In 2014, David Laskin, a frequent contributor to the New York
Times's travel section, stayed in the estate's B&B, Palozzolo, and
struck up a conversation with an American who was also staying
there. "He had never heard of Iris Origo or her books, but sounded
mildly interested when I described them," wrote Laskin. "I felt a tad
offended on behalf of my deceased but still vivid hostess. Of course,
it's possible to have a wonderful holiday at La Foce without knowing
a lick of its history. But somehow it seemed unmannerly to show up
at the Origos' door with no idea what the family has created and
endured here."
I couldn't agree more.
The modern story of La Foce starts when the Origos purchased
the estate in 1924. Iris was born in England; her maternal grandfa-
ther was an English earl, and her paternal grandfather an American
industrialist whose many successes included building railroads and
starting the sugar beet industry in the United States. She lived be-
tween the two countries until her father died when she was seven.
Her mother followed his wish that she not be raised anywhere she
belonged, for he felt it gave rise to nationalism, and moved Iris
to Florence. At the age of 21, she married an Italian nobleman,
the Marchese Antonio Origo, and they set out to build something
meaningful with their lives.
