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Our Bottega

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More Than Just a Shop

Bottega – It typically refers to a small, often traditional establishment where goods are crafted, sold, or services are provided by skilled artisans or tradespeople. The term carries a connotation of quality, authenticity, and a personal touch, distinguishing it from larger, more generic stores. reference

When anyone of us is considering a move, we look at what essential amenities are provided. Is there a pharmacy? Groceries close by, and how far do I have to travel to have those? What about doctors and their services? There are tradeoffs when you move to a small village here in Italy, but in the end it all can work out just as you dreamed.

Here, in the beautiful village of Tufillo, with a current permanent population around 325, we have found that we can easily live here with the provided amenities, even though we add shopping trips to the city of San Salvo, less than 30 minutes away at the coast. With traveling vendors arriving on their weekly schedule and established businesses in Tufillo, we have the big basics: meat, cheeses, fish, veggies and fruits, household goods, pharmacy, bakery, doctor’s office. There is also has a home restaurant, theater, museum, community center, two churches and the bar.

Having these amenities is important, not only for daily living, but to look to the future for repopulation of small villages. Many villages across Italy lost their young workforce as jobs just weren’t available locally for next generation. Working the land or olive groves did not prove to hold the younger population. They moved on to the bigger cities or on to other countries, and many villages were abandoned or left to struggle with miniscule population. Now the work has begun these past few years to offer a way of life that encompasses a gentle way of living with opportunities and a community thrives.

Network of Villages

The network of Borghi IN is a project funded by Confcooperative Nazionale and promoted and coordinated in Abruzzo by Confcooperative Abruzzo. The network is made up of more than 30 Abruzzo villages that have chosen to face the problems of depopulation and abandonment with a new form of business: the community cooperative. Community cooperatives are created by the citizens of a specific territory who together create and develop projects articulated in various sectors to increase the economic and social well-being of the community, create job opportunities and protect the cultural heritage of the villages.

Community Cooperatives

The Community Cooperative is: a form of social enterprise that puts the person at the center; an innovative tool that creates synergies for the increase of a common good; a business model in which people are users and beneficiaries of goods and services; A company that starts from the bottom to create a local regeneration.

The community cooperative is an immediate response to the needs of a specific territory that is given by those who experience that territory firsthand. The community cooperative is the commitment of each one to a common goal.

Objectives

The network of Borghi IN was created to structure a work system that manages to put in synergy all the community cooperatives belonging to the network. The objective of the network is to structure a development model for the most fragile local economies, capable of self-generating and bringing territorial economic and social well-being by creating new jobs and strengthening the developmentof the territory. The community cooperatives work individually on local needs and synergistically with the other cooperatives for larger and more structured projects coordinated by Confcooperative Abruzzo.

Comunità Cooperativa Tufillese l’Alveare

The cooperative was founded in 2018 as a result of the animation and promotion action of Confcooperative Abruzzo aimed at the revitalization of inland areas through the creation of community cooperatives. The aims of the institution are to be able to reverse the demographic decline of the community by creating services and job opportunities while enhancing the “dormant” assets of the territory. The cooperative supports the management costs in the first 3 years thanks to a national call for proposals from Fondosviluppo. From 6 founding members, it increased its membership base over time to the current 44. The cooperative works in a network with the other Abruzzo community cooperatives (BORGHI in RETE – Rete di Impresa Cooperative d’Abruzzo ) to develop projects in synergy throughout the Abruzzo territory.

In the context of the InAbruzzo project, where a hub for information and tourism promotion of the area is opened in each community involved, the Comunità Cooperativa Tufillese l’Alveare decided to take over and relaunch the only local shop which, with its closure, risked leaving the community without an additional essential service. Therefore, the relaunch of the village shop moves on the research and gradual introduction of products both from the neighboring territory and from the Borghiin network that involves the entire Abruzzo territory, in addition to the territorial tourism promotion on which the cooperative is also involved in the construction projects of the Monti Frentani tourist destination promoted by the Gal Maiella Verde and in the Valle del Trigno consortium which also relates to the territory and Molise operators.

We are very excited about the relaunch of La Bottega! What a fresh new look! The shop just sparkled this Christmas season with lovely displays of local products and gift baskets (crafted by Francesca Capitanio). This shop is so important to our community and we are very thankful that our coop stepped up to continuing to offer this vital service, and with a new improved look and many new products.

Going forward, as John and I age, having a shop and all the other amenities in close walking distance is just one of the many plusses of living here in Abruzzo, in a small village, full of community-minded folks. We are truly blessed. I hope you have a chance, sometime in the near future, to visit Tufillo or to even move here.

