Tuscan Roots

Author/Guide: Angela Petch

Why a Booktrail?

1943: A story of wartime and more unfolds in the Tuscan Apennines.

ISBN: B0779VHVQP
Genre: Fiction

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What you need to know before your trail

Ines Santini lived an idyllic and sheltered existence in the Tuscan hills until WWII reached her quiet town. She meets Norman, an escaped British POW, and their lives become entangled in a struggle against the larger forces of the war.

Years later, Anna, their daughter, sets out to unravel the mystery of her parents’ fate. All she has to go on are a handful of old letters and photographs left to her after her mother’s death. Anna travels to the beautiful Tuscan Apennines, where the story unfolds. In researching her parents’ past, she will discover secrets about them, the war, and herself, which will change her life forever

Locations

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Travel Guide

All the places mentioned in the book are real.

One reader of “Tuscan Roots” came specially to track down some of the locations, including the still sombre village of Fragheto, where a massacre of 33 civilians took place during the Second World War.

The area around Il mulino (also real. In fact it is possible to rent this for summer holidays: www.ilmulinorofelle.com) is still unspoilt and there are plenty of beautiful walks to be enjoyed. In the woods there are wild boar, deer and wolves too. The bird and insect life is amazing. Orchids abound in early summer and in September, wild cyclamen carpet the forest floor. The food is traditional and genuine and you can buy cheese and other products at source.

We fill 5 litre demi-johns with Montalcino wine for about £15 and it is fantastic. We are also within striking distance of the famous Piero della Francesca art trail. He was born in Sansepolcro, a handsome mediaeval city with a lively market every Tuesday and where a spectacular cross-bow contest takes place each September, against the city of Gubbio. All contestants are attired in splendidly beautiful costume.

Inhabitants of the “Borgo”, as Sansepolcro is called locally, have to audition to play a part as the audience and they proudly keep their rich, velvet costumes for the rest of their lives. It is considered an honour to participate. This is not a “Chiantishire” part of Tuscany, thronging with tourists.