Why Pederobba?

Photo Credits: Massimo Branca

At the ripe age of 34 I have chosen to settle (at least until my feet start to itch again) in the region of Veneto, Northern Italy, in a small village called Pederobba.

“Why Pederobba”? is a question I am commonly asked, every time I meet a new acquaintance but it is difficult to answer in a concise and precise manner as there are many factors to consider.

Firstly you need to know my husband and I have spent the last two years exploring the many different countries this vast planet has to offer, leaving behind our home for the last ten years in London, with nothing other than backpacks and a desire never to return.

Secondly, we are between mid thirties and early forties with no-one but ourselves to consider. The concept of a young couple wanting to live in a provincial town with a population of no more than 7285 (at last count!) and one bar is inconceivable to most.

As far back as I can remember I have been a “traveler”. Born to a father in the military moving from place to place was a very normal part of my existence. Attending nine different schools, ranging from kindergarten in Germany, boarding school in Scotland to secondary school in the Far East, I was from a very early age adept at meeting new people and accepting and adapting to different cultures. Most of my life I have spent experiencing the vast contrasts between vibrant cosmopolitan cities to quiet, rural backwaters. Travel runs in my veins.

My standard response to this frequently asked question is simply that it is “bello”. Surrounded by lush green mountains with views across valleys that stretch for miles into the horizon, peppered with small towns and communes distinguishable to the eye by their commonly themed red roof tiles and church towers, the landscape in this part of Northern Italy is particularly impressive. But there is much more to it than just the stunning beauty of the surrounding countryside and in order to explain this I need to go back in time to Hong Kong, where I spent my early years growing up, and where my story begins….