When thinking of Italian houses I’d love to restore the number one for me is the childhood home of my husbands grandfather Guiseppe. He grew up in the village of Leni on the Isola Salina with his parents Maria and Franceso and two sisters.
Now many years later we returned to the island, the idea of finding his home just a dream as we had no address. We asked in every shop until we were lucky enough to find a lead. The girl in the tabacchi shop knew the family, it was her mother who had given Maria her insulin injections. They knew the house well in fact they still lived across the road. So we not only found the house but also part of a living history, my mother in law (on the left) just beamed the entire day.
So four generations later our “mezza italiana” children stood in the home of their great great Grandparents, a magical moment in time.
Sadly although we were able to find the house it had recently been sold, the new owners had plans to restore it. One day we’ll return to see the transformation.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh that would be such a fantastic house to renovate – Love that your Mother-in-Law was able to see the house and was so happy! Wonder what the new owners have done to make the house into a new home?
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Lisa I’d love to see it again and I’m sure we’ll go back to Salina and spend more time exploring. I have some wonderful photos of the island and the donkey trail that leads to the village down by the beach. We walked it a few times while we were visiting. I hope to hear some more stories about life here from Connie’s Dad’s sisters who are still alive. x
Lisa, Oh, that made me sad that someone else had bought that house, but I hope that they will put all the love and care into it that you would have. Wonderful story. When I go back to my grandfather’s village in Sicily, I hope I can find people who might have known my family. A very powerful experience to stand in the room with so much history. Hugs. toni
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O Lisa! A beautiful story as ever. It has given me goosebumps. It may never be yours again but that your children saw their great great nonno’s home – come si dice? – is still a wonderful thing. And a beaming suocera is always a bonus… Like Toni, this gives me inspiration to go back to Sicily on a mission of my own. My nonni were from little villages not far from Catania. I didn’t realise your husband’s family were islanders too! Jxx
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How wonderful to go back and discover the home of an ancestor. My husband’s grandmother owned a home near Aguilla but when the time came to sell, many years ago, she sold to her tenant as she had already moved stateside. Peccato. My husband and I were too young at the time to even think of making a purchase. Now all we have is the lovely photo to remind us of what could have been. A presto, Lisa
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It will indeed be interesting to return again one day to see the renovations.
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Yes I have a very vivid picture in my head of how it turned out. ciao lisa
the beaming smile of your mother in law is priceless, thank you for sharing your story.
love,
ML
It was so beautiful to be there with her as she rediscovered her heritage and homeland. Especially having our children with us, such a wonderful journey of family, and I learned so much about our children’s history. It really was wonderful to be able to return to my Mother in Law and Father in laws homes. ciao lisa x