Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

Cappella di San Teobaldo in Asili.

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

Interior of the Cappella di San Teobaldo in Asili.

Bossolasco, Alta Langa

Via Umberto 1 in Bossolasco, Alta Langa, also known as the la perla della Alta Langa and the village of roses.

Contessa Entellina, Sicily

Barn and out buildings at the Abbazia Santa Maria del Bosco above Contest Entellina. This is where my character Francesco Bosco in “Angel of Alta Langa” worked as a boy.

Contessa Entellina, Sicily

Baptismal font at Chiesa SS Annunziata e San Nicolo where my character in “Angel of Alta Langa,” Francesco Bosco, was bapitized. And so were all four of my mother’s grandparents.

Contessa Entellina, Sicily

Steps through the old town that pre-dates the 1968 Belice Valley earthquake.

Contessa Entellina, Sicily

Contessa Entellina, Sicily

A narrow street in Contessa Entellina, Sicily. No doubt in Chapter 5 of “Angel of Alta Langa,” Francesco could hear his mamma crying as he left home for Piemonte.

Annunziata (Barolo), Langhe

Here I am astride Ambra, dott. Roberto Anfosso’s trusty steed (and one of the inspirations for Zeus), at Tiziana Settimo’s winery, Aurelio Settimo in Barolo.

Cherasco, Langhe

Cherasco, Langhe

Tree-lined street in Cherasco.

Cherasco, Langhe

Cherasco, Langhe

An arcade in Cherasco, ancestral home of my fictional Giordano family in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Turin, Piemonte

Ceiling of Caffè Platti on the corner of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso Re Umberto in Turin.

Turin, Piemonte

The bar at Caffè Platti on the corner of Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II and Corso Re Umberto in Turin.

Turin, Piemonte

Courtyard behind the apartment building next to Caffè Platti where I imagined the Giordano family of “Angel of Alta Langa” lived. This would have been the view Daniela once had from her sitting room.

Turin, Piemonte

Corso Re Umberto, home to the fictional Giordano family in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Cortemilia, Alta Langa

Narrow street of Cortemilia, headquarters of the partisan resistance in Alta Langa during the Nazi occupation.

Cortemilia, Alta Langa

Old Bormida River stone building in Cortemilia. Could this be where Chapter 55 of “Angel of Alta Langa” was set?

Near Perletto, Alta Langa

Perletto, Alta Langa

The tower of Perletto in Alta Langa.

Perletto, Alta Langa

Base of the tower in the village center ofPerletto, Alta Langa, where the buildings are made of stone from the Bormida River below.

Perletto, Alta Langa

Village center in Perletto, Alta Langa, where the buildings are made of stone from the Bormida River below.

Ca’ del Baio, Treiso (Barbaresco)

One of my favorite photos of nonno Ernesto and nonna Fiorina Grasso of Ca’ del Baio (Barbaresco)

Treiso, Langhe

Grasso family of Ca’ del Baio (Barbaresco), the inspiration for the Fiore family of Asili in “Angel of Alta Langa.” And yes, my character Anna has a great deal of Anna Deltetto (lower left) in her. (Clockwise: Papà Giulio, Paola, Federica, Valentina, Lidia Deltetto, mamma Luce, and Anna Deltetto).

Santa Maria La Morra (Barolo)

Luigia Borgna Oddero, nonna of Giacomo Oddero of Poderi e Cantine Oddero (Barolo) and “mother” of bottling Barolo in the late 19th century.

Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio

Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio, nonna of Giovanna Rizzolio and the inspiration for Cornelia Bottero in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio

Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio, nonna Bice to Giovanna Rizzolio, circa late 1930s, early 40s. She was the inspiration for Cornelia Bottero in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio

A young Beatrice Roggero Rizzolio, nonna of Giovanna Rizzolio and the inspiration for Cornelia Bottero in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Ca’ del Baio, Treiso (Barbaresco)

Nonna Fiorina Cortese Grasso of Ca’ del Baio. She was a fountain of information about the traditions of Langhe when I wrote Labor of Love.

Santa Maria La Morra (Barolo)

Maria Badellino Oddero, mother of Giacomo Oddero (Barolo)

Treiso (Barbaresco), Langhe

Autumn vineyard foliage below Villa Giulia atop Monte Aribaldo in Treiso (Barbaresco denomination).

Barbaresco, Langhe

Postcard of a panoramic view of Barbaresco, circa mid-1900s.

Barbaresco, Langhe

Postcard of scenes from Barbaresco circa mid-1900s.

Treiso (Barbaresco), Langhe

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

View of Villa Giulia from the bricco (top) of the Asili vineyard.

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

View of Barbaresco from the bricco (top) of the Asili vineyard.

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

In front of Cappella The road from the Barbaresco station on left up which Francesco walked before stopping at the cappella and colliding with his destiny in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Treiso (Barbaresco), Langhe

Autumn sunset from below Villa Giulia in Treiso.

Barbaresco, Langhe

Autumn view of the Ronchi vineyard next to Albino Rocca in Barbaresco. This was the view Sara and Doretta had in Chapter 30 (bottom of page 282) when they stood talking. This photo taken same time of year as the scene in the book.

