Anneliese Alzetta, “era una bella signorina,” was a beautiful girl. Anna was the name she preferred. She grew up in the quaint village of Grizzo, in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. It lay at the base of the majestic Dolomites, about 60 kilometers west of the once-disputed city of Trieste.

Young Anneliese, with flowing blonde hair, had a wonderful voice and was talented musically. Although she played a variety of instruments, she favored the guitar. Anna often wrote her own songs, most of which expressed her desire to discover far-away places.