Gala Placidia's activity

Ugo, I do not have any problems in Italy because I do not live here permanently. Italy is a lovely country with a terrible bureaucracy. And my husband is Italian...If you carefully read Crystal Bay's posts, they are not considering residing in Italy either. They only want to spend some holiday time.

Crystal Bay, other foreigners, including Australians, who do not reside permanently in Italy, but have a permesso di soggiorno have managed to buy and register a car in Italy. This is why I have indicated to you to contact Debra Kolkka, as she has first hand knowledge of the matter.Ugo, the incoherence in Italian bureaucracy and high taxes is what has made us decide not to live here permanently.

Well, Ugo, we are still paying in Italy a fuel tax which was originally raised to finance the Italy-Libya war... Almost a century ago... That says it all 

This may also be of help http://www.exfin.com/foreign-mortgage-italy

Here is the full text of the Social Security Agreement https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/italy.htmlI trust that it may help 

Hi again! I have not heard of any restrictions regarding the purchase of Italian property by Australians. Some years ago, there were some problems as a result of some type of retaliation, but those were lifted ages ago. If you want a good independent Aussie contact, my advice would be to write to Debra Kolkka, who has helped and given plenty of useful tips to lots of people. She is an award winning blogger (winner of an Italy Magazine competition) and she is not involved into  estate or anything commercial. She owns property in Bagni di Lucca In Tuscany, and comes to Italy from Australia twice a year. She may also be able to tell you how she managed to buy a car here and the type of visa she had to obtain. Just contact her through her blog and here is what she wrote about a visit to Todi some time ago https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/a-trip-to-todi/I have been in Todi a few times and it is a lovely town (well...many towns in Italy are lovely, difficult to choose a favourite one... We also know quite well the Trasimeno villages, as it is a day trip for us from Bagni di Lucca and my husband's family originated from one of those towns (Panicale), so we often go for lunch there.My advice regarding apartments stands and not only because of the stairs... Most old properties have plenty of them. We own a miller's house on the river at Bagni di Lucca and all those stairs certainly keep you fit. But it is a lovely 17th century building with 80cm stone walls in an irreplaceable position. Worth the extra effort.another piece of advice. Try to keep away from ruins. They are a money pit. There are plenty of properties in reasonable condition and at a reasonable price available in Italy at the moment. This is a buyer's market. Good luck! 

There are plenty of townhouses in historical centers throughout Italy. Here are some examples for Todi, but you may make a search using the name of any other town http://www.casa.it/vendita-residenziale/immobile-terratetto+terracielo-in-todi,+pg,+umbria/lista-1If you want an apartment, you will have to research who the other owners are, whether they live or rent their place to others, the general maintenance of the property.... It may be a bit of a nightmare as there are plenty of buildings which are not properly maintained. No restrictions regarding purchase of property by Australians, that is ancient news!!!! I know quite a few Australians who have purchased without problems.

Hi CrystalBay, from a fellow Aussie who has been living in the EU for 19 years, but our case is different as we both benefit from dual nationality and EU passports.bmy advice is to contact your nearest Italian Consulate and enquirer about "elective residency visa" and long term stays. This blog from another fellow Aussie is also very useful https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/getting-a-visa-for-a-long-stay-in-italy/There are no restrictions regarding the purchase of property and there are also reciprocal taxation and social security agreements in place, although you will not be able to get health cover, you will need to do this privately.As for purchasing property... I would be careful about purchasing an apartment, particularly the old ones that have no body corporate and are not properly organized as condominiums. Some property owners allow their units to go into disrepair and this affects the whole building. I would opt for a small town house, called "terratetto or terracielo". It would be all yours and you do not have t deal with neighbours...And if you haven't done it already, enroll in an intensive Italian course...Good luck with your plans!

Hello, as far as I know, there is not an Italian Language School in Bagni di Lucca, although I am sure that private tuition may be arranged. Have a look at this information https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/learn-italian-in-lucca/

Hi, I agree in that there is such a thing as "the most beautiful town in Italy" asvtheyvare all beautiful. Lucca is a wonderful city and if it is your hometown, it may be your perfect choice. It is also very well linked to other towns and cities, which is important. Also the surrounding areas are beautiful.Some 8 years ago, we bought a holiday house in Bagni di Lucca, 25 minutes away from Lucca capital and we love our area. You can get lots of information about it by reading Debra Kolkka's blogs, Bella Bagni di Lucca and Bagni di Lucca and Beyond (with lots of useful tips about Lucca. These blogs have won several awards, including Italy Magazine's.enjoy planning your trip!