Annalisa Maci

ALL TOGETHER NOW The Melena-Maci family, clockwise from upper left: Mauro Melena, Annalisa Maci, Claudia Melena, exchange student Rori Domenghini, and Federico Melena. (Photo: lawellphoto.com)

IMMERSED IN ITALY The Melena Family at Calascio, a small town in the heart of Abruzzo surrounded by the mountains of the Gran Sasso. Rocca Calascio is very famous for the fortress on top of the cliff used as an observation and communication point during 1500 to preserve the territory from brigand attacks. At its foot the church of Santa Maria della Pietà, an octagonal building, was erected in gratitude for a miraculous victory against a terrible band of brigands. The landscape has been the set of several movies, such as The Name of the Rose and Ladyhawke.