• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards & Honors, Pomp & Circumstance
  • Blog
    • Modern, 18th, 19th Century
    • Baroque, Rococo
    • Renaissance
    • Ancient, Roman, Medieval
    • Culture, Festivals, Music, Literature
    • Art News, Current Events
  • FaceBook
  • Pinterest
  • Italian with Melissa
    • Studentessa Matta Italian Site
    • Learn Italian at home with Melissa
    • Study in Italy with Melissa
  • Melissa’s Books
    • Melissa’s Author Website
  • Store
  • Sign Up & Connect
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Sharing a magical letter from Sophia Loren

April 15, 2018 by Melissa Muldoon 1 Comment

sharing-magical-moments-sophia-loren-writes-letter-studentessa-matta

A year or so ago as I was writing my first novel Dreaming Sophia I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Miss Sophia Loren in person. At the time I was researching my book, and when I learned she was giving a one-woman show in Las Vegas, I knew I had to find a way to meet her. Had I not been involved in writing the book I would never have had the courage to do so. After her show, in a private reception, I had the opportunity to speak with her in Italian, kiss her on both cheeks, and tell her about my novel. We also had a photo taken together.

During our brief encounter, I found Miss Loren to be warm and charming. She was self-deprecating and incredibly gracious, and there were two things she said that that evening that resonated with me. The first: “Believe in your dreams, dreams become reality.” The second: “Be brave. Just do it.” These very two ideas are the premise of my first book, so of course, to hear Sophia Loren say this out loud made my heart pound faster!

sharing-magical-letter-sophia-loren-writes-studentessa-matta-melissa-muldoon
Photo Credit: Art of Loving Itay

After publishing my second book Waking Isabella, Gloria — an Italian friend of mine, (who has helped me with many of my projects from writing the theme song for my Matta podcast and Youtube videos, to editing the Italian dialogue found in my books) kept after me to write Sophia Loren and share again with her my work. But, I was a bit hesitant and felt a little overwhelmed by the prospect.

At this point, you are all saying – Melissa? Our Studentessa Matta? Timid? Shy? I know…I know…yet it is true!

But…every time I saw Gloria, she kept pestering me to write this letter and send Sophia my books. So, finally, at the end of February, I did! I sent Miss Loren a letter which I wrote in Italian (and even used the Lei form!) and sent it along with my two books. In the end, I realized it was very important to me to reach and thank her for being an inspiration, not only for the character in my book but to me personally as well. Because of my enthusiasm for Italy, I have been brought to the point where I am now – connected to so many wonderful people with opportunities I never thought possible. That’s it. I just wanted to thank her.

When I went to the mailbox a week or so ago, as I sorted through the envelopes and came across a small one that was hand-printed on heavy cream stock and saw the postmark was Switzerland — I knew in that instant Sophia had written me back.

In a letter that I will always treasure she wrote:

Carissima, grazie di cuore per la sua bellissima lettera! Infiniti auguri per il suo lavoro! Felicità – Sophia Loren 2018

Dearest, thank you from the heart for your beautiful letter. Infinite wishes for your work! Happiness – Sophia

It is a very satisfying and rewarding feeling that my work has the blessings and encouragement of Sophia Loren!

It really is a magical feeling.

sharing-magical-letter-sophia-loren-writes-studentessa-matta-melissa-muldoon
Photo Credit: Art of Loving Italy
sharing-magical-letter-sophia-loren-writes-studentessa-matta-melissa-muldoon

Share this post

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Share
Email

Filed Under: Italian Festivals, Culture Tagged With: Dreaming Sophia, Melissa Muldoon, novels set in Italy, Sophia Loren

Reader Interactions

Commenti - Comments

  1. EB says

    September 5, 2021 at 7:40 am

    Sophia Loren is the most beautiful woman. I watch every movie of her as a young girl growing up. Thank you for sharing.
    Kiwilanda Maori of New Zealand
    EB

    Reply

Leave a Comment. I love hearing from you in English or Italian! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to the Art of Loving Italy Blog

Follow along on Instagram @studentessamatta

My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and Eleonora… the heroines of my four novels set in Italy.

Escape to Italy in the pages of a novel!

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. 

Available on Amazon in Print, Epub, and Audio. Links in bio.

5 Stars - Dianne Hales (author of La Bella Lingua, La Passione, and Mona Lisa-A Life Discovered): A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine, Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historical figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel. Still, the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating. 
 
