Taste of Italy

(The Press At Home, 2008)

A Timaru woman's home celebrates her Italian heritage, as David Killick discovers.

Paola Starace gazes out from her dining room past potted scarlet geraniums to colonnades and beyond to the sparkling blue waters of the Bay of Naples.

It's an artwork, an illusion, but so realistic that this mural by Timaru artist Robin Stock really does conjure up the sunny atmosphere of Italy.

Although she returns to Europe regularly, Paola has been at home in the South Island for more than 30 years. She grew up, with three brothers, a Swiss mother and Italian father, in the turbulent years of World War 2, in Naples.

The family home, Villa Corradini, had been built in 1924 and enjoyed a splendid view over the bustling city, then as now one of the most colourful and vibrant in Italy.

Then came the dark days of war. In 1943, her father Carlo, a lawyer, was imprisoned by the Germans, together with thousands of Italian men, and sent to camps in Germany and Poland. In the late 1990s, Paola translated and published her father's wartime diary. Its poignant passages _ how even a spoonful of soup was a luxury, his anguish at being parted from his family and country _ evoke strong emotions; and also serve as a powerful reminder of just how lucky we are to be living in this present age.

After the war Italy struggled to rebuild its shattered economy. Paola, who had always wanted to do interior design or architecture, instead studied at a hotel school in Switzerland. She also spent time in London. So began a wonderful career in hotel management, that included working in some of Europe's best hotels. She has memories of meeting illustrious stars: names like Sir John Gilegud, Diana Cooper, Noel Coward, Walt Disney, Ella Fitzgerald...

In the early '70s, Paola met and married a Dutch farmer, and ended up living on a farm in the Mackenzie country. When the couple separated, Paola chose to remain in New Zealand and settled in Timaru.

That didn't stop her "commuting" to Europe and managing hotels for the opulent Orient Express train service from London to Venice. Other top hotels Paola has worked in over the years include one on a private island, Boca Grande, in the Gulf of Mexico, and Italy's most exclusive hotel, the Hotel Villa San Michele, in Fiesole, near Florence.

With her cosmopolitan background, Paola loves different cultures and speaks fluent German, French and English, as well as her native Italian. Last year she moved into her second house in Timaru, delighting in imbuing it with true Italian style.

A whale letterbox defines the driveway and gives a hint of Paola's exuberant artistic taste. The section is long and narrow, with a front and back garden. Paola apologises it is not at its peak. A profusion of roses are still in bloom, including one named Paola. A large walnut tree is a feature at the rear of the property.

The main house is an Edwardian villa. It has been substantially renovated and restored, but still retains its signature high ceilings, bay windows, and rimu timber. At the rear of the house is a newer guest wing. Separating the two parts of the house is the Naples mural, and also a timber deck. Here a magnificent feature is a flowering cherry tree growing in the centre of a circular bench seat. In spring, the tree is a mass of blossom. A sign along the driveway reads "Divieto di Caccia" (Forbidden to hunt.)

Paola has renovated bedrooms, adding ensuites, the main bathroom, and kitchen. All bedrooms have a Madonna. ?Artwork throughout the house includes paintings by Paola's great aunt, Mara Corradini. The artist was well known at the turn of the 20th century, and Paola has researched her life.

Specially built cabinets in the dining area emphasise the European idea of maximizing space and using special things every day, rather than hiding it away. Pieces include papier-mâché figures, Mates, by Auckland artist Maureen Sullivan. Tall and bronze-like, they recall the work of Giacometti. There's also a carving of a Czech monk called Nepomuk.

In the kitchen a poster displays "Frutti di Mare" - seafood. A central hallway leads to the two front rooms. Another modernist painting above a magnificent walnut chest is by Timaru artist Myra Vance. One display case contains a magnificent collection of seashells.

The front sitting room is a peaceful retreat. One whole wall is lined with books. As well as some Italian titles, such as Il Gattopardo, (The Leopard), by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa - Paola also has an extensive collection of New Zealand books. She loves poetry, and hosts regular poetry readings. Some of her favourites are by her brother. The sitting room also makes a splendid setting for a pre-dinner aperitif.

Dining around a big table is an important part of life throughout Italy, so it's with a sense of anticipation we savour the dished Paola has prepared: Neopolitan pasta; tuna and potato terrine moulded into the shape of a fish; fresh salad; a creamy dessert; washed down with a bottle of red wine from Tuscany and finished off with a strong short cup of coffee. We bid Paola arriverderci and say grazie for sharing her home and hospitality.

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