Originally from southern Italy, Amalia spent most of her adult life living in the UK, the US and Mexico. After a failed business venture, she moved to the Genoa region of Italy, because it was one of the cheapest places in Europe to buy property. “I had no pension and wanted a bit of security, so I bought a flat in 2019,” she says. Amalia didn’t plan to find love, but was keen to work on her art in the Italian countryside.
During the Covid pandemic she became “like a hermit”, and enjoyed spending time at home, cooking healthy meals. “Just before lockdown, I’d started buying fruit and vegetables from a local farmer. I’ve always liked organic food,” she says. In the spring of 2022, she was told the farm had expanded their delivery area, so she could get a home service. Simone, who was working for the farmer at the time, was sent to deliver her vegetables. “I was born locally and have always lived in the region,” he says. “I liked Amalia immediately and thought she expressed herself really well.” She describes him as “handsome and reserved”. “I’m always in your face, so he was very different,” she laughs.
Each time he visited to deliver her vegetable box, they chatted a little bit more. “We talked about everything from politics and music to our way of life,” says Simone. “I found her very self-aware.” For Amalia, the relationship was a “slow build”. “He wouldn’t be someone who would tell me everything as soon as we met,” she says. “But I am very curious, so I kept asking questions.”
A few weeks after they met, Amalia invited Simone round for dinner. “We chatted for six hours,” she says. “I thought we liked each other, but he wasn’t making any moves at all.” Simone admits he was nervous. “I was trying to find a way to approach her romantically. She’s very beautiful and she has so much personality.” After a second dinner, he asked if she wanted to visit the farming fields to see where the vegetables grew. “He picked me up and drove me there, and after we came back he kissed me for the first time,” she says.
Callout
From that moment they began dating, and Simone moved into Amalia’s flat shortly afterwards. Last year, they bought a home together in Caselline, Valbrevenna, a mountainous region near Genoa. “We’re renovating our home now,” says Simone. “We enjoy gardening and growing vegetables so we’re really looking forward to getting the garden done. We also watch lots of movies and go for long walks.”
Amalia says they enjoy a simple life. “I’ve always lived in cities because I was interested in arts and culture, but as I get older I don’t like being around people. I have been getting more into nature and sustainability. We plan to get little plots of land, as well as some chickens so we can have our own eggs.” While they have quite different personalities, this has only helped their relationship grow stronger. “We are teaching each other. I need to be calmer and less impulsive while he needs to open up a bit more and say what he thinks,” she says. “We complement each other.”
Simone now works as a property valuer, while Amalia has plans to turn part of their house into a bed and breakfast and another part into a workshop for artist retreats.
Amalia feels “very happy” to have met Simone. “I couldn’t have changed my life without him. He’s so good at DIY and we have supported each other to build this new life together. I love that he’s very reflective, and thinks deeply about things. He has the most wonderful hands and the most expressive touch,” she says. “I used to get bored and quit relationships because I was restless and didn’t want to settle down. With Simone, it’s never boring.”
He appreciates her creativity and energy. “I love that we have a deep feeling and connection for each other, physically and psychologically. We are so excited to go forward and grow older together.”
