Originally from southern Italy, Amalia spent most of her adult life living in the UK, the US and Mexico. After a failed business venture, she moved to the Genoa region of Italy, because it was one of the cheapest places in Europe to buy property. “I had no pension and wanted a bit of security, so I bought a flat in 2019,” she says. Amalia didn’t plan to find love, but was keen to work on her art in the Italian countryside.
During the Covid pandemic she became “like a hermit”, and enjoyed spending time at home, cooking healthy meals. “Just before lockdown, I’d started buying fruit and vegetables from a local farmer. I’ve always liked organic food,” she says. In the spring of 2022, she was told the farm had expanded their delivery area, so she could get a home service. Simone, who was working for the farmer at the time, was sent to deliver her vegetables. “I was born locally and have always lived in the region,” he says. “I liked Amalia immediately and thought she expressed herself really well.” She describes him as “handsome and reserved”. “I’m always in your face, so he was very different,” she laughs.
