You need to go back more than 2 years to find this sort of value, and before Autumn 2008 to find a consistent Pound/Euro ratio around this level.
For a property in Italy, a stronger pound offers you better value for your money; it can be the possibility to afford more, to choose a larger, more comfortable Italian home, or simply to spend less.
Now that the first holiday homes at the Resort & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano have been completed, the first energy performance certificates were produced.
As expected, the results are outstanding.
As you can see from the example that follows, in this case the Prestazione energetica globale (global energy performance) is slightly higher than half the A+ threshold level, the highest energy certification currently available in this Region!
Con il progressivo completamento delle case vacanza al Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano i professionisti stanno producendo i primi certificati energetici, i quali - come previsto - mostrano risultati eccellenti in termini di prestazione energetica globale (un estratto di seguito), che si attesta al massimo della scala attualmente disponibile secondo la normativa regionale (A+).
Summer 2012 is going to be our "First Season" in Tuscany: you can start to enjoy your Italian home at Ville degli Olivi and Borgo in Chianni.
To celebrate this great event - if you purchase at VdO or BiC before May 31, 2012 - we will offer you the opportunity to obtain your home in Tuscany for this Summer, fitted and furnished with your Standard Furniture Package included into the price of the property.
We are making our Furniture Packages' web-site section more easily understandable, more specific.
Four detailed proposals are now available with itemised pricing, they represent a traditional and a contemporary Furniture Package, both in the Standard and Premium version.
Our Furniture Packages start from under 14,000 Euro (plus VAT) but they are not designed to be cheap.
I am happy to see the pound strong against the Euro.
These days it is at more that 1.20. You actually need to go back to a couple of years to find similar quotations, and comparing to Autumn 2009 you are looking at nearly 20% difference....
What that does mean for a buyer of our Italian properties?
Reading The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011 by the World Economic Forum I find a large number of interesting data.
In particular I was (also) glad - and not surprised - to read that Italy on one hand stands at the third place in the world for Number of World Heritage cultural sites and on the other in the index of Government prioritisation of the T&T industry is listed at the 76th place!
L'edificio storico/monumentale che compone una parte rilevante di questa proprieta' situata nel Comune di Alessano (e per una piccola parte in quello di Tricase) costituisce una testimonianza importante di "archeologia industriale italiana". Si tratta di una proprieta' - soprattutto nella parte piu' risalente - che offre volumetrie e spazi di altri tempi, realizzata a partire dalla seconda parte del XIX secolo, ha ospitato un'azienda dedicata al trattamento del tabacco che in questa zona, fino ad anni molto recenti, e' stata di primaria importanza.
Il comparto e' piuttosto vasto, caratterizzato da una porzione di terra delimitata da un muro, ha un'estensione di quasi 6 ettari, con una serie di edifici - oltre all'edificio storico - per oltre 10.000 mq (per una superficie totale coperta che raggiunge quasi i 20.000 mq).
Of course I cannot say it for sure, I have not visited all the swimming pools in Tuscany.... but this one - at Ville degli Olivi, our Italian property in Tuscany - is really extremely rare.
Oggi vorrei parlarVi di una casetta indipendente situata in Francia, La Jean-Nette. La casa ha una bella vista mare e sulla Rocca di Monaco, e si trova a distanza pedonale dal Principato.
It is now a few weeks that the Show Home at the Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano was fitted and furnished.
This is not the only news, there are many others, maybe less visible, but that are heading towards the completion of the Resort in the next few months.
Da qualche settimana al Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano e' stata completata, arredata ed allestita la Casa Campione.
Questa non e' l'unica novita', ce ne sono molte altre, magari meno "visibili", che stanno conducendo al completamento di questo progetto di eccellenza.
At the end of July I wrote about the Feste Rionali of Peccioli, a historical town at about 15 minutes driving from Lajatico and our Homes in Tuscany.
This morning Massimo of Arianna & Friends, a very active local tour operator based in Peccioli, sent us a few images and a movie that represent very well the fantastic atmosphere of these events.
As I wrote on 28/07, on Saturday 10/09 it was scheduled the Rione Mexico Festa, where the speciality was "Seppie con la bietola" (cuttlefish with chard), as you can see there were full of happy people eating and drinking the free vine supplied by the local producers.
Thanks to the assistance of Massimo of Arianna & Friends, a very active tour operator in Peccioli, I am glad to write a few lines about these events that take place there in September.
Peccioli is a town near Lajatico, at about 15 minutes driving from our Italian property in Tuscany. Some images above show the beauty of its characteristic historical centre, it is worth a visit, especially in September.
Last week was an excellent and challenging week in Tuscany.
