Meet Emily and Filippo

By Anne Angstenberger, Resident since 2006

Photos provided by the Silvestri

Family

For any Danville local, visitor, or even a tourist stopping into town, Locanda Ravello leaves a lasting impression for all who visit. We are extremely lucky to call one of the owners, Filippo Silvestri, a westside resident and familiar smiling face to all. His beautiful wife, Emily SmithSilvestri, is also an extraordinary painter, realtor, and all around “bubbly” individual who blesses Danville with her presence. We are thrilled they are willing to share their story with us.

Filippo was born and raised in Fossalta Di Piave, Veneto, Italy…a town in the Venice Metropolitan region known for architectural sites, wineries, historical churches, and many hiking and biking trails. (Interesting Fact; Ernest Hemingway was wounded by a mortar shell in 1918 in Fossalta di Piave, while serving on the Italian Front.) As a child, Filippo loved listening to music as well as playing his favorite sport, soccer. Athleticism runs deep in the Silvestri family, as Filippo’s father is a prominent figure in the soccer world in Venice, Italy. Additionally, his uncle, Arturo Silvestri, played and won several National Championships and international trophies for the A.C. Milan. “The Sportivo,” which is the town’s central park, with a state-of-the-art soccer field, hosts matches for youth and all locals to enjoy, is named after Fillipos’ grandfather, Arnaldo Silvestri. Across the globe, Emily Smith was born and raised in the Bay Area, specifically in San Mateo on the Peninsula. Emily always enjoyed art as a child and being the neighborhood babysitter. Growing up, Emily’s love for art blossomed while she would visit open houses in her neighborhood. This led her to become passionate about architecture and design and shaped her into quite the creative professional. As an alumnus of UC Santa Cruz, UC San

Diego and NYU, it is clear that her hard work and academic curiosity led her to be the accomplished woman she is today.

The love story of Filippo and Emily could have come straight out of a romance novel. In 2005, while working on her Masters Program in painting at NYU, Emily traveled to Italy to participate in the Venice Biennale. In Emily’s words, “two days after arriving in Venice, I was lost in the floating city built on piers navigating through the poorly marked streets and canals hoping to find my hotel and art colleagues. With little success, I stopped to sit by a canal, watching the waves splash up against the piers, boats speeding by, and who taps me on the shoulder to offer me an Aperol Spritz (preferred afternoon cocktail made of Aperol, Prosecco, club soda, and an orange slice with a green olive…try one at Locanda Ravello any afternoon and you’ll be hooked), Filippo?!?! Pomeriggio Ciao! A tall, handsome Italian, I couldn’t resist. He was trustworthy and kind from the get-go, I figured, “what the heck!” I accepted, and off we went on a Vaporetto (water bus) to one of Filippo’s friends’ Italian wedding across the canal to Lido. This is where we started our romance, and I knew he was a keeper when he would carry my paintings from the University studio to the exhibition for installation... he was strong! Love of art is in the blood of Italians… Filippo understood me, and I thought he was fun and simply a beautiful person, so tying the knot was the next step.”

The next 5 years were filled with traveling back and forth from Italy to the Bay Area, cultivating their long distance relationship with road trips and long vacations together. In 2010, Filippo and Emily were married, then settled in their new life in San Mateo. In only one week after being newlyweds, Filippo met some fellow Italians at AcquApazza (one of the first of the Rosano family restaurants) and quickly felt at home by sharing in their passion for soccer, food, and restaurant service. It was only a matter of time where this new friendship would turn into a business relationship as well as an extended family. Partnering with Enzo Rosano and Antonio Cerbone is how Filippo and Emily ended up in Danville…opening our town’s beloved, Locanda Ravello! All the while, Emily has also been busy as an artist and real estate agent. From teaching art in elementary schools, to opening her own art gallery, Emily has remained enthusiastic at keeping her artist juices flowing. She recently curated an art show with westside local, Tricia Grame, at the Danville Theater, entitled “Bellissima”...where they showcased select Italian artists in an exhibition. She also partook in the Tri Valley Open Artists Studio 2023 and continues to paint her own landscapes, pool scenes, lines, still life’s, portraits, flags and hotlines. Emily enjoys participating in local art events, teaching art to children and donating her

“flag paintings” to local fundraisers. Check out Emily’s website at https://www.artbyemilycsmith.com/ to see some of her beautiful art! And if that is not enough, Emily is also a successful real estate agent. Returning to her roots of attending open houses as a child, Emily now uses her artistic eye, attention to detail, world traveling experience and “relentless pursuit of a vision,” to help clients find their luxury home. Emily loves working for Golden Gate Sotheby’s as she has a unique skill set to help clients appreciate the art, architecture and design qualities in their new homes in both Contra Costa Country and on the Peninsula.

Although Emily and Fillippo remain quite busy with their respective careers, one thing they enjoy in their free time is projects on their home on Kuss Road. Living on the same street as the Eugene O’Neill National Historic site could not be more perfect for Filippo and Emily. They also love walking on the trails behind their home where they admire the Blue Oak trees and many animals on their property. Just this spring, they witnessed four baby fawns being born and continue to see birds, turkeys, and owls right outside their deck. Traveling back and forth to Italy to visit Filippo’s parents make up a majority of the Silvesti’s vacation time, as they are enjoying spending quality time with family and friends to make up for time lost during the pandemic. Another benefit to Emily and Filippo’s westside home is the location to downtown. Most days you will see Filippo bike to and from work, taking full advantage of their amazing community and location to town. It is certain that if you visit Locanda Ravello, you will see Filippo and his great smile greet you at the door...perhaps you will also see Emily sitting at the bar enjoying an Aperol Spritz! Be sure to say hello to them both and maybe even catch yourself in an impromptu concert from the Locanda Ravello staff!

Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share?

Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at aangstenberger@bestversionmedia.com.