taken from him.

Ciao. Come va? Io bene. Ti invio le foto del 'Podere La Casellina'. Lo conosci? Io ci sono stato, anzi te lo consiglio! A presto. Carissimi saluti.

Claudio, Marisa ed Emanuele Tosi. 18 novembre 1999

Dear Michelangelo, I hope you're doing fine, and that your grandmother has recovered from her injury. So, how are the olives and how about those lovely granates. If I close my eyes and imagine I'm having breakfast in your house, I can still smell the fresh apples, the granates and the passionfruit.

06 october 1999 Marcel and Monique from Holland stopped over to give some rest to their old Fiat. They were not sure wether they would have reached their house up in Nijmegen. Thank God they made it!

Ciao Michelangelo Come' stai? Grazie per il tuo email. Abbiamo ricevuto la settimana scorsa. Mi dispiace per non scrivere prima di addesso. Il mio nuovo lavoro e' stato molto intenso. Non ho avuto il tempo per niente. Pero', Geoff ed io pensiamo di te spessoÖÖÖ. Come' la tua famiglia. Dice Buon Natale a loro per me. Anche dai un grande baci a Marisa da me. Spero' che puoi leggere questo email. Buon Natale a' te. Molti baci da me Linda PS. Beveremmo la bottiglia scorsa di tuo vino stasera con Luca e diremmo Grazie e Salute a Michelangelo.

30 september 1999 Linda and Geoff Balmer stopped over for one night during their trip in Italy. The morning after, had breakfast and left to go to Venice. Same afternoon I had a call from them: "Michelangelo, hi, its Linda. We're still in Florence and were thinking of coming back to Podere La Casellina and stay for a few more daysÖÖ."

Ö.Comunque non ti abbiamo dimenticato - abbiamo passato un tempo bellissimo da voi, come sai!! Purtroppo ti ho 'rubato' le chiavi e le ho trovato solo un paio di giorni fa quando la mia sorella voleva prestare la valigia. ÖÖE da voi, invece? Com'Ë il vino quest'anno? Hai ancora molto da fare ora? E come va l'agriturismo? Abbiamo raccontato giý a tutti i nostri amici del tuo bellissimo posto e spero che qualcuno deciderý di andare in vacanza da voi. Anche noi vorremmo venire il pi˜ presto possibile, ma sembra che non sarý prima del prossimo estate. ÖIntanto ti mando delle foto delle vacanze e spero che ci rivediamo presto, forse anche in Germania se hai voglia di venire! Un abbraccio, Claudia. (e Ian manda tanti saluti)

August 1999 Claudia from Germany and Ian from England stayed with us for over a week on their honeymoon. A few months after their stay Claudia sent us an envelope with a letter, a few pictures andÖ.their bedroom key!