Even close to the house, children can observe insects and animals. The pond is home to a wealth of natural life: as well as frogs and toads. With some luck a praying mantis or a stag beetle can be found.

You can accompany me to pick berries and fruits. Fruit cordials taste even better when you’ve just collected the ingredients yourself. Many edible wild plants grow in the surrounding coutryside, particularly in the spring. On these excursions, you can often spot deer or other wild animals. Or you might happen on a porcupine needle.

Around Ca’Agostino, children are out of harm’s way. If you decide to go explore further afield, the region offers numerous possibilities: castles and museums are accessible to children and do not require understanding of Italian. For example, the "peasant household", the way hemp used to be worked and traditional farming techniques are all well documented.

In Parchiule as well as visiting the charcoal makers with their ancient techniques, you can bathe safely in the river.
The sandy beaches of the Adriatic are only an hour’s drive away.

Cat and chickens have now taken the place of the goats shown on the photos which, for eight years, provided fresh cheese for our breakfast.