Gala Placidia's activity

I agree with LL! It is a buyer's market right now in Italy. Back in 2008, properties were scarce and even old ruins, without any historical or architectural (read an ugly, dilapidated barn, value were overpriced.. As for where to buy... Location, location, location. And this means not only a place that you like, but also check transport, cultural and health facilities. And keep away from ruins, unless it is a very special place and have professional advice before buying them. A ruin in Italy can ruin YOU, unless you know what you are doing and how much it is going to cost you to do a restoration.

Good to hear, Joy. We all need to,have two feet on the ground when deciding on our future, particularly when we are thinking about retiring. If going back to Italy, where your roots are, is your dream keep on looking for the right place. It does not mean to go back to a mountain village where quite possibly you do not have any family left. That is very romantic... But highly impractical. As I said before, this is a buyers market. We bought some eight years ago and, at the time, the choice was limited and the prices were outrageous. Any old ruin in the middle of nowhere, was very expensive . Things have changed. My advice is not to rush. If you have not d cited where you want to settle, try visiting different regions. Take your time, make a list of what you would like and keep on searching. Best wishes.

James, the real estate market in both Italy and Spain has suffered a lot since 2008. Sales are slow. On the other hand, it is a buyer's market and prices are much lower than the ones back in say.. 2005. I do not think that we will see major changes until, say...2018, at least. On the other hand, the BREXIT problem is a worry, although I do not think that it will take place. In any case, perhaps renting for a while is a valid alternative which would allow you to see more clearly.Lifestyle is important and certainly Mediterranean countries have a better quality of life. And this is worth a lot.we have also lived in many countries and thoroughly enjoyed each one of them. Restoring old houses has been a hobby for us, as my husband is a retired architect. And Italy has bee, and still is, a very pleasurable experience. It is not only "aceite, jamón, tapas y pintaos" or "prosecco, saltimbocca, pesto and agnolotti ". It goes well beyond that.¡Mucha suerte! In bocca al lupo!

James, I agree with you, Medina Sidonia is beautiful. We lived in Puerto Banus (Marbella) for a few years and we used to go there frequently.As for taxation, Italy has a common state tax. But then, there are also differences in regional and other taxes. Same thing in Spain, with the exception of the autonomous regions of Navarre and the Basque Country wo have a special status and even their own tax collection agencies. For this reason, the place where you live can make a big difference.joy, it will be advisable to double check the Portuguese situation and also, the country has lots of financial problems and political instability.in any case, for anyone intending to relocate, my advice is to get full professional advice from a reliable source. Also, get all areas covered, property, insurance health services, transport, I mean the lot! That beautiful ruin in a lovely, but isolated location can turn your Italian dream into a nightmare.in the case of retirees, even those enjoying early retirement, keep in mind that we are not getting younger and that your needs change as the years go by. Also, do not imagine that family and friends will be coming to visit you all the time. After the initial novelty has faded, those visits are going to become less frequent and you will see that the ones insisting on coming are the ones you are not inclined to see. Do not burn the bridges, try to have a pied à terre or a place where you will be welcome whenever you want to go back to your country of origin. Yes, some people adapt very well to a new life in a different country, but they are a minority. Life is short, enjoy it!  for taxation

Here is the relevant regulation http://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10930-European_Union_citizens/

Yes, Jaime, I think that you have made a wise decision, in view of the current circumstances.as we permanently live in the Basque Country, but own a secondary home in Bagni di Lucca, we have come to the conclusion that it is better for us to keep on coming to Italy twice a year, in Spring and Autumn and remain the rest of the time in Spain while spending Xmas in San Francisco with our daughters and their families. A bit of traveling... But we can manage and it is enjoyable.Definitely, taxes, insurance costs and energy are more expensive in Italy than in Spain. Food is abut the same...depending on your personal tastes and habits, but then, we live in the most expensive city in Spain. On the Mediterranean Coast and other areas, costs will be lower... But then, we have more advantages and better facilities where we live.Yes, balmy evenings drinking pro secco in the stone loggia or terrace come at a price, so it is better to make sure that you have carefully planned everything. And this starts with choosing the right location. Make sure that the place is well connected by public transport. Having to depend on a car all the time is not very convenient. You are not going to find the right place for you overnight. It took us a couple of years, covering Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria. And we are happy with our choice.i wish you all the best. 

Hi Paul, if your main reason for going to Perugia is to improve your Italian language skills, my advice would be to opt for home stay with an Italian host family, where you will benefit from a total immersion in both language and culture. I am sure that the language institute where you will be attending courses will be able to help you to find a suitable home.

That's a good link, Ugo, thank you. I found this one http://www.fratellibillo.com/en/141-tastasale.html where it is possible to see how the tastasal economy is sold in small bags. It is basically fresh sausage meat, without additives, just seasoned with salt and pepper (although some people add herbs or spices). One of the advantages of buying it fresh from a specialized butcher is that it will contain less fat than commercial products. The salt content is the key, as its name says it all... You have to taste the salt in it.

Well, perhaps the book does not contain ALLl the recipes from the Veneto region. After all , it is a book written by  the chef of a very popular Soho restaurant, so I would not consider it  as THE encyclopedia of Venetian cooking. Yes, bigoli in salsa is a very popular way of eating pasta, but not the only one. Tastasale, tastasal or pasta di salame is a frequent accompaniment for bigoli, particularly in Vicenza (Veneto), but also in Este and Mantova. There are various versions of the Bible  

Traditional recipes indicate salt and freshly ground black pepper for the tastasale. Some will add chopped parsley, but only to the finished dish.