Today it’s a turning point in my life. I have been waiting for this since 26 December 1996. On that day Ruurd, my husband, and I walked to the top of our beautiful hill in the snow.
Here we fell in love with the incredible views of Assisi and the surrounding countryside. Despite the dilapidated aspect of the house, we bought it against the judgment of family and friends who thought we were not a little mad.
It took us 5 years of hard work and worries to move here and start Alla Madonna del Piatto B&B and cooking school.
Ours was the bigger half of a very large farmhouse.The rest was owned by someone who did not do much with it except keeping it quite messy.
Of course, from day one, we started to dream the impossible dream, buying the other half and have our island of peace all to ourselves.
For 10 years we have lived here and worked hard to make Alla Madonna del Piatto a dream for us and for our guests.
Meanwhile a lot has happened, good and bad. Today we have finally managed, we have signed the contract, the other half of the house is ours.
The house is in reasonable conditions, better than the first half we bought back in 1997, it will however need quite a bit of renovation.
This will hopefully result in one or two holiday apartments, a new and larger cooking school and finally, finally, finally an office for myself! Wow, I haven’t had an office for 10 years. It’s maybe time.
Today I feel like a princess. I own my castle. Tonight I’ll have a good sleep.
We are SO happy for you both, this has been a long time coming and not short of a few nightmares along the way.
We did indeed drink to your health, and like you, have drank too much! A lovely bottle of Montefalco Rosso from Romanelli just evaporated tonight!
So, we will see you soon and we’ll celebrate this excellent, wonderful news together!
Love, hugs and kisses,
Giselle & Mark
LikeLike
grazie Giselle and Mark, there will be more celebrations to come, this is only the beginning!
LikeLike
FANTASTICO!!!!!
So much looking forward to seeing it!!
LikeLike
sei sempre attesa a braccia aperte qui!
LikeLike
Congrats, what a beautiful story, breath taking view and wonderful beginning to the future for you…. I just am so so happy for you both… again Congrats you have a lovely castle…. charming, enjoy! claudia l
LikeLike
Congratulations both of you! Dreams really can come true! Here’s wishing you many happy times in ‘the other half’!
LikeLike
thank you Sian, it’s taken some time but it has happened!
LikeLike
AUGURI!!!!!! How exciting, especially since it was so long in coming…*so* happy for you 😀
LikeLike
grazie Michelle, hopefully you will see it one day!
LikeLike
Letizia – I could not be happier for you! We understand exactly how you feel and offer you every encouragement to maintain the elevated state of joy you are experiencing right now. That said, now get busy and fix the rest of the place up so we can come and stay with you. your friend, Amos
LikeLike
thank you Amos, this will take a while and I will need lots of encouragement from my friends!
LikeLike
This story of hillside castles, happiness and dreams fullfilled is very touching. I’m so happy for you!
Buonanotte principessa.
LikeLike
Too many ‘L’s in fulfilled, sorry 😉
LikeLike
AUGURI
LikeLike
Congratulations! How wonderful to get something well deserved after years of hard work and dreams. Enjoy every moment in your gorgeous new-old place.
LikeLike
congratulations, you stuck with your dream and made it happen, good luck to you both
Jan
LikeLike
I am so happy for you, principessa; and for Ruurd! This is going to be so beautiful!
LikeLike
What an inspiring story of dreams come true–Auguri! I can’t wait to celebrate this with you in person someday!
LikeLike
Gefeliciteerd! Well done!
Now soon you will be restoring, too bad you will only have an office once all restoration is done. (for the paperwork an office might come in handy …).
Auguri!
LikeLike
Wonderful, story, Wonderful story, Wonderful castle!
LikeLike
ALL my love and thoughts and best wishes are with you for this project, my darling Letizia. You deserve not only an office, but every good thing that comes your way. I love you!
LikeLike
What a beautiful dream becoming real!!
…i hope i’ll visit Madonna del Piatto…maybe when the second half will be ready…
in bocca al lupo per la ristrutturazione!!
a presto
silvia
LikeLike
I’m so very happy for you and Ruuard and your purchase of the castle. Now I must return to drink Proseco, cook once again with you and celebrate the realization of your dreams! Ciao bella
LikeLike
Love it! Have fun recreating your castle 🙂
LikeLike
Can I just say: totally JEALOUS. I want my own castle! And cooking school. And B&B…
😉
Congratulations!
