Regardless of what life is really like in Milan, the name of the city has a certain refined ring to it, don’t you think? Just the name makes it seem like we’re living in a chic place somehow.
But the reality is that some troubling issues have come up in Milan recently. In addition, heavy rains caused by climate change lead to river flooding, with water levels rising so high that roads become impassible, leaving residents scrambling to respond to the situation.
Still, I think Milan does have that uniquely Italian free-spiritedness, coupled with a pioneering attitude that it shares with the entire world.
Meanwhile, there is a tiny village located 70 kilometers south of Milan called Fortunago. It’s a charming name and a great location—a place you’d be proud to say you were from. The name comes from the word “fortune,” easily conjuring up happy images, and I’d guess that the village probably has a history of being favored by providence to match. For example, despite its population of less than 400 people, it has been selected as one of the most beautiful villages in all of Italy. It has retained its narrow streets and traditional stone buildings, is surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills, and is even perched atop one of them, with endless dips and peaks rolling out in every direction to create a wonderful scene.
In the Middle Ages, the area around Fortunago was torn by wars and frequent power struggles that spanned the whole of the Lombardy region, but the village, perhaps protected by its name or lack of strategic value, was largely ignored and remarkably well-preserved as a result. Today, it’s a lovely place to visit thanks to its delicious local wine and traditional cuisine, which you can enjoy in its beautiful, quiet, relaxing surroundings.
It also has a bit of a legend associated with it, as there are ongoing tales of strange happenings and ghosts at its old residences and churches. The locals just seem to take it in stride, however, respecting their ancestors and the history of their town.
But even this lucky-seeming town, protected by its name, did undergo a struggle at one point—and that was during World War II. With the whole of Italy torn apart by war, the farmers and laborers of Fortunago banded together to form a special army to help resist the Fascists and Nazis. They made the most of the hilly landscape that surrounds their town, hiding out and fighting using guerilla tactics.
When you head for Fortunago along the winding roads that thread through the hills and valleys, you pass through deep forests that cause you to become disoriented, evoking images of old-fashioned bandits and robbers as well as the resistance army who hid and resisted the Fascists.
And then there’s all the personal good fortune the village brings when you get to enjoy their excellent local wines and delicious local salami—so good it’s received national awards!
