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  gives details for St Peters  I'd visit the Pope's Parish Church - St John Lateran - very impressive, and not crowded  When we went we didn't take a car - traffic is v stressful. What we did each day was take a taxi to the place we wanted to see [St Peters, Colloseum, etc] and then just walk back to the hotel - amazing places found on these walks.

"In Italy do they ever use the sort of electric boilers that heat the water as you use it? (a sort of combi boiler I suppose)  We've got one of these here in the UK that just heats water for a shower and kitchen use. " It could be difficult as you probably only have 3kW of power available at your place, and the type of electric heater you describe probably has a higher rating

....... your engine will flood.     The main choices by ferry are Dover Calais or Dover Dunkirk [or you can do the Chunnel] Cheapest option is invariably Norfolk Line to Dunkirk - takes 2 hours instead of 1.5 hours on Dover - Calais Just booked for September - with Norfolk Line  £42 return for car plus 2 people Distances  to Italy are almost the same from either port   Quickest route [without tolls] is probably Dunkirk, Lille, Namur, Luxembourg,Metz, Nancy, Mulhouse, Basle, Lucerne, Gotthar Tunnel and into Italy.    All free motorway or dual carriageway except for a short stretch [45 mins or so] over the mountains to Mulhouse, but there is teh Swiss Vignette to buy - about £35

������ 'Imposta comunale sugli immobili anno 2007'   means ICI for 2007 [when it still existed for locals], I can only assume there was a problem with your payments that year, and they're getting it back off you now.

According to the members list - he was logged in at about 12.30pm today

"Plaster regulates the moisture content of the air inside the building by absorbing excess when humidity levels are high & giving it back to the air & the surrounding structure when humidity is low" Not sure I totally agree with this statement - as once the plaster is painted, it tends to be sealed and its ability to absorb/release water vapour can be very reduced/stopped   "........... Coupled with the fact that even modern houses seem to lack effective ventilation, the growth of black mold, especially behind furniture, after a winter period is a clear indicator that the environment is not a healthy one. What does Alan H reckon?   ......." My house has a mouldy wall - a combination of the �������� builders inability to understand

• what a damp proof course is
• what a waterproof membrane is
• why you can't build a wall against earth and expect it to be dry
• the need for ventilation in a building

Mould does indicate lack of ventilation, but can also indicate damp penetrating from outside [my wall is built agaist a hillside - old barn many years old].  I keep it under control over the winter shutdown by painting the wall with mould inhibitor - after a few years the inhibitor appears to have soaked into the cement enough to stop [I hope permanently] the growth of mould. If the house needs ventilation over winter - you could fit solar powered ventilators [used in yachting], They don't cost a lot and allow you to keep the house well locked up over winter

You should talk to a geometra However - Did a quick google on this – found a UK company -       -  that states -   “The Arkè brochure is produced in Italy and shows configurations which are outside UK regulations;”   In other words – what is allowed in Italy The Arke  brochure is  on -    and shows lots of  different stairs, and may help you I also found their staircase planner on         Hope this helps

"I suspect the real expense will kick in when we try and find somewhere to eat out!" Too true!!! Another warning - a couple of years ago we ate in a restaurant that only accepted SFs - not Euros or Cards.  Had to trot off to find an ATM when the bill came.  Now we always check to see that cards are accepted before ordering

Dunkirk - Lille - into Belgium [not sure on roadworks - some say go up to Brussels to avoid them] - on to Luxembourg [fill up with cheap petrol] down past Metz, Nancy and on to Mulhouse.  All motorway of dual carriageway, except for about 40 minutes into Mulhouse and NO TOLL FEES at all   From Mulhouse, into Germany and take the motorway to Basle, but turn off onto the motorway/dual carriageway to Lorrach - this avoids Basle completely, then into Switzerland and on to Lucerne.   Where are you stay at in Lucerne? [always find accommodation expensive in Switzerland]