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Ciao a tutti e buon anno nuovo
It was a snowy start of the year in Italy. The Alps were wrapped in a soft white blanket, which made for exciting skiing (and provided an excellent excuse to indulge in several cups of hot chocolate). I was in Courmayeur and it was magical - the peaks glinted candid against the sky, with just the odd glimpse of foliage peeking green under the flakes.
 The only drawback was that the slopes were heavily crowded. But later this month and in February, the combination of fewer people and cold, sunny days should make for fantastic ski weeks. Just in case you need to whet your appetite, we have put together a little picture gallery at this link.
 As the temperature stays firmly low, this is a great time to cook some winter warmers (beyond hot chocolate, that is). And Germaine Stafford has the perfect Italian recipe for you: traditional bean soup with oregano. She coaxed it out of three women chefs, Lina and Maria Luisa Fischetti and Maria Grazia Luongo, who are particularly adept as reinterpreting old-fashioned flavours in a lighter, modern key. Packed with beans and enlivened by a touch of chilli, this soup is just the thing for a cold evening.
Househunting situation in Italy
Bizarre though it may sound, this is also a great time of the year to go househunting in Italy. The market gently slowed down last year and prices, while pretty stable, are now 10% to 20% better than they were during the 2006-2007 peak. Plus, making a move before the seasonal rise in second home demand may allow you to land a better home or a greater bargain - not to mention that, as many estate agents say, if you like a house in winter, you will love it in warmer weather.
 Among the many properties currently on the market, we have picked an interesting one for you to consider. It's a large townhouse in the medieval heart of Spello, in Umbria, which has been structurally restored but left "al grezzo". This means that the buyer has a chance to finish it off to the standards (and degree of authenticity) he or she prefers. The asking price is €420,000, which gets you some 170 square metres of living space plus a private courtyard.
And should you need any persuading that Umbria is a great place to live, read Alex Chappell's account of life in the region. Disappointed by the decline of rural villages in his native England, he is captivated by the liveliness of the Umbrian community he moved to, which comes complete with street parties, chatty old men, charming young boys and plenty of shops and restaurants (not to mention an especially good butcher selling great lamb).
You can practise your language skills too, by reading or listening to Chappell's tale in Italian before checking the English version.
Buona settimana
Carla Passino
Editor
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Visit Parma, Tuscany and the Cinque Terre on an exclusive guided hiking tour with Hedonistic Hiking.
Borgo Belvederi is a magnificent and secluded ancient hamlet, nestled on top of a green hill about 2 miles from the city of Camerino, in Le Marche.
