in both houses . Clear streams with idyllic waterfalls and natural pools can be found in the deciduous woods which surround them .
During the Second World War , from 1943 to 1945 , the house where we stayed was the refuge for the Jewish Terracini family who escaped from Turin when the German army invaded Italy in autumn 1943 . Roberto Terracini was a sculptor . He had to change his identity from Terracini to Ferraguti to save himself and his family from capture by the Germans . Even during that tragic period , Roberto Terracini kept secretly painting members of the Resistance movement and moments of rural life . Many of his drawings are still displayed today on the walls of the house where he found refuge .
Within walking distance of the centre of Rorà rises the Rocca Rossa . We climbed it one August afternoon , and enjoyed the eagle ’ s eye view of the village of Rorà , with its towering Waldensian Temple and its little Catholic Church . On another occasion , we went a bit further and climbed the Monte Frioland ( 2738 m ), which is accessible from Rorà . During our stay in Val Pellice we also climbed another peak , the Monte Manzol ( 2933 m ), where we were excited to cross paths with a group of wild Alpine ibex . It was certainly a welcome change after living in flat Cambridge for the past 10 years !
( The Stone Oven House can be booked on Airbnb ) Enrico Gili
Casa Balneare Valdese in Pietra Ligure
We spent a blissful week with two small children ( 4 and 1 ) in a beautiful room facing the sea , relaxing as much as one can as parents . You can have full or half board , the food is delicious , and the children liked it , the staff are friendly , the beach is sandy and safe and the water is clear . We could pop up for naps , or put the children to sleep nice and early and walk downstairs
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