IRetiremenrt Fantasy-Italy
May 16th, 2016, 08:45 AM
#21
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If I were to live in Spain, I would want to live in Catalunya. Barcelona is an international city with its own joie de vivre and sense of design and style. Even if we lived in a nearby town accessible by rail, that would be fine. In town I think we could afford something in the Eixample.
The south gets ridicously hot in the summer and there are too many tourists and people like myself, retirees, even if most are Brits.
The are around San Sebastian/Donostia would be second. The food is the best in Spain and it is a beautiful corner of the world.
The south gets ridicously hot in the summer and there are too many tourists and people like myself, retirees, even if most are Brits.
The are around San Sebastian/Donostia would be second. The food is the best in Spain and it is a beautiful corner of the world.
May 16th, 2016, 09:00 AM
#22
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If you want to live on the Adriatic side of Italy I would choose Le Marche or Abruzzo but not necessarily right on the coast. One of the problems is that the autostrada and especially the main railway are very close. Goods trains use the line at night so the noise can be quite disruptive.
Inland would be better but you have to choose very carefully if you do not intend to have a car.
You really need to hear from bvlenci as she knows these regions better than most.
Someone mentioned Bologna - whereas it is a very cultured city, it can be bitterly cold in winter and oppresively hot and humid in the summer.
Inland would be better but you have to choose very carefully if you do not intend to have a car.
You really need to hear from bvlenci as she knows these regions better than most.
Someone mentioned Bologna - whereas it is a very cultured city, it can be bitterly cold in winter and oppresively hot and humid in the summer.
May 16th, 2016, 09:04 AM
#23
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Here's a link to a blog I used to follow, though she is no longer updating it. You might read backward to learn about the journey of this married American couple to purchase a home and obtain residence permits. They live in Basilicata and advise on real estate in their area--very cheap prices but not exactly central. This blog has links to their businesses. For a few years they rented apartments in Ascoli Piceno.
If you want to avoid winter weather, I would not pick Torino--a wonderful city, but definitely cold and foggy in winter.
If you want to avoid winter weather, I would not pick Torino--a wonderful city, but definitely cold and foggy in winter.
May 16th, 2016, 10:03 AM
#26
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I'll try to give some suggestions based on your specififications, Imdonehere.
Gubbio is a town I like very much, but not particularly well connected to any transportation network. Even if you had a car, you'd have a long drive to an airport or major train station. In Umbria, not far from Gubbio, Spoleto would be much more convenient for location, and, in my opinion, just as charming. Spoleto is on a rail line that connects Rome with the Adriatic at Falconara (just north of Ancona).
A smaller town on the same train line that I like a great deal is Fabriano, in Le Marche, closer to the Adriatic. However, it may be too small and quiet for your interests.
On the Adriatic coast, I like Fano and Senigallia, with a slight preference for Senigallia. They're not far apart, so what I say about one pretty much holds for the other. Both are towns that are much more than summer watering holes. Both have lively and charming historical centers that don't shut down in the winter. Both have shops, and both are on the Adriatic rail line, with quick connections to Bologna, Ancona (or Falconara, where you can transfer to a train to Rome) and to points south, in Abruzzo and Puglia. Fano is connected by bus to Urbino. Both have a hinterland rich in medieval hill towns and castles, but to actually live in one of those hill towns, you would be better off with a car.
I think all of these places would suit your requirements. If you buy an old house, either in the countryside or in a town center, you will probably have to do modifications. The rooms tend to be small, as are also the windows. Stairs tend to be narrow. In town, there may be no place to put a car, if you do buy one.
The Adriatic coast has other advantages for international travel.
The airport at Falconara/Ancona (AOI) has Alitalia partner flights to Rome, where you can connect to international flights. It also has Lufthansa partner flights to Munich, but the hours are not terribly convenient for connections to international destinations. There are also budget airline connections to London, Charleroi (Belgium, but with easy connections to Paris), Moscow, and other international destinations. There are ferry connections in Ancona to Croatia and Greece.
Spoleto would also put you within striking distance of Ancona's airport and ferries, but you might have to spend a night in the area for some connections.
Gubbio is a town I like very much, but not particularly well connected to any transportation network. Even if you had a car, you'd have a long drive to an airport or major train station. In Umbria, not far from Gubbio, Spoleto would be much more convenient for location, and, in my opinion, just as charming. Spoleto is on a rail line that connects Rome with the Adriatic at Falconara (just north of Ancona).
