Meet the founders
Originally a Lifestyle Store, Now a Lifestyle
While working as the director of marketing for A.G. Ferrari Foods, SF Bay Area native Danielle met Michelle, a fellow Bay Area native and professional designer based in Tuscany. Their shared passion for Italian culture led them to open Vita Casalinga, an Italian lifestyle store in Healdsburg, CA. The shop featured Michelle’s designs in kitchenware, linens, terracotta, copper cookware, and Danielle’s carefully sourced foods and organic olive oil beauty products. After nearly a decade, rising rents and growing families led to its closure—but the store became the foundation for Vita Casalinga‘s next chapter. Today, it’s a lifestyle brand offering authentic Italian experiences through local-style tours, properties for living the Italian life, and a growing online culinary shop.
Danielle Caponi Bolla
Co-Founder of Vita Casalinga
“For years, I’ve had the privilege of bringing professional food buyers to Italy to uncover hidden culinary gems and witness the craftsmanship behind some of Italy’s most iconic food producers. Now, it’s time to share that exclusive experience with passionate foodies!
Danielle Caponi Bolla is a food & wine communications specialist with a passion for Italy. After ten years working in Torino in northern Italy, she returned home and founded Ponte Collaborative, an agency dedicated to preserving certified European foods which provides her backdoor opportunities into some of the most interesting food experiences. Her clients include iconic Italian foods like Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and Asiago cheese. A native of San Francisco she now splits her time between Torino and a farm in Tennessee with her husband Federico and their kids Francesca and Lorenzo.
Michelle Freeborn Caggiano
Co-Founder of Vita Casalinga
“I’ve now spent more time living in Tuscany than I did in the U.S., and there’s nothing I love more than sharing the authentic, local experiences that make this place so special. The simple pleasure of sourcing, preparing and sharing good food and laughter around a table is the essence of Italy, and key to the magical lifestyle I have found here. Join me!”
Michelle Freeborn Caggiano is a published food stylist and designer focused on home & kitchen. Based in the picturesque Renaissance town of Pistoia, Tuscany for over 30 years, she blends her eye for design with an authentic love for Italy’s rich culinary traditions. After design school in Florence, her career includes designing interiors for historic residences, leading design teams for luxury home & kitchen brands, and cookbook styling, recipe development and photography. Along with her architect husband Paolo and teens Nico and Alina, they stay very busy in the kitchen and around Italy discovering hidden treasures from the north to the south.
