A space for my thoughts from the hills

I was looking for a space to share some thoughts that sometimes storm in my head. They are thoughts about our life at Il Rigo — a place where we have built our home, our marriage, our business, our dreams and hopes for the future.

They are also thoughts about the past, my past. I grew up within these walls. I have witnessed so many changes over the years. When Ivo and Ilda, the old sharecroppers, lived in the flat that has now become our home. When the dining room was a grain storage and I was literally swimming in it. Then the growth of tourism, which shaped my life as a child, as my parents grew busier and busier. And everything that followed: the time I thought I wanted to leave Val d’Orcia, the invisible strings that pulled me back, the life-changing decision to take over the business with Matthias.

I carry layered memories in every corner of this place. Sometimes I feel that I myself am part of it. People and seasons pass in front of us — Il Rigo and I — and we remain. And yet I am not immune to these changes. They affect my life. They shape it.

In the past I struggled to find a space for these thoughts. Do they have a place to live? Maybe in this discreet section of our blog, someone sensitive will find a deeper understanding of what we do. Maybe it will help the curious traveler connect beyond the superficial, stunning beauty that surrounds us.

Because there is more than rolling hills here. There is hard work in trying to find balance, in times that constantly push us to become something we don’t quite feel we are.

So, to whoever is reading — thank you.
And maybe we’ll see you soon.

Luisa