Extra Virgin

Annie Hawes moves from London to the Italian Riviera in the 1980s for what was meant to be a temporary gardening job. She and her sister purchase a rustic cottage in a small olive-growing village in Liguria for a remarkably low price. The memoir chronicles Hawes' integration into rural Italian life as she navigates cultural differences, learns to restore her ancient cottage, and comes to understand the intricacies of olive farming. Her observations capture the rhythms of village life, from traditional food preparation to local superstitions about proper timing for agricultural tasks. Through immersion in the community, Hawes documents her transformation from an outsider to a participant in centuries-old traditions. She details the contrasts between her previous urban existence and her new life among Italian farmers and craftspeople. The book examines themes of belonging, cultural adaptation, and the enduring pull of traditional ways of life in an increasingly modernized world. Hawes presents a clear-eyed view of both the romance and reality of expatriate life in rural Italy.

Readers describe Extra Virgin as a warm, humorous account of adapting to life in rural Liguria. The book maintains a 4.0/5 rating on Goodreads (1,000+ ratings) and 4.2/5 on Amazon (150+ ratings). Readers liked: - Detailed observations of Italian village customs and characters - Food and cooking descriptions - Cultural misunderstandings and language barriers - Information about olive farming - "Makes you feel like you're there" according to multiple reviews Readers disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Too much focus on home renovation details - Some found the author's tone condescending toward locals - "Expected more about food, less about construction work" noted several reviewers Many reviews compare it to Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence, with readers split on which they prefer. The Guardian called it "the next best thing to moving to Italy yourself." Multiple readers mentioned re-reading it before trips to Italy.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes A writer moves to rural Italy and undertakes the restoration of an old villa while discovering local food, customs, and characters.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle A British couple navigates life in the French countryside through interactions with neighbors, local markets, and the rhythms of rural Provençal life.

On the Other Side of the Valley by Julia Blackburn The chronicle of an English writer's integration into a remote Italian mountain village reveals customs, characters, and daily routines of traditional Ligurian life.

Head Over Heel by Chris Harrison An Australian's move to southern Italy leads to encounters with bureaucracy, ancient traditions, and cultural differences in a small Puglian town.

The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Máté A couple's relocation to rural Tuscany unveils the process of buying and restoring a farmhouse while learning the ways of local farmers, craftsmen, and villagers.

🌿 Annie Hawes purchased her rustic farmhouse in Liguria, Italy for only £2,000 in 1983, when she was just 20 years old. 🍷 The book's title "Extra Virgin" refers not only to olive oil but serves as a metaphor for the author's status as a newcomer to Italian rural life. 🏠 The farmhouse Hawes purchased had no electricity, running water, or proper road access when she first moved in. 🌳 Liguria, where the book is set, produces some of Italy's most prestigious olive oil, with trees growing on steep terraces that must be harvested by hand. 👥 The book began as a series of letters Hawes wrote to friends and family describing her experiences, before being developed into a full memoir that became an international bestseller.