LikeLike
Congratulations!! What a lovely piece of land and a beautiful home! But I am sure that you’re most excited about the office…haha.
You SHOULD sleep well…you just became a princess overnight! 😉
Congrats on being FP!
LikeLike
Oh, i’m so happy for you!
LikeLike
Congrats on the new (old) house and being FP! ENJOY!
LikeLike
Wow, how wonderful… you both were certainly patient enough! 🙂
LikeLike
Dreams really do come true … Congrats on all your hard work paying off in such an exciting fashion! Cheers, MJ
LikeLike
Congratualations, on acheiving what you wanted! It looks beautiful! Scenery is breath-taking! 🙂
LikeLike
auguri per il tuo castello! Amo italia e vivo in Sardegna per tre ani. Se ha il tempo fai il click su il mio blog che tanti cosi per leggere.
My Italian is not the greatest as my Sardinian husband and I speak a mash of English, Gallurese and Italian in the house. 🙂
Congrats on Freshly Pressed.
LikeLike
Wow! the castle is awesome, and you’ve proved it that if you work hard keeping your dreams in mind. One day you’ll succeed and you’ll get what you have thought. Best of luck for your office and future plans.
LikeLike
Wow, that’s my dream. Good for you and good for the rest of us who now have evidence that such dreams can come true. Enjoy!!!!
LikeLike
Congratulations! It all sounds like such a fabulous dream… I can imagine the hard work and toil that has gone into it as well. Good for you! May you have many happy years in your “new” house!
LikeLike
Thanks.
http://calogeromiratraveland.wordpress.com
http://calogeromirafoodand.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Awesome story! I hope you enjoy it, I’m very happy for you. I’m still dreaming of my future home, I’m glad to know others have gotten what they want, my turn is coming up soon 🙂
Thanks for sharing and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Edwin
Awkward List
LikeLike
Ohhh, I am simply pea green with envy. It’s not a good colour on me so I’ll give myself a shake and say congratulations. You’ve worked hard and deserve your rewards.
All the best for your future adventures.
Thanks
Lynn
😀
LikeLike
Good luck with the next part of making your dream come true. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
LikeLike
Congratulations! You’ll make it even more beautiful!
LikeLike
Wow keeping your dream against all odd. Just brought happy tears to my life. Living your dreams is not easy but you did it . Loved it so much. May be i’ll succeed in my dream too. Thanks for showing me some dreams come true.
LikeLike
I am so jealous!! Well…maybe not of all the hard work… Congrats!
LikeLike
What a lovely dream to wake from, into the reality of it coming true. Can’t wait to see more pictures of what you’ll do with it. I think it’s a dream that most of us, food bloggers might have. Well I think its great, and I wish you the rest of your dream to come true too. Can you dream of me coming to visit you? Help me out here!
LikeLike
Congrats! Looking forward to before and after photos of renovations.
LikeLike
Hearty congratulations on making the entire house yours! Tis a wonderful story and I wish you all of the very best. My wife (an Austrian citizen) and I moved into our splendid old family house in a verdant Tirolean valley here in Austria almost two years ago. Like yourselves, we have been restoring it slowly during the past 10 years or so. We can therefore very much empathize with the challenges and labor of love associated with restoring an ancient house and turning it into ones home. I have also described our life here in Austria in a BLOG of my own. Should you be interested, you can find it at: http://ausserferner.wordpress.com. In the meantime, I look very much forward to your continuing reports on life in Italy. Again, all the very best!
LikeLike
That’s awesome! Congratulations!
LikeLike
Your story is so charming, like a fairy-tale. It’s good to know about your B&B. I live in Tuscany, so we’re pretty near: maybe I could visit your castle someday… 😉
LikeLike
A dream is worth the effort to make it a reality.
LikeLike
I fell in love with Assisi when I went there on a tour through Europe. Unfortunately, it was only a day trip. I could have spent the entire time there. So charming. Today, I am jealous of you!
LikeLike
How lovely! My dream is to own a house in France, so this is inspiring. Your views are spectacular….best wishes for thriving in all of it.
LikeLike
hello there… 🙂 i stumbled upon your blog a while ago and i like your post! i admire your perseverance to own this place! by the way, your new home is gorgeous in a unique way 😀
-winnie-
LikeLike
Glad this is working out for you, it must be quite an endeavor.