Cherasco, Langhe

Pasticceria Barbero in Cherasco, home of the famous “Baci di Cherasco.”

Cherasco, Langhe

Interior of Pasticceria Barbero in Cherasco, Langhe.

Cherasco, Langhe

Delicious confections at Pasticceria Barbero in Cherasco. The chocolates she bought there were one of the few treats that would soothe the ire of petulant teen, Elena Giordano, a fictional character in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

Autumn evening light shining on the Cappella di San Teobaldo in Asili (Barbaresco) where the lives of my “Angel” fictional characters Sara Fiore and Francesco Bosco literally collided.

Treiso (Langhe), Barbaresco

View of the di Grésy home, Villa Giulia, atop Monte Aribaldo in Treiso as seen from Tre Stelle. This is the highest point in Barbaresco.

Cessole, Alta Langa

Rocche along the Bormida River near Cessole in Alta Langa (province of Asti).

Vesime, Alta Langa

Sign commemorating the Partisan Airport (operation Excelsior) near Vesime in Alta Langa.

Vesime, Alta Langa

Entrance to the village of Vesime along the Bormida River in Alta Langa.

Vesime, Alta Langa

The partisan airfield was built near Veseme in late 1944 and used two times before the Germans destroyed it. But partisans and British Special Operations Executive agents rebuilt it in March 1945.

Treiso, Langhe

Autumn light just before sunset on vineyards near Treiso in Langhe.

Diano d’Alba (Barolo), Langhe

Fiery red Dolcetto vineyards in November on the western slope below Diano d’Alba.

Grinzane Cavour, Langhe

A lovely ciabot beside the road from Diano d’Alba and Grinzane Cavour in Langhe.

Turin, Piemonte

One of the arcades along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Turin where Baldo Volpe stalked Doretta Giordano in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Turin, Piemonte

Corso Re Umberto side of Caffè Platti.

Turin, Piemonte

Channeling Doretta Giordano from the “Angel of Alta Langa” at Caffè Platti in Turin.

Turin, Piemonte

One of the arcades along Via Roma in Turin. Can you imagine Luca and Doretta strolling along with Baldo stalking them? I can! And I did!

Turin, Piemonte

Front of Porta Nuova train station in Turin. I close my eyes and imagine the soldiers leaving for the horrors of the Eastern Front.

Cortemilia, Alta Langa

Cortemilia, Alta Langa

Vintage photo of the iron “pontina” over the Bormida River in Cortemilia (Alta Langa). Circa early 1900s.

Perletto, Alta Langa

Hazelnut grove on the edge of Perletto in the Bormida River valley of Alta Langa.

Vesime, Alta Langa

Bormida River valley floor between Vesime and Cortemilia. The partisan airfield was located in this area.

Perletto, Alta Langa

Tower of Perletto in Bormida River valley in Alta Langa.

Treiso, Langhe

November view of Rocche dei Sette Fratelli in Treiso.

Tre Stelle (Barbaresco), Langhe

Asili and Barbaresco tower as seen from below Cascina delle Rose above the Rio Sordo valley on a foggy November day.

Bossolaschetto, Alta Langa

Frazione Bossolaschetto where the Giordano family sought shelter in Madama Lia’s cascina during the Nazi occupation in “Angel of Alta Langa.”

Bossolaschetto, Alta Langa

Late autumn view of Bossolasco as seen from Bossolaschetto.

Asili (Barbaresco), Langhe

The autumn view of the Barbaresco from Asili next to the cappella di San Teobaldo that Francesco may have seen when he arrived in 1932.

Barbaresco, Langhe

Barbaresco Stazione, now home to Fletcher Winery.

Camogli, Liguria

Looking west over the lido in Camogli, the village Francesco saw the morning his ship docked in Genova.

Barolo, Langhe

Dott. Roberto Anfosso on a snowy day in Barolo. Dott. Anfosso and his trusty steeds were the inspiration for Sara’s mode of transportation as she cared for the poor of Barbaresco.

Ca’ del Baio, Treiso (Barbaresco)

Lunch cooking on the putagé in mamma Luce’s cucina at Ca’ del Baio.

Ernesto and Fiorina Grasso of Ca’ del Baio on their wedding day.

Turin, Piemonte

Plaque outside the Turin Opera House signifying the date of the Armistice that led to the Nazi occupation of Piemonte until April 25, 29145.

Treiso (Barbaresco), Langhe

Villa Giulia, home of the di Grésy family, poking out of the autumn fog as seen from San Stefanetto in Treiso (Barbaresco).

Treiso (Barbaresco), Langhe

Il Re di pietra (Monviso) as seen from below Villa Giulia in Barbaresco zone.

Alba, Langhe

Beatrice Rizzolio, the inspiration for Madama Lia, walking along flour delivery trucks.

Treiso (Barbaresco)

Monviso as seen to the west from below Villa Giulia.

Barbaresco, Langhe

Vineyards of Barbaresco with Monviso in the distance

Turin Jewish Community Recognition

Turin Jewish Community Recognition of Demetrio and Rina Veglio for hiding Jewish refugees in Bossolasco (Alta Langa) during the Nazi occupation.