A smaller town on the same train line that I like a great deal is Fabriano, in Le Marche, closer to the Adriatic. However, it may be too small and quiet for your interests.
On the Adriatic coast, I like Fano and Senigallia, with a slight preference for Senigallia. They're not far apart, so what I say about one pretty much holds for the other. Both are towns that are much more than summer watering holes. Both have lively and charming historical centers that don't shut down in the winter. Both have shops, and both are on the Adriatic rail line, with quick connections to Bologna, Ancona (or Falconara, where you can transfer to a train to Rome) and to points south, in Abruzzo and Puglia. Fano is connected by bus to Urbino. Both have a hinterland rich in medieval hill towns and castles, but to actually live in one of those hill towns, you would be better off with a car.
I think all of these places would suit your requirements. If you buy an old house, either in the countryside or in a town center, you will probably have to do modifications. The rooms tend to be small, as are also the windows. Stairs tend to be narrow. In town, there may be no place to put a car, if you do buy one.
The Adriatic coast has other advantages for international travel.
The airport at Falconara/Ancona (AOI) has Alitalia partner flights to Rome, where you can connect to international flights. It also has Lufthansa partner flights to Munich, but the hours are not terribly convenient for connections to international destinations. There are also budget airline connections to London, Charleroi (Belgium, but with easy connections to Paris), Moscow, and other international destinations. There are ferry connections in Ancona to Croatia and Greece.
Spoleto would also put you within striking distance of Ancona's airport and ferries, but you might have to spend a night in the area for some connections.
May 16th, 2016, 10:12 AM
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Bologna is a rather expensive place to live, and also to buy property.
Some of the responses above are full of misinformation and misconceptions about Italy. I won't bother to correct all of them, but will just advise Imdonehere to keep an open mind. And a general word about regulations: Italy is not less regulated than Germany. It it perhaps more regulated. Italy has more laws on the books than any other European country. It is possible to get things done in <b> some parts </b> of Italy without bothering about regulations, but I would advise a foreigner to do things by the book. I know a German couple who bragged to me that they had found a geometra who was able to get their house built without any of that pesky red tape, but a few years later they were suing him for using concrete with a much larger percentage of sand than was allowed by law. So much for pesky regulations!
I live in Le Marche, but have never bought property here, because I married an Italian man who already owned several properties, including the house we live in. However, I've experienced several transfers of property in the family, and I also know a number of people who have bought and renovated property here.
For the purchase of the property, you need to find a good honest broker, and for the renovation a good honest geometra. Neither is terribly hard to find. If you need structural modifications, you should hire an engineer instead of a geometra, and he will either have a geometra in his employ who can handle the less technical part of the work, or he will engage a geometra for those details.
Whether an engineer or a geometra, he or she will have the duty to hire the actual workers, see that safety regulations are adhered to at the worksite, file all requests for permits, and supervise the testing of all materials used. You, of course, should be proactive in following the work and making sure your wishes are respected.
To give some idea of costs, I know someone who bought a small house on the town wall of a hill town in Le Marche. The house cost about €80,000 and he spent about the same amount renovating it.
Some of the responses above are full of misinformation and misconceptions about Italy. I won't bother to correct all of them, but will just advise Imdonehere to keep an open mind. And a general word about regulations: Italy is not less regulated than Germany. It it perhaps more regulated. Italy has more laws on the books than any other European country. It is possible to get things done in <b> some parts </b> of Italy without bothering about regulations, but I would advise a foreigner to do things by the book. I know a German couple who bragged to me that they had found a geometra who was able to get their house built without any of that pesky red tape, but a few years later they were suing him for using concrete with a much larger percentage of sand than was allowed by law. So much for pesky regulations!
I live in Le Marche, but have never bought property here, because I married an Italian man who already owned several properties, including the house we live in. However, I've experienced several transfers of property in the family, and I also know a number of people who have bought and renovated property here.
For the purchase of the property, you need to find a good honest broker, and for the renovation a good honest geometra. Neither is terribly hard to find. If you need structural modifications, you should hire an engineer instead of a geometra, and he will either have a geometra in his employ who can handle the less technical part of the work, or he will engage a geometra for those details.
Whether an engineer or a geometra, he or she will have the duty to hire the actual workers, see that safety regulations are adhered to at the worksite, file all requests for permits, and supervise the testing of all materials used. You, of course, should be proactive in following the work and making sure your wishes are respected.
To give some idea of costs, I know someone who bought a small house on the town wall of a hill town in Le Marche. The house cost about €80,000 and he spent about the same amount renovating it.