5 Stars - Lize Amazon Reader: What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th-century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time; love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to Italian life, culture, and its history; her attention to detail is immaculate. I loved the many connections in this story that tied it all together; very cleverly done. Wonderful read; I would highly recommend it.

#MelissaMuldoon #IndieAuthor #artemisiagentileschi #NovelsetinItaly
#Medici #Tuscany #Rome #Montepulciano #Florence #SofonisbaAnguissola #IsabellaMedici #Medici #ARezzo
Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. Sono c Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. 

Sono contenta che mi stia seguendo qui su Instagram!

I’m pleased you are following me on Instagram. I help you to learn Italian.

I organize, with my partner schools in Italy, small group language immersion programs in Arezzo, Lucca and Montepulciano.

For 10 or 12 days, you will study at the school at your level in the mornings and in the afternoons we will participate in activities and go on excursions— like make pasta, drink wine, talk to local artisans and see churches, museums, art —even the giostra del Saracino - the jousting festival if you join me in Arezzo.

Accommodations and most evening meals are all included AND you will have unlimited conversation practice and language learning when you meet my Italian friends and teachers from the schools who will accompany us.

The dates for 2023 Matta Italian Language Programs are

2023 Matta and Arezzo Italian Language Program: June 11 - 23

2023 Matta and Lucca Italian Language Program: August 24 - Sept 2
 
2023 Matta September Arezzo Joust Weekend: September 2 - 4, 2023 (Open to Italian learners and English speakers) 

2023 Matta and Montepulciano Italian Language Program: September 10 - 22

Join me in Italy 2023 and take your Italian language skills further.

More information and to sign up can be found on the StudentessaMatta.com website

Alla prossima! Ciao!

#learnItalian #ItalianImmersionPrograms #StudentessaMatta #Arrezzo #Montepulciano #Lucca #LuccaItalianSchool #LIS #Culture_Italiana_Arezzo #IlSasso #LearnInItaly#TravelItaly #tuscanylovers
Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian i Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.

New post on the StudentessaMatta.com blog site.

Today I'm talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and toads and will surely put a spring in your step and make you jump a level up. Want to sound like a native Italian speaker? Here is a chance to brush up on some Italian idioms involving our little web-footed friends.

#ItalianExpressions #ModiDire #Rano #Rospo #Ranocchio #Frog #Toad #SputareRospo #RanaGola #PrincipeRanocchio #FrogPrince #IngoiareRospo #StudentessaMatta

Image credit: AdobeStock
Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Prett Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Pretty Woman the Musical" at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. ( His Christmas gift to me this year!) We had so much fun! Began the evening with drinks at the Otopia rooftop bar to watch the sunset, then dinner at Acre 41. The show was fantastic, well staged, great singing — just a lot of fun to watch live theater again! #prettywomanthemusical #austintexas #bassconcerthall #theater
New on the Studentessa Matta Blog! Alessandra, It New on the Studentessa Matta Blog!

Alessandra, Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable dish

Alessandra, an Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable spaghetti dish made with artichokes and anchovies. 

In her guest post Alessandra tells us about Livorno and more about herself and her background. Alessandra has traveled extensively and made homestays in America so she knows what it’s like to be away from home and how important it is to find a warm and friendly environment that makes you feel comfortable as a family or among friends.

Find out more about the Italian Language Homestay opportunities offered on the StudentessaMatta.com website : See links in Bio.

#italian #ItalianLanguageHomestay #Livorno #HomestayLivorno #learnItalian #LearnInItaly #studentessamatta
Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema ital Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. 

Più ricordata come un modello e attrice - una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente, Gina Lollobrigida era una donna di talenti incredibili che comprendeva tutte le arti - cinema, fotografia e scultore. 

Leggi il nuovo post su StudentessaMatta.com

#studentessamatta #GinaLollobrigida #Lollo #ItalianCinema #ItalianFilmStar #attriceitaliana✨👑🎬🎥
Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vici Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vicina di casa ha fatto marmellata in casa e mi ha dato un vasetto! Oggi l'ho spalmata sul mio toast! Il gusto è veramente ottimo! Grazie Brianna!

#marmellata #vasetto #vincina #dolce #italiano

Melissa Muldoon © 2023 Built with and Genesis Framework by Bellano Web Studio