In the past, we had already lost our hearts in Italy, Tuscany to be precise, Tuscany is large, so we started filtering, not on the coast, not in a big city, preferably secluded with lots of nature around us.
We searched daily on the Idealista website and created a list of 60 eligible properties, only 3 properties stood out, so it was time to visit those properties, preferably in the winter months so the ideal conditions wouldn't blind us. We decided to explore the respective village or region one day in advance to see and feel where we were going. So, one Sunday, we found ourselves in the center of Borgo a Mozzano, the first impressions were overwhelming, mountainous, rough, and surrounded by a medieval character with villages in the mountains, there was a little market going on, and the terraces were full, it was March 2022.
Together with a real estate agent, we visited the house. The property has a large garden, and is completely secluded, with no neighbors, only forest around, it is built on a mountainside, and the necessary renovation mainly involves giving the house some love again. It feels unreachable, but everything is still very accessible. The only downside is that the house is so hidden that from November 15th to February 15th, the sun does not reach the mountain, so we have to live in the shade during that period. Upon our departure, we were given one more tip: it is advisable to count all the interior walls in future properties. Italians sometimes tend to interpret the rules a bit more broadly, which can cause problems during the sale when an independent “geometra” has to inspect the property, leading to frustrations for both the seller and the buyer. We made an offer on the property in September 2022, and since November 21st, 2022, we have been living in Borgo a Mozzano.
In Borgo a Mozzano, you'll find the Ponte della Maddalena or Devil's Bridge, a bridge over the Serchio River. According to legend, the bridge was built by the devil himself, as mortals couldn't accomplish the task. The devil agreed to build the bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross it. However, the builder regretted his decision and confessed to the local priest. The priest decided to send a dog across first. Furious, the devil jumped into the water with the dog and was never seen again. The dog was a white Maremma sheepdog, and on late October evenings, this dog is occasionally spotted walking over the bridge, as if the devil is still searching for the builder's soul.
Our village is divided into hamlets, and we belong to the hamlet of Gioviano. It's characterized by its still-existing medieval structure, with narrow streets that wind in a circle up to the castle, now a bell tower. It's where we spoke our first words of Italian and solemnly promised to integrate as future Italians. In response, we were told, "We're not Italians, here we're all mountain people, and from now on, you belong to the mountain folk." Indeed, when we're in Italian cities and reveal our origin, we're immediately categorized as mountain people. The sense of unity in the Serchio Valley shouldn't be underestimated; life is beautiful but sometimes very tough. It's that ruggedness that attracts us immensely to participate in life here.
We've committed ourselves to asking every question in Italian, which has led to hilarious situations as Italians love to give elaborate answers with lots of imagery. We still practice the language for over an hour every day because language is communication, and we don't want to be seen as resident tourists jumping through hoops like dolphins.
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter: Forma Muta is born. When you run "forma muta" through different translators, you get answers like "changing form," and "silent form".... We harness all our communicative and visual talents to bring the Serchio Valley into your living room. As a company, you can also rely on us for logo design, adjusting your corporate identity, or specific consultancy tasks. We enjoy working in the shadow of our mountain.
