Strangers seldom wander into the mountains in the heart of Sicily. The locals, having resisted repeated waves of invaders, maintain their own traditions in defiance of the outside world. So when Marlena de Blasi and her Venetian husband trek into Sicily’s core in search of background for a travel guide, they discover a world much removed from modern life. Persevering in what seems a fruitless search, they finally stumble upon the Villa Donnafugata, an old wreck of a castle presided over by a domineering woman named Tosca. The villa has become a refuge for widows from the region. The residents eat well and heartily, and the leftovers are distributed to the local town’s poor. De Blasi uncovers Tosca’s past, an extraordinary tale of passion and love stretching over decades of the twentieth century. Join us as we discuss That Summer In Sicily by Marlena de Blasi.