Shifting Focus

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Tough to admit. John and I are slowing down. Not a crazy amount, but yes, our bodies are telling us we are actually closer to our age than we want to admit. We are still very active but the mountains have gotten a bit higher lately without changing their elevation.

Since I was about 11 years old, I have been hiking thanks to my dad who got me hooked. Our first hike together was on the trails of Bear Mountain in New York. I looked up to him and my love for the outdoors became a given. Years in Search and Rescue in Virginia solidified my desire to be in the woods as much as possible, no matter the terrain’s difficulty. About 9 years ago, I realized that search and rescue was not something I could do well any longer. Carrying my search pack and my dog’s water (search dogs do not carry their food or water at a search!) were just overtaking my stamina. It was a sad realization but our upcoming move to Italy tempered that decision.

Now age is telling us that camminos in the upper ranges of medium into the high categories are most likely going to be out of our reach. Our bodies are reacting to the strain and we have to step back to reorganize our future endeavors. Tougher than I really want to admit. No more can we hike the more difficult trails when they aren’t structured for easier passage, depending on the level of trail construction and maintenance. The desire is still there those high ‘notes’, but our physical selves are dictating our limits. We found this all out in this year’s trek, which you can read about below.

Just recently, we headed up to Le Marche to the city of Ascoli Piceno. We were excited to participate in a mid-range 7-day circuit cammino. Usually we plan a few days before or after our camminos to visit the ‘home’ city of that particular route. So prior to one, we spent a few nights in the lovely town of Ascoli Piceno. Amazing architecture, ancient beginnings, museums and of course great food. Folks were very friendly and helpful.

Ascoli Piceno (/ˈaskoli piˈʧɛno/[5] Listenⓘ) is an Italian town of 45,312 inhabitants[2], capital of the province of the same name in the Marche region.

The historic center, built almost entirely of travertine, is among the most monumental in Italy[6] and in it is located the Renaissance Piazza del Popolo. [7][8][9] In medieval times it was characterized by the presence of about two hundred towers, whose erection began immediately after the year 1000. According to tradition, Frederick II had ninety-one of them destroyed in 1242 and their reduction continued in the following centuries. Even today it preserves several examples of noble towers and bell towers and is known as the City of a Hundred Towers. [10] Wikipedia

We had booked for two nights a comfortable suite (Suite Atelier Arringo) situated on a quiet, lush garden, just off Piazza Arringo. The suite included the most sleep-inducing bed, a breakfast room, a large modern bathroom, and a great view of the garden. A breakfast was delivered (very quietly at an agreed time) to our door, chock full of savory and sweet choices. Our kind and responsive hostess, Fiona, was readily available to check us in and easy to reach by Whatsapp. We would definitely return to this lodging in the future.

After a great visit in Ascoli Piceno, we were ready to start the cammino IL GRANDE ANELLO DEI BORGHI ASCOLANI.

The Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani is a combination of nature, history, breathtaking landscapes and ancient flavors.
A 100 km long journey through the magnificent hilltop villages at the foot of the Ceresa and Monti Gemelli mountain ranges, included in the municipalities of Ascoli Piceno, Venarotta, Roccafluvione and Acquasanta Terme. In the timeless silence of medieval villages, among the ruins of ancient castles and solitary hermitages, the walk becomes an all-round experience to discover one of the most fascinating places in the Marche.

Then the disclaimer: Attention: we warn you that this is a medium/high difficulty hiking route – level E of the CAI scale, i.e. a route on a mixed surface (roads, mule tracks, paths and stony ground) that takes place on sections of steep slopes or on short stretches on rock that are not exposed, not particularly tiring or demanding (differences in height not exceeding 1000 m for each stage), but who still require adequate physical preparation, a minimum sense of direction and experience of hiking in mountain environments and above all footwear and equipment suitable for this type of excursion.

So this was my ‘bad’, not reading the above disclaimer a bit more thoroughly, overestimating what we could do at this point in our lives, and mixed with those steep sections with hidden and exposed rock…Firm Stop! John had twisted and reinjured his ankle that he had sprained in February. I was abnormally winded, to find out later that my thyroid meds were off balance. So we only did one day of this cammino, had a midnight bed discussion and for our health and safety, returned home the next day. But we did capture a couple great views along the way on that one day.

Heading home – should have been our second day on the trail, but level heads prevailed. A bit sad about not completing this cammino. That was a first for us. But with this realization, comes acceptance.

That doesn’t mean that we will stop camminos completely! There are so many camminos offered here in Italy for all levels of capability. We will just adjust our choices by our recalibrated focus; less elevation gains each day with the added bonus of taking our time, really getting to know the area we are passing through and definitely stop to see what the local culture, history and cuisine are for that particular cammino. More to see and more to experience. We will be ready!