Matt Cain, originally from Bolton, has embarked on a transformative journey that led him from his working-class upbringing in northern England to owning a historic estate in Tuscany. His story highlights both the challenges and inspirations tied to maintaining an ancient property, as well as the creative outlet it has provided.

Cain grew up in Bury and Bolton, in a household rooted in council estates and with limited exposure to travel. Describing himself as a shy and sensitive child, he faced bullying due to his sexuality and felt out of place in his community. Despite these challenges, he developed a passion for languages and travel, eventually earning a place at Cambridge University where he immersed himself in French and Spanish cultures. After university, he settled in London to work in the media but remained drawn to the idea of Italy, a country he had always admired from afar.

His connection to Italy became a reality in 2019 after he met Harry Glasstone. Glasstone, who has Jewish heritage and family ties across the globe, inherited a property in northwest Tuscany’s Versilia region from a relative. Cain recalls their first visit to Castello Montemagno, a medieval castle ruin perched on a hill surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, near the village of Montemagno. The estate overlooks the Freddana Valley and the Ligurian Sea and includes a three-storey farmhouse, a cottage, and various outbuildings spread over 30 acres.

The castle’s history traces back to its strategic location along the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage and trade route connecting Canterbury to Rome. Cain describes the estate as both enchanting and expensive to maintain, with annual upkeep costs reaching around €10,000. Repairs include modernising bathrooms, replacing windows, and addressing structural issues like leaks and rising damp. Plans for renovation and expansion remain constrained by financial limitations, with estimated costs exceeding €100,000.

Despite these hurdles, Cain and Glasstone frequently visit the property, enjoying its rustic charm and local surroundings. Their time is often spent dining outdoors with produce from their own olive grove, exploring nearby villages like Montemagno and Lucca, and engaging with the local community, including a retired farmer who lives next door. Cain’s nephews and nieces also visit, enjoying the estate’s natural environment.

Inspired by the estate’s history and their personal experiences, Cain returned to his passion for storytelling and wrote a novel titled *The Castle of Stories*. The book follows a fictional couple who inherit a similar property and navigate complex family dynamics while renovating their new home. Cain hopes the novel, steeped in the atmosphere of Castello Montemagno, will resonate with readers and convey the romance of the Tuscan countryside.

*The Castle of Stories* is published by Pansy and available through select outlets. Cain’s journey from a modest upbringing to becoming a property owner and author underscores a broader narrative of personal growth, love, and the enduring appeal of Italy’s cultural heritage.