Stef Brammar's activity

Questions Asked

I have a 2 year old fig tree which is growing quickly.  It has lots of fruit on it this year, but has brown spots on its leaves.  My neighbour does not seem to know what might be the problem, and the man at the local garden centre said it was poss

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 13:55

We've had a second home in Cuneo province for 5 years, been visiting the same village for 20 years - so we know the region very well.  Owning a 300 year old farmhouse with lots of space, and now retired, we'd like to offer a self-catering apartmen

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 13:30

Comments posted

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 12:26

We've been coming to the same village in Piemonte for 20 years, and for the last 4 have spent 6 months every year living here.   The people are great, we don't directly know and never meet any ex-pats which is good for our Italian at least.   The cost of living has sadly risen over the past year or so, but it pays to eat seasonally and cook local dishes.   The quality of the food is very high -  the vegetables and fruit taste as they should, and Piemonte meat , particularly beef, is really good.    We get fish from Liguria at the local markets.   The markets are wonderful, with several each week to choose from.  It's still cheap to have coffee in a bar, and we buy good wine from a Langhe vineyard which is only 35 minutes away for 3.50 euro's a bottle - you can get cheaper if you take your own container.  Our neighbours are very friendly and helpful, and I love the courtesy with which we are treated in all the shops, and the way everybody greets us in passing.   Local eating places are fantastic and very good value.  I can't comment on schools or work, as we're retired.  We're an hour away from Torino by train, and I find something new ito enjoy n the city each time I visit.  So you can mix a rural life with an injection of city buzz when you need to!  We're also an hour from the Ligurian coast, so a day at the beach is well within reach.  Hope you get further positive information!

Wed, 07/15/2009 - 09:56

Looks interesting:  good luck! 

Wed, 07/15/2009 - 09:54

Thanks everybody who replied.  We believe we are offering something special - but not for people who want a villa with a pool!  (and sometimes I do, too).   Our house is in a 'Casali' community with 6 Italian neighbours, most belonging to the original farming family,  around a central courtyard.  It's a working farmstead with donkeys, goats, cows, geese and chickens - and lots to watch in terms of daily farm activities.   If I could think of something to make and sell I suppose we could be an agriturismo!    Great walking, biking and pony-trekking all around - plus good ski slopes with local chairlifts, and easy access to the eating places, food festivals and vineyards of the Langhe.  No other foreigners (yet) in the locality, so a real rural Italian experience a bike ride away from 3 villages (with good food markets), plus 15 minutes by car into a very interesting and attractive hill town - with a truly fantastic food market.  Does this sound good enough?   (the apartment is refurbished to a high quality).     Unless anyone else responds with details on the legal requirements, I guess it's a trip to the local commune to begin the - probably - slow process of registering.