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:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/
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 Italian 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
A roof is common property, you will have to pay 50% if there are only two owners.
Not easy to find outside that area in Abruzzo. Production is limited. There are Chinese copies... But not the same thing. This link may help http://copertemerlinotaranta.it/index.php/features
And concerning the cats...http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Italy.cfm
This information may be of assistance http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index_en.htm
Italy is a member of the EU and deposits are protected by law up to 100,000€. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers on this topic http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-296_en.htm
They are becoming very popular all over the world http://dinerenblanc.info
Grapevine Is an excellent source of information for the area.
Contact Rina, she is Italo American, a great and kind professional and she may be able to help. http://www.toscanarentals.co.uk
The city that fits your description is Lucca. Everybody rides a bicycle, the historic centre is pedestrian...and gorgeous and it has great communications. Plus it is a town with character and history. Pisa or Florence airports are close (less than 1 hour away), train takes you everywhere and Florence, Pisa, Volterra, Sienna, the Cinque Terre, Assisi, Gubbio, Todi, The Versilia, Bologna, Modena.... And even Portofino are day trips.....
Hi, I was hoping that someone closer to where your son lives will come up with a comprehensive list; however, this is my advice: there are two names that come to my mind immediately, one is the proverbial IKEA (www.ikea.it) and the Italian Mondo Convenienza (www.mondoconvenienza.it) and both deliver and assemble at an extra cost. It will also be important to check local shops and hypermarkets. As for second hand shops, they are not as popular in Italy as they are in other parts of the world. Markets tend to be devoted to antique and vintage items, and nowadays they are not cheap, as foreign dealers are buying from them and prices have increased dramatically. There are also outlets called "Mercatino dell Usato", but, if they are like their Tuscan counterparts, no bargains to be found. Good luck!