Bella Toscana is finally operating. A warm welcome to all those interested in participating in the group.
Gala Placidia's activity
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Testing the group. Can you help by posting something to see whether it is working?
I just heard that the ½ûÂþÌìÌà MotoGP pilot Marco Simoncelli has died in a horrific accident at Sepang (Malaysia) during the Grand Prix.
This is "funghi porcini" time and you will find them sold fresh everywhere. A great time to enjoy them. There are many ways to prepare them: sauces, garnishes, omelettes, pasta....
Further to previous posts and threads, I did not get an answer from Admin regarding the current status for "Northern Tuscany" group... Consequently, I decided to do something different and I requested the creation of a new group...
Could anyone explain why it is not possible to access the Northern Tuscany Group? I am supposed to be its Administrator and I have not received any information regarding this.
We are just back from a n enjoyable week in Rome and I must mention the great coffee we had at Piazza Sant'Eustachio, a sort of "sanctuary" for all coffee lovers.
We were driving around Lucca when I saw at a newsagent a headline from regional newspaper "Il Tirreno" stating that the Royal couple were coming to Lucca during their honeymoon.
I travel to San Francisco, California, quite frequently as my two daughters live there. I love the city and I have always noticed its strong ½ûÂþÌìÌà influence.
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We have had hamsters, rabbits and other animals in the past running free in the old forum. Are we going to start something new with chickens? Anyway, here is something to help you decide, Angie
I agree with Anne, an excellent film:Another one which we really enjoy watching and is easy to understand is "Il pranzo della domenica"
I agree with Lorraine, if the jewellery includes a platinum ring with a large diamond it may also include some other interesting pieces and gold dealers are only going to pay by weight. I would suggest that a trip to a Rome to see an antique jewellery dealer may be worth the trouble.
I just had a look and it is a great website for many things in Italy. Thank you as well, Alan.
Liam, welcome and congratulations on the forthcoming wedding.What you are after is what the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs call an "spiedo girarrosto", however, I have no idea where you can get one in Italy. A catering and restaurant supplier may be able to help.Anyway, I would advise you to contact a local caterer. Ask around, perhaps at your favourite restaurant, and they will be able to look after you with authentic delicacies.Best wishes
I must confess that we found Bagni di Lucca quite by chance on our first trip. We were renting an apartment in Lucca but the agent's office was in Bagni and we fell in love with the aream which we thought it was perfect for us. That did not stop us from looking at other places as well, but we always came back to Bagni.... until we found the property we were after, easy maintenance, within walking distance to all amenities and on the river. I saw it advertised, we took the car and ended up there buying within a week.If you want to know more about the area, this could help you:It contains a brief but also excellent information about the area.Another useful link that covers more territory:You will find properties in the area through Italy Magazine and the Property section. There are other agents in the area as well and my advice would be to see the all.If you have further questions you can ask me through this thread or you can send me a pm. I will be glad to help.Happy hunting!
These rights are not uncommon throughout Europe. There is an old Spanish which says "El que no tiene padrino, no se bautiza" (literally, the one who hasn´t got a godfather cannot get baptised") but there is an English translation which appears in any dictionary: "You cannot get anywhere without connections". Nothing new and Italy is not an exception to the rule.
One hour away from Pisa Airport would cover quite a lot of places in Northern Tuscany or Southern Liguria. It took us several trips before deciding on Bagni di Lucca. You should not rush into anything and look around until you find the right place for you. We made at least six trips and at different times of the year to see how the area looked and what it had to offer throughout the year. It is a buyer's market right now so you may find quite a bit to choose from. Good luck with your search.
That statue by Giambollogna about the Rape of the Sabine Women is one of my favourites. I always stand for a very long time in front of it whenever I go to the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. That one and Perseus and Medusa is the other one I love.
 Hello Claire and welcome. You will need some time before you find a property which really suits your needs. It is time well spent.Best luck and wishes regarding your future plans.