The city of Lucca has always been my favourite. Not only because it is only 25 minutes away from our home and I go there at least two or three times a week, but also because you do not feel like a "tourist" there.
Gala Placidia's activity
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In this icy cold weather, hot drinks and comfort foods are a must. Preparing and consuming them are good ways to spend time when we cannot venture outdoors.
Wed, 02/08/2012 - 06:10
The cold weather is affecting most of Italy and creating difficulties concerning energy supplies. Russia, the most important supplier, has been reducing the provision of gas up to 30% due to increasing demand in their area.
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 02:22
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes today this most interesting article:
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 12:45
Whenever we are in Italy, we love to visit antique and vintage markets and fairs, looking for that special piece that we would love to have. Sometimes, we find it...
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 02:47
One of my favourite activities in Italy is to visit those markets that sell antique and vintage items.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 06:38
Some members may have noticed that I have been fairly quiet for the past month and a half. The reason for this was that we have been visiting our daughters who live in San Francisco (CA).
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 02:59
The new ½ûÂþÌìÌà government has been announced and it is obvious that we will have a fight between technocrats and politicians.
Wed, 11/16/2011 - 14:24
A lot has been written about the dangers of overheating Teflon coated cookware. Toxic fumes can be extremely dangerous for our health. Personally, I have never liked that type of cookware and I do not buy it anymore.
Sat, 10/29/2011 - 06:24
In another thread, we were discussing Tuscan herbs and "funghi porcini". Tuscany is a paradise for herb lovers and many varieties, such as rosemary, sage and "nipitella" grow wild.
Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:23
Comments posted
Tammy, as far as I know, there is a bit of everything in the Brianza area. They even have outlets, although I would say that you may have to look into the upper range to comply with your architect's vision. In any case, ½ûÂþÌìÌà kitchens are extremely well designed so you will be shopping in the right place. Once again, best wishes regarding your project. These are very exciting times for you. Enjoy!Â
Tammy, there are quite a few furniture manufacturers in Italy, practically in every region. This list may be of help Brianna and the area surrounding Milan is very well known ( I have a Spanish friend who is an interior decorator and she goes there at least a couple of times every year) but there are also manufacturers in Puglia. You may need to go through their catalogues to do a pre-selection but you definitely need to inspect the items and make arrangements in situ. I would say that you will need a week.Sorry if I cannot be of more assistance. Although I do admire modern furniture and design, in Italy I concentrate more on vintage and antique furniture because our home goes back to the 17th CenturyÂ
You may also find information at www.webmobili.it not only for Brianza manufacturers and retailers, but also for other regions. Brianza is certainly a hub for modern design and furniture. In any case, I would strongly recommend you to do a trip before purchasing. Good luck with your projectÂ
This article may be of assistanceÂ
Hi, you cannot buy a car in Italy (the same applies to many EU countries) if you are not a resident.ma way to overcome this is to buy/lease a car with a buy back guarantee. I know that French manufacturers Citroen and Renault have been doing this for years. You can have the car delivered anywhere in Europe at an extra cost.
Notary fees are variable; however, I would say that you would be paying the highest rate, possibly about 3 to 4% and maybe a bit more for conveyance keeping in mind the purchase price. Also, I understand that the registration tax on land is higher than the one which applies to the purchase of homes ( I think that it is around 18%).in any case, you would spend far much more on painkillers for the monster headache you would get if you do not register your purchaseÂ
I totally agree with the advice given by "Casa del Campanile". Only the notary can give you the title and register your purchase. A simple receipt or a private contract is not enough. Notary costs are not high as they are based on the purchase price.
We have done it several times and our favourite time of the year is October, as it is sunny, but not too hot and there are fewer tourists. It is a magnificent experience and the landscape is spectacular. A memorable trip!
Here is the relevant informationÂ
Ikea has a similar productÂ