Walking between the narrow lanes of the inner town centre of Fermo, I thought about a fantastic friend, a fantastic woman and a fantastic blogger. She loves Italy and she writes beautifully about my own country.
Ishita, do you remember that day???
I’d like to refresh our experience together insiede the Piscine Romane!
Tucked away in a village in Le Marche is the workshop of Emanuele Francioni, a talented young artisan who is the sixth-generation to carry on an age-old family tradition. This special method of printing with handmade stencils and paint comes alive at Antica Stamperia di Carpegna.
Welcoming us with a smile, Emanuele is happy to demonstrate and explain the distinctive technique he learned from his grandfather. I’m about to enjoy an authentic artisan experience in Le Marche.
Carpegna, a small village in western le Marche, is not far from the bordering regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Emanuele’s expanded workshop is surrounded by fields of poppies and cherry trees, and a small garden where he cultivates his own hemp which he uses to weave the fabric he needs. The atmosphere is almost cerebral, very peaceful.
Emanuele is known as a stampatore, or printer. As he begins to explain the process in Italian, it’s apparent that he has a genuine passion for what he does. I love learning from these authentic artisans in Italy.
In the early 1800s his family began the business in Tuscany, and at the beginning of the 20th century they made the move to Le Marche.
Emanuele uses wooden stencils that he has created by hand from walnut.
He explains that he learned from his grandfather how to make these by chipping away with a tool.
These wooden stencils have a series of tiny nails pounded into them to create various patterns. Other stencils have designs hewn into the wood, by hand, of course.
When he is ready to stamp the pattern he dips the wooden stencil into a paint he has created by hand from natural materials.
He describes the color “rust,” as made from cornflower, vinegar, and rust from old nails.
He then demonstrates how to hold the heavy wooden stencil and meticulously places it on the fabric. Afterward he pounds it a few times with a hammer and lifts up the stencil to expose the pattern on the fabric.
Some of his creations are simple, like a bag, or an apron, and others are larger and much more complicated such as a tablecloth. He even creates the patterned fabric for shoes which are sold throughout Italy.
He used to use wool which would be cooked and pressed so as to appear like felt, which he used to make hats. They are both strong and waterproof. Today he works with hemp which he has been dyed and has three colors at his disposal, although he is always trying new techniques.
I am in awe of this entire process and it’s artisans like Emanuele Francioni that make me yearn to visit Italy and learn more about such a lost art as stamping. I appreciate the opportunity to try it for myself as Emanuele is kind enough to give each of us a chance to see how it is to create a stamped item. Grazie, Emanuele.
Emanuele also has a shop in Siena, below the Baptistery. It is inside the shop, Antichita Mazzoni, Piazza San Giovanni, 8 Phone: +39 0577 282091. Stop in and see his hand-crafted items the next time you’re in Tuscany. I love my apron and bag with his hand-made printed designs.
This visit to Antica Stamperia di Carpegna was an excursion provided by Palazzo Donati, my host during for three days in Le Marche. This is an example of an authentic artisan experience they can arrange when you stay at their villa in Mercatello sul Metauro in Le Marche. As always, the opinions and words expressed are my own.
Read more about my experience at Palazzo Donati.
We are proud to report this article published by the Sunday Times about our wonderful region.
“Let’s get the name straight: it’s pronounced “lay-mar-kay”, but the British call it the Marches. This eastern region has always existed on the sidelines, at one time the borderlands of the great Papal States and neglected today in favour of Tuscany and Umbria, its showier neighbours. Which is all the better for visitors”.
Check the entire article out:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/le-marche-italy-secret-region-guide-f5lkrjbhg
We are ready to bloom!!!
It happens very often that when you think about travelling you actually refer to far away destinations and, particularly, places that are unusual. So, you end up missing places that are closer by, but still worth a visit that you may keep skipping just because of the fact they are easier to reach, hence you think you can always see them in the future. However, the reality is that most of time that ‘future’ never comes. Do you believe me if I tell you that I’ve never been to Sicily? Or to Matera? Myself, who now lives in the Big Apple! I know it might sound unbelievable! But that is actually true…unfortunately.
So, even in my homeland, Le Marche, there are places of beauty beyond words, which I didn’t know know about. Little-known wonders that tourists appreciate and really look forward to visiting.
It happened to me recently, when I returned to Montegiorgio, a small town I had already talked about a while ago because of its invaluable importance for international studies on the Mediterranean diet. A town where quality of life is very good.
What I didn’t do before, was telling you about the hills and the countryside surrounding Montegiorgio, simply because…I never visited it, even when I was living just half-an-hour- drive away.
During my last stay in Italy, I was invited to spend a day at the Officina del Sole (http://www.officinadelsole.it), a facility located on the hill of Monte Milone.
Surrounded by a set of colors that vary depending on the season and whose beauty reminds me of Impressionist paintings, the manor house is set among rows of vines, fruit trees and olive groves, which gives you the feeling of an unexpected concept of art. 
42-hectares (103 acres) of pure beauty in an oasis that will completely blow you away. I felt like suddenly it was just me and that breath-taking panorama: brushstrokes of warm colors melted to create hypnotic and relaxing combinations.
Monet, would have been surely fascinated by the beauty that this place offers.
Walking through the paths that connect the 25 suites you start feeling like you become part of the landscape. It’s something like the overflowing feeling that you have when staring of front of an art masterpiece. As if a connection was created with what one you are cherishing.
Here the ingredients are grown directly from their garden and only seasonal products of the land are used in the kitchen. These are ingredients of the farming tradition skilfully combined and adapted to modernity to recall the tastes of old times.
The splendor of the panorama influences the presentation of the dishes whose view reminds of true works of art! It was impossible for me to resist even to deserts, that I literally was craving for just by looking at them and before delighting my taste.
