felt ready to make the big decision. The
earthquake had prompted a derogation to
the law which prevents construction in for-
est areas, and Nonno Pietro, Giancarlo and
Agostino received permission to build a
brand new house atLa Somma, big
enough to host the three families. As soon
as Nonno Pietro and his wife moved to the
new building, Giancarlo invested his sever-
ance in renovating the old family house in
Acqualacastagna, converting it to two
small flats which could be rented to riders
wishing to stay overnight. Thanks also to
the agrotourism boom that developed in
Central Italy during those years, demand
for accommodation and catering services
in La Sommagrew rapidly. A restaurant
hall and four new flats had to be built sev-
eral years later on the esplanade. This
required a long negotiation with regional
and municipal authorities, who eventually
approved the construction of a new stable
and the transformation of the old one into
an agroturism lodge.
Currently, La Somma is among the wealthi-
er rural enterprises of the area. Income is
generated primarily by providing services
to tourists and riders – that is, by a “non
conventional” activity targeting a very
specific niche market. However, the eco-
nomics of La Sommais still deeply root-
ed in the ancient livelihood practice of
Umbrian upland farmers. Forest and
mountain are important not only as an
attraction for tourists, but also as source
of fodder for the 80 horses owned or
hosted by the center. Moreover, the con-
ventional production of chestnuts, fire-
wood and posts continue to be an impor-
tant item in the Bevilacqua family budg-
et.
An important share of the food con-
sumed by the two families and offered to
guests is home made. Soil and slope
does not allow for agriculture at La
Somma, but land and fodder are enough
to keep a few heads of
cattle and some sheep.
Home kitchen and cater-
ing leftovers are given to
a few pigs, from which
ham, salami and sausages
are made. Moreover sur-
plus firewood and horse
manure are exchanged for
vegetables, wine, oil and
other agricultural goods
with relatives and neigh-
bors owning arable land
downstream (including Zi’Bruno).
Division of labor within the extended fami-
ly is an additional important commonality
between the household economy of La
Sommaand the ancient Umbrian peasants
livelihoods. Every member of the family
has specific responsibilities in the enter-
prise. Giancarlo, the elder brother, is
responsible for management, administra-
tion and relationships with public authori-
ties and customers. He also contracts and
supervises wage-laborers for harvesting
chestnuts and cutting firewood. Moreover,
thanks to the skill he learned in town,
History, cculture aand cconservation
Figure 3.In the chestnut wood (Courtesy Patrizio
Warren)
Division oof llabor
within tthe eextended
family iis aan iimpor-
tant ccommonality
between tthe hhousehold
economy oof LLa
Somma aand tthe ttra-
ditional
livelihoods oof
Umbrian ppeasants
livelihoods.
