Bellaria di Rivergaro: The story of an Italian country inn and the family that made it their home Paperback - 2014

From the publisher

Bellaria di Rivergaro is the story about a family that lived in a beautiful valley in northwest Italy and the country inn they built in 1901 that was their home. Emilio and Evangelina meet in a small hamlet between the towns of Rivergaro and Bobbio along the Trebbia River. They fall in love, marry and raise a family of eight children in the place they name Bellaria di Rivergaro (Bellaria). Within a few years, their two oldest children, Luigi and Elisa, immigrate to America where they confront the challenges of assimilating into a different culture. Meanwhile, life at Bellaria continues through the turbulent events leading up to and through World War I, while sadly tragedy strikes Elisa and her family in the immigrant section of New York City. Later, during the fascist period of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the family finds it must deal with economic hardship, terror and danger. However, they are saved from harm by an unsolicited memento from a notorious personage in the fascist government. The family at Bellaria confronts even greater danger during World War II when family members face possible execution because occupying German forces suspect they are engaged in partisan activities. In America, Luigi achieves success in industrial construction, but feels a deep sense of guilt for never fulfilling his promise to return to Bellaria to see his family.The years pass with the economic fortunes of Bellaria rising and falling. Emilio and Evangelina pass on leaving Bellaria to their children. In 1980, after almost eighty years, Bellaria is sold to acquaintances of the family. However, in America, the grandson of Luigi makes contact with the family in Italy and with his wife determines to fulfill his grandfather's promise, but in an unexpected way.