I want to thank Beatrice Bellegia not only for the invitation to Officina del Sole but, most of all, for the dedication to her work no matter what the challenges are and for her ability to always “Dream Big”. An example to follow!
For more information please visit the official Officina del Sole website at: http://www.officinadelsole.it/
Accade che quando si parla di viaggi si pensa che debbano necessariamente essere orientati verso posti distanti e soprattutto verso luoghi lontani dalla routine. E capita di perdere l’occasione di assaporare le meraviglie che ci circondano da vicino pensando che, proprio perché sono a portata di mano, possono essere visitate in momenti futuri. Ma quel futuro spesso non arriva mai. Ci credete se vi dico che non sono mai stata in Sicilia? O a Matera? Io che ora vivo nella grande mela!
Ma anche nella mia terra di origine, Le Marche, ci sono luoghi di una bellezza indescrivibile di cui non conoscevo minimamente l’esistenza. Meraviglie poco note che i turisti invece vogliono conoscere.
Sono tornata a Montegiorgio, piccolo paese di cui vi avevo già parlato per la sua inestimabile importanza per gli studi internazionali sulla dieta mediterranea, un paese dove dunque la qualità della vita è elevatissima. Quello che non ho fatto in precedenza è stato parlarvi delle colline e delle campagne che circondano questa cittadina perché non le avevo mai visitate neppure io che vivevo a circa mezz’ora di strada.
Durante il mio ultimo soggiorno in Italia, sono stata invitata a trascorrere una giornata presso l’Officina del Sole (http://www.officinadelsole.it/it/) , struttura posizionata sulla collina del Monte Milone. Circondata da un insieme di tinte che variano a seconda della stagione e il cui splendore rimanda ai dipinti impressionisti, la casa padronale è incastonata tra filari di vite, alberi da frutto e uliveti e crea un concetto di arte inaspettato. La vista di questa oasi di 42 ettari irrompe con tale forza che ammalia. E’ stato come se all’improvviso esistesse soltanto quel panorama: pennellate di colori caldi che si incontrano e creano combinazioni ipnotiche e rilassanti.
Monet, sarebbe stato sicuramente affascinato dalla bellezza che offre questo posto.
Passeggiando fra i vialetti che collegano le 25 suites si percepisce la sensazione di far parte della magnificenza del paesaggio. Avete presente la sensazione traboccante che si avverte quando ci si trova di fronte ad una grande opera d’arte? E’ come se si creasse una connessione con ciò che si sta ammirando.
In cucina sono utilizzati rigorosamente prodotti di stagione coltivati direttamente nell’orto e rielaborati interpretando sapientemente i sapori della cucina di una volta in maniera raffinata ed legante.
Lo splendore del panorama influenza la presentazione dei piatti la cui vista rimanda a vere opere d’arte!
Confesso che non ho saputo resistere nemmeno ai dolci che ancor prima di aver deliziato il mio palato, avevano conquistato i miei occhi.
Ringrazio Beatrice Bellegia non solo per l’invito a Officina del Sole ma, e soprattutto, per la dedizione con la quale affronta le sfide del suo lavoro e per la sua capacità di “Sognare cose Grandi”. Un esempio da seguire!!
Per maggiori informazioni: http://www.officinadelsole.it/it/
…and here is part 2 of the beautiful trip in Le Marche by our dear friend Vy. Enjoy!:-)
Dear Friends,
I wanted to share with you all this beautiful post shared from my lovely friend Vi on itinari.com
So many beautiful pictures and amazing description of Marche’s beauties! Thanxxxx!
con l’ultima cena del Presepista Materano Emilio Lattarulo.Andrea Pistolesi e i suoi collaboratori: Cesare Ciccale’, Gilberto Pistolesi e Stefano Renzi, sveleranno i segreti del Presepe.
Il Maestro Presepista Andrea Pistolesi
Dear Friends,
please mark your calendar on December 15th and then…start the countdown!
Also this year the eighth exhibition of Artistic Nativity Scenes by the personal collection of Andrea Pistolesion will open in Monte San Giusto (MC) on 12/15 at 10:30 pm. To make the atmosphere even more magical, the exhibition will be christened by the usual inaugural concert with the choirs “pueri cantores, Santa Cecilia and the choir of the students the choir Happy Voices”.This Christmas the Nativity Scenes will be set up in the grotto near the Bonafede museum, currently closed for the restoration of some canvas from 18th century. There will be five new cribs for this eighth edition!A new mechanical Nativity Scene displaying the houses and traditional jobs of local people from Le Marche, as well as a Nativity arranged in a house of the early 1900s with some sculptures by the Master Salvatore Caputo.
Lastly a gem ☺️ …a beautiful Nativity Scene by the Crib-maker Emilio Lattarulo. The secrets of the nativity scene will be unveiled during a conversation with Andrea Pistolesi and some of his closest partners, like: Cesare Ciccale’, Gilberto Pistolesi and Stefano Renzi.
The Maestro and Nativity Scenes-maker-expert: Andrea Pistolesi
A journey through history and manual skills, to get to know an art that is the symbol of the Holy Christmas in our homes.
Opening:: from December 16th to January 21st
Holiday hours: 10am-1pm and 4pm/8pm
Other days by reservation
And from 23 December until 1 January: open every day!
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!!!
And if you’re interested in knowing more about this Italian tradition, don’t miss this older post from Discovermarche:
…and yes! We brought Ishita to Fabriano for an amazing cooking class with Silvia from Fabrica del Gusto! Such a delicious experience:-)
https://ishitasood.com/2017/11/18/cooking-at-fabrica-del-gusto-in-fabriano/
Discovermarche 