Beside the Teatro del Silenzio that took place on Thursday evening (see my other Blog on Andrea Bocelli and the Teatro del Silenzio), on Friday we had our Aperitivo at Ville degli Olivi.
Maggiorana - our one bedroom top floor restoration - had been completed, furnished and fitted with a Realitalia Premium Furniture Package, so the Aperitivo was there.
Monday we completed on our first Italian property at Ville degli Olivi.
Other two properties in Tuscany are in the process of being completed and will be fitted shortly, and two are as shell, which can be personalised in accordance with the new owner taste and requirements (Realitalia Design Option).
The swimming pool, the main stone-built building and most of the common parts at Ville degli Olivi have also been completed. We are running on time on the scheduled first phase of this property in Lajatico.
Next week in occasion of the Teatro del Silenzio, we will have friends and family over, and we ourselves will spend the entire week in Lajatico to enjoy the fantastic atmosphere in the village.
After many properties completed, fitted and furnished to finalise a home is still one of the most exiting aspects of this job.
The combination of vision, experience, coordination, timing and effort needed to complete, fit and furnish a property is a complex task, difficult and challenging but satisfactory.
As most of your probably know, Prince Albert married with Charlene Wittstock first on Friday July, 1 with the civil ceremony, and then Saturday with the religious ceremony at the Grimaldi Palace at Monaco Ville. At the Palace Andrea Bocelli performed the Ave Maria in front of the 850 guests from all over the world.
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend an evening with some old friends in Genoa, in its glorious historical centre.
You might know that it is one of the largest historical centres in Europe and well-know for its narrow little streets (vicoli) and squares that lead from the centre of the city (Piazza de Ferraris, Piazza Fontane Marose, Via Cairoli etc) to the port.
Recently I was asked about Golf Courses around our Homes in Tuscany.
It often happens, in fact in our IN Toscana MAP last year we gave suggestions on a few golf courses in the area, but I would like to write a few lines here with more information about distances to make your one day trip to the golf courses nearby more convenient.
Abbiamo appreso con piacere che l'Autorita' Portuale di Savona il 25 maggio 2011 ha pubblicato un Bando di concorso di idee per la progettazione di opere ed interventi relativi alla zona di separazione tra le aree portuali ed il litorale nel terrapieno sud del bacino di vado ligure a Bergeggi che rendiamo disponibile ai nostri lettori al link che segue: http://www.porto.sv.it/Il-Porto-I/Bandi-e-ga/Bando-Concorso.pdf
Sono molto lieto dell'iniziativa che mi sembra costituisca un ulteriore impegno volto a migliorare il territorio di questo tratto di costa e del litorale di Bergeggi, ormai Parco Marino Protetto.
Peraltro e' una modalita' di intervento che mi sembra possa favorire la comunicazione tra i progettisti e l'autorita' per attivare un processo dialettico che porti a produrre una soluzione di tutela ed integrazione del territorio costiero.
Saro' lieto di discutere i Vostri commenti in qualsiasi momento.
Grazie alla collaborazione di Vincenzo Ricotta siamo lieti di rendere disponibile i programma appena prodotto per gli eventi dell'estate di Bergeggi.
Giugno, luglio, agosto e settembre 2011 all'insegna della musica, la gastronomia, la cultura ed il piacere di vivere la Liguria.
Nonche' l'iniziativa CineMare grazie alla quale la spiaggia di Bergeggi si trasformera' in un grande cinema all'aperto, la Grotta del Treno, la Biblioteca, l'Area Marina protetta e le altre attrattive del territorio del comune Ligure.
Today I would like to tell you more about the Museo Piaggio in Pontedera (Museo Piaggio "Giovanni Alberto Agnelli" viale Rinaldo Piaggio 7 - 56025 Pontedera (PI)), at about 25 km (15 miles) from Lajatico and Chianni and our Italian Homes in Tuscany.
Last week end I was in Lajatico and Chianni to meet Gian Piero, Alberto and a few people who come over to visit us, and I learned that on Saturday the Mayor of Lajatico - Mr Fabio Tedeschi - would have inaugurated the first part of the village cycling track.
I managed to go there, and in the image you can see Mr Fabio Tedeschi who talks to the children of the Primary School of the Village about the project.
Again on the topic of exploring the territory around our homes in Italy.
This time we talk about the Wine Route that connects to several little town and villages in this part of Tuscany, giving you the opportunity to visit wine productions and the land where the grapes grow, at few minutes driving from your Home in Italy, in this case in Lajatico and Chianni.
Today and for a few weeks to come I would like to talk about a few suggestions on what to do, while in one of our properties in Italy travelling for a short distance from our Italian property.