LikeLike
That is amazing.
How blessed you are to be able to live your passion!
It looks like a dream!
LikeLike
Awesome story. Nice house.
LikeLike
Sounds absolutely amazing, well done. I’d love to come and visit!
LikeLike
congratulation,…
you have lovely castle with lovely scenery.
old always mean classic.
ita a perfect life GOD give you.
LikeLike
Congratulations!
I think that understand you cause I want to matearilize my dream too… My dream is to buy a little house to me.
I´m happy for you.
Congratulazioni.
-Voz do Vento
LikeLike
nice one. kind of love it,
LikeLike
That’s wonderful. Someone has got her castle and is living a very real and hard worked dream. Congrats!
LikeLike
Congratulations!
LikeLike
Congratulations! Your joy is so beautiful. Well, I guess dreams do come true–if you don’t give up. You are one blessed woman to get an office of your own, too! Have fun decorating and making it all your own. 🙂
LikeLike
very inspiring story. i wish i could visit your castle.
LikeLike
Congratulations, It looks like a magical spot. If I am ever in Umbria I would love to come to your cooking school.
LikeLike
congratulations…may your wish for an office too come true soon.
LikeLike
Lucky you!!! It all looks fabulous. I’m going to sign up so I can follow your adventures.
LikeLike
Congrats for getting what you wanted…. a lovely dream house!!!
LikeLike
I am so happy for you and your story so interesting.
Thanks for sharing .
LikeLike
It is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait for more! The garden in beautiful…
LikeLike
Great photos; I have a wallpaper website; visit me in Http:/Golofto.com
LikeLike
Congratulations! We always appreciate things more if we’ve had to work hard or wait a long time for them 🙂
LikeLike
wow!! congratulations!!
its a dream come true….
i wish my dreams will come true like yours…
love it and love your castle 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations !
LikeLike
Your cooking school and lodging sounds awesome, please keep me updated. I am subscribing to your blog today.
LikeLike
What a WONDERFUL story of love and perseverance! May you have the best of luck living your dreams! Amazing concept of B&B and cooking!
LikeLike
I don’t know you, but am so happy for you; that your dream has manifested!! It gives us all hope for our dreams!!!
Blessings of all good things for you, your family and all of the guests that will find the magic there!
Mary Muncil
Cambridge, NY USA
LikeLike
Congratz on this milestone!
LikeLike
An impulsive decision to buy a house on the hill side, sticking to the plan, mending ways to keep it on track, you deserve a sound applause. Bravo!!!
LikeLike
Dreams can come true! Thank you for the inspiration! : )
Kenny
LikeLike
I am so happy for you! I remember talking about that with you when we were there. You were so frustrated with how they were keeping their side. This is just wonderful news!!
LikeLike
Congratulations, Princess 🙂
Dreams really come true. Wish you happy times there, always! 🙂
Stella
LikeLike
Congratulations to you both!! must be wonderful when your dreams finally come true.
Enjoy it,
Natasja Piemonte
LikeLike
Congratulations! So very happy for both of you. A vision, hard work, diligence and good wine – pays off!
LikeLike
Congrats to the new Princess of Alla Madonna del Piatto! Unlike other royals, you have earned this one with your own blood, sweat and tears. I can imagine it is very, very satisfying!
LikeLike
i love your life and dream. you can own your castle and life in peace with your soulmate. 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Princess Madonna – what a lovely fairy tale come true. Just remember painters love cooking and that view would make landscape artists drool. It’s not a matter of “if” it’s “when” I finally get to Italy, I’ll remember your castle. See you then. Ciao Bella.
LikeLike
Congratulations!
LikeLike
Yaay!! Congratulations!! In view of what you have done with the first half, I’m sure that the whole house will be just as beautiful. Hope to see it in person!
Ciao from John and Corry Weiss
We’re making Gnpcchi and crostata today!
LikeLike
In view of our pending visit, I thought I’d look at your site and see what was new – and discovered this great news!! Congratulations to you and Ruurd on this achievement. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, though… but you did it 🙂 Looking forward to seeing it first-hand very soon. Pam and Jürg
LikeLike
Pam I am sure I had sent you the link to this article, but it must have gone lost in cyberspace! I am SO looking forward to seeing the two of you again!
LikeLike