Guest Post:A wonderful setting for a book

Today, we are delighted to feature a blog from our valued member, Maria Chiara Marsciani who explains why the area of Rimini provides the beautiful setting for her book, Urbino, Unexpectedly.


Today, while sitting at the dinner table, I asked my family if they could suggest  a subject for Charlie’s blog.
My husband whispered “You should talk about something you know very well.” Then, in the absence of a more accurate recommendation, he hid behind a big forkful of pasta, but my daughter’s eyes immediately lit up and she finished his sentence “Then, you should write about killing houseplants, you are a master at it!”.
Well, it’s sad to admit, but unfortunately true. I love plants dearly and I deeply enjoy taking care of them, but what I consider my best care, regularly kills them and unfailingly leaves a lonely dry stick in the middle of what used to be a luxuriant pot. For a moment I seriously considered my daughter’s joke as a possibility, but luckily for you, I decided instead to talk about the places where I come from hoping it is a better choice.

Since I published my novel Urbino, Unexpectedly, one of the questions I am asked the most is why I chose to set the story in a part of Italy that is barely known to the public. The answer is overly simple and it is because they are the places where I grew up, and I love them.

In the novel, I never name Clara’s city, but while I was writing I definitely had my hometown in mind. I was born and raised in Rimini, a beach town of Roman origins on the Adriatic Sea, nowadays sadly known more for its many discos, its endless nightlife, and very well organized beach than for the many historic treasures that it hides. So, often tourists come, use it, abuse it, criticize it and leave it, totally unaware of the real beauty that Rimini shelters. To name just a few, the cathedral Tempio Malatestiano, born to be a burial chapel and consecrated only later; the Bridge of Tiberius, a five semi circular bridge dated 20AD, but still used today by cars and pedestrians or the Arch of Augustus, the oldest roman arch in all Italy. Rimini is also the town where the director Federico Fellini was born and the place where his movie “Amarcord” takes place. Actually, Amarcord, in our dialect means ‘I remember’ and the whole movie is about his memories as a child. He really captured the essence of the ‘simple’ life in the Romagna Region that little has changed since the ‘30s.

But to me, Rimini and its surrounding area mean childhood, family, traditions, and a past I want to pass on to my daughter. I find Rimini, its relaxed lifestyle and its many contradictions, both moving and heartbreaking; a place where past and present coexist with difficulty and where amazing ancient buildings fight with modern eyesores and struggle to find their dignity.
I now live in the US, but when my daughter was born, my mission as a mother was to prevent distance being the excuse for keeping her away from her roots. So, helped by the need to escape San Francisco’s foggy summers, I started going back to Rimini with her and, with her, I started appreciating more and more of what my town has to offer.

But, in my book,  why do Clara and Leonardo meet and fall in love in Urbino and why does Leonardo choose to take Clara to San Leo for their first date? Well, because they are very close to Rimini, I have lots and lots of memories tied to them, and I really think they are among the most beautiful fortified hill towns we have in Italy. When I was a child, as soon as spring arrived, my parents used to organize relaxing day trips to Urbino. They didn’t like traveling, their favorite activity was to enjoy the home, but Urbino was undoubtedly one of their preferred destinations. Yes, exactly like Clara in the book! It was the right drive for a sunny Sunday in the backcountry. It offered history, shopping, incredible panoramas and good food. I remember having goose bumps every single time I passed in front of Raphael’s house, and I anxiously waited to sit in the back of the car on our way home to pick at the bags full of local sweets.

While Urbino belongs to my childhood weekends, San Leo is definitely part of my free weekdays. Imperiously located in the middle of the Marecchia Valley, it was on the way to my father’s workplace so, when school was over or closed mom and I would take the opportunity to drive up there and join dad for lunch. Every time it was a joy, and we used to celebrate our unusual reunion in a local trattoria that specialized in truffles. After our lavish meal, he went back to his job, but mom and I, on our way back home, stopped in San Leo for a walk and to relish the breathtaking view its top offers, giving you the impression that you hold the whole valley in your hands, from mountains to ocean.

Rimini, Urbino and San Leo, in one way or another, belong to me and are part of who I am. I spent my childhood snubbing them and taking them for granted. I found out during my adolescence that I had to run away from them in order to find myself, and now that I am older, I can finally relax, sit back and simply enjoy them hoping to hand down my love for them to my daughter and to my readers.

Urbino Unexpectedly is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

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