May 16th, 2016, 11:32 AM
#28
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Thank you BV for your time and information. Le Marche was one area we were considering. We are hopeful to avoid a lot of renovations under any circumstance, especially those that are structural.
Finding the right geometra is difficult to find any where.
Finding the right geometra is difficult to find any where.
May 16th, 2016, 11:54 AM
#29
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I know you speak Spanish, Imdonehere, and it is a great help when traveling in Italy. I got by with Spanish myself on my early visits to Italy. However, if you plan to live somewhere, you really need to get integrated into the community if you don't want to live the life of a hermit. And to do that, you need to learn the language. You can order a meal in Spanish (but don't confuse the aceto and the aceite!). But getting to know your neighbors takes a little conversation, and that requires a mutual language.
A lot of German people came here about 20 years ago, buying old farmhouses and fixing them up. Most of them have gone back to Germany, for various reasons, but most of the reasons boil down to not becoming part of the community.
A lot of German people came here about 20 years ago, buying old farmhouses and fixing them up. Most of them have gone back to Germany, for various reasons, but most of the reasons boil down to not becoming part of the community.
May 16th, 2016, 12:07 PM
#30
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Ellenem: Would you post the link to the blog? Thanks!
I'mDone: I agree with you 100% on your Spanish choices. In my next life, perhaps!
BVlenci: Any towns in Abruzzo on the train line to Rome that might suit? I am ashamed to say that I got this idea from a recent House Hunters tv show where the female American flight attendant was looking in Abruzzo because she flew out of FCO once or twice a week and wanted a permanent home for not too much money. One of the towns she looked at was Penne.
I'mDone: I agree with you 100% on your Spanish choices. In my next life, perhaps!
BVlenci: Any towns in Abruzzo on the train line to Rome that might suit? I am ashamed to say that I got this idea from a recent House Hunters tv show where the female American flight attendant was looking in Abruzzo because she flew out of FCO once or twice a week and wanted a permanent home for not too much money. One of the towns she looked at was Penne.
May 16th, 2016, 12:43 PM
#31
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I would have all intentions of learning Italian. Not only is it a better form of communication, it is respectful. I will never be fluent as I have a limited capacity to learn languages, but it would be essential that I try.
May 16th, 2016, 12:51 PM
#32
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If we do this we will contact House Hunters International. My wife and I intend to stage a fist fight and not tell the producers or real estate agent.
We will ask for Southwest American style while looking in Italy.
Be curious about the bidet, as if we have never seen one.
And no matter size and condition of the kitchen we will say it is too small and needs renovation.
And no matter what is shown, we will say it lacks Italian character
And be sure to include some ridiculous amenity for the price such as a walk-in meat locker.
We will ask for Southwest American style while looking in Italy.
Be curious about the bidet, as if we have never seen one.
And no matter size and condition of the kitchen we will say it is too small and needs renovation.
And no matter what is shown, we will say it lacks Italian character
And be sure to include some ridiculous amenity for the price such as a walk-in meat locker.
May 16th, 2016, 01:09 PM
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Or granita counter tops.
Take a look at this blog - http://jonesesavenezia.blogspot.com.au/
Caroline and Phil Jones moved from Edinburgh to Venice several years ago, and now teach English there. Caroline was at times a busy contributer here.
Take a look at this blog - http://jonesesavenezia.blogspot.com.au/
Caroline and Phil Jones moved from Edinburgh to Venice several years ago, and now teach English there. Caroline was at times a busy contributer here.
May 16th, 2016, 01:33 PM
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Ekscrunchy, There is a train line from Pescara to Rome that makes a jillion stops along the way. The best way to see them all is to search on http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en for trains from Pescara to Rome. Then, on the results page,there is a little "i" in the train column next to the train number. Click on that and it will bring up a list of all the stops.
May 16th, 2016, 02:29 PM
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May 16th, 2016, 03:19 PM
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My ancestors are from the Abruzzo region, and I love it. You would probably need a car because train travel to anywhere is hard. Trains to Rome from Sulmona or Pescara are very slow. Sulmona (about 90km) is 3+ hours, and Pescara is an hour beyond that. Why? because the trains are regional.
I personally love Bologna because it is a two-hour train ride even though it is 382 km from Rome. In addition, you can get anywhere easily from there.
Just my .02.
I personally love Bologna because it is a two-hour train ride even though it is 382 km from Rome. In addition, you can get anywhere easily from there.
Just my .02.
