December 31st marked an important anniversary for Federico and me: four years since the closing of The Economy Book Center, the bookstore in Rome which had successfully supported our family for over forty years, and the beginning of our new life in the province of Benevento. We knew it was going to be hard (considering our not-so-young age) to leave behind friends, family, clients and the comfort of our well-known routines; to start over in a new home and face the challenges of learning to learn again. People were sceptical of our decision to live in southern Italy. They said that Campania had too many problems and couldn’t compare to the beauty of Tuscany or Umbria, and that was that. But my father used to say that precious stones are rarely found lying on the ground, you have to dig deep. We felt that the the region known as the Sannio was very special and ‘the real thing’. We decided to call our business ‘Savour the Sannio’ in tribute to the region’s outstanding wines and culinary traditions. And if at times we doubted our capabilities, starting afresh turned out to be a wonderful adventure. The maxim ‘learn about others and you will learn about yourself’ is so true. We are delighted by the people, the life-style, the traditions and the ‘wisdom’ inherent this fertile earth, as well as the spectacular wealth and breadth of history in this region; starting with the Oscans, Greeks and Samnites; then the Romans and on to the Goths, Lombards and Normans in the Middle Ages; the Neapolitan Baroque, the royal palaces and industries of the Bourbon Kings and the unification of Italy. At Sant’Agata dei Goti, where we live, there is a wonderful sensation of being inside an italian presepe; there are no fast food chains, nothing trendy, no brand-name stores, no blaring billboards – it’s something we cherish and want to preserve as well as pass along. The Sannio Star will highlight special people, places, products and seasonal happenings in the Sannio. This month we have planned a very special culinary event at the beautiful 18th century home and restaurant of Chef Berardino Lombardo (see newlsetter). In future we will inform you of wine-tastings, take you to see how olive oil and the world-famous mozzarella di bufala are made; organize expeditions to seasonal and regional food festivals; take excursions inside a living volcano and guided tours of Cuma and the Royal Silk Factory at San Leucio. There are cooking classes and nature walks, tours of Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Amalfi Coast. We want to shine a light on a corner of Italy where history, culture, wine and food are still gloriously intact and alive!