by Elisa Renda

The tale of the tree house

Once upon a time there was an almond tree with a little house made of wood amongst its branches. Often young couples rented out this tree house. .

It may seem like a fairy tale, but this is a true story about a tree house located on an “Agriturismo farm” called Aperegina.

Marino, the owner, tells the story:

“The first time one might have thought it to be a coincidence. Three years ago a couple from Turin, rather than renting a comfortable self contained room chose the more rustic setting of the tree house, where they were in close contact with nature. The recently built tree house had just enough room for a bed (Japanese style) and a wardrobe. The perfect setting to make love especially as the wind gently rustles the branches around. Three months later the couple rang Marino to thank him for his hospitality and confided to him the difficulty they previously experiences conceiving
a child and how this had been resolved in his tree house. With a little boy soon to arrive it was a big surprise and a great joy for all.

Sometime later, I was retelling the story to an accountant from Naples when I noticed the amazement in his eyes. The accountant explained that he and his wife had been trying for a while to give their 9 year old daughter a brother or a sister. The tree house was put to the test again.
The couple rented the tree house for a few days. Nine months later I received a call from the  Mancini family confirming the birth of Beatrice.

The next child conceived in the tree house was to a couple from Verona who had experienced similar problems. The couple spent a week at Aperegina. By the end of the year they too contacted Marino
with their good news.

Since then there have been many couple fascinated by these tales who have insisted on renting the little house in the almond tree. Others however, who know of this story avoid it at all cost!. Could it be superstition? As yet I await the news from a couple from Switzerland!”.

And the almond tree continues to bear good fruit.....