Actually already last week I wrote about this short trip from property in West Liguria.
This week we will talk about Tuscany, and in particular Lajatico and Chianni, our homes in Italy near the sea, Pisa and Volterra.
It was good to listen to an old man of the village who - visiting this first house at Borgo in Chianni - said: Sembra che ci sia sempre stata! (it looks like it has always been there).
The work of our local partners and our work is focused on several essential aspects, one of which is certainly to build houses that look right, with a lot of character, despite being new.
Yesterday I was in Colletta (an image below) to meet some people who visited it - and our property in Italy - for the first time.
They were Italian (from Milan) and astonished not only by the Village character, which - being one of the first medieval e-village completely restored - is in fact a very special place, but also by the beauty of the countryside in this season.
Actually Spring is among us!
Trees are flourished and the perfumes are strong.
The views of these green fields that re-born after the Winter is quite impressive and - especially for those who live in large towns and cities - is a fantastic feeling of freedom and joy.
It is an excellent time to come over to visit a property in Italy.
I talk to many people who are thinking and/or willing to purchase a property in Italy.
Some time people are knowledgeable and reasonably sure about where to buy and why. Maybe they have specific links with a particular area (friends or relatives), in those cases the choice about "Where and Why" to buy their Italian home is somehow easier.
It was interesting to read on Italia Magazine of April that Pisa airport with its 16 UK destinations (Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, LDN Gatwick, LDN Heathrow, LDN Luton, LDN Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle) looks in the list as one of the best connected airport in the whole Italy, with more UK destinations than Venice, Bergamo, Milan and even Rome!
Despite the exceptional rainfalls Italy has suffered from the end of the summer 2010 (compared with the previous winter, they have been unusually high), the builders have managed to catch up with the original plan.
It looks now likely that the first Italian homes at
Ville degli Olivi will be completed (and delivered) either in June or July 2011.
Beside what I personally think is one of the most appealing reasons to buy the right property in Italy: a personal opportunity to improve your quality of life, being exposed to a different (more genuine) way of living; another important reason is to put a foot on the "property ladder".
Capital appreciation together with letting income are usually two important reasons why people are keen about buying a property (and a property in Italy too).
Good news on the Resort's Private Beach in Bergeggi, West Liguria
We are really glad to inform you that just before Christmas the Development Company - Colletta di Castelbianco Srl - obtained a positive feed-back from the local authority in connection with the project of the private beach (spiaggia privata in concessione consorziata) of the Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano in Bergeggi, West Liguria.
Sono molto lieto di informarLa che appena prima di Natale la Societa' di sviluppo - Colletta di Castelbianco Srl - ha ottenuto riscontro positivo dall'autorita' preposta in relazione al progetto di allestimento della spiaggia privata in concessione consorziata del Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA Dominio San Sebastiano a Bergeggi.
When you go see a film called “The American”, you don’t immediately think of the breathtaking, frozen-in-time hills of Santo Stefano di Sessanio … and yet that’s exactly where the audience is taken for a majority of this fantastic movie featuring George Clooney.
Over the weekend I was happy to read page 38 of this weeks The Economist.
There was an article – “So far, So Good - The Growth Surprise” - about the encouraging, if not surprising, economic growth in the UK for the third quarter.
Lately, media have talked about the “currency war."
The three or four largest economic powers in the world strive to make their currency more “convenient” to favor their own economic interest in the international markets.
Currency levels are thought to be relevant for many aspects of globalized living, especially if you're planning to purchase a holiday home abroad, such as a property in Italy.
Is it really that important? Do these currency levels really matter that much?
It may seem off-season for a trip to Italy for the rest of the world, but in the Chianti Pisano town of Chianni, the festivities are just beginning! The 35th Annual Sagra del Cinghiale begins the weekend of November 12-14 and wraps up the following weekend, November 18-21.
Almost everyone brings up the quality of our property in Italy, the intelligent design, the use of space, the common elements (swimming pools, SPAs, gardens etc.) and our attention to green sustainability and global preservation. These are all wonderful, but few property developers now offer these kinds of advantages also in Italy. So what separates Realitalia from other players in the Italian real estate market?
Luca Catalano explains what you should consider when looking for a second home overseas, and why – in his view - the concept of a ‘home with a vision’ is so important.
Your second home should be a pleasure – just like coffee
“Il caffe’ e’ un piacere se non e’ buono che piacere e’”.
That might mean very little to you, but to Italians in their forties it’s instantly recognizable as a slogan recited by famous Italian actor Nino Manfredi in TV ads for Lavazza, the Italian coffee brand, in decades past.
It encapsulates a common-sense message: coffee is a pleasure, but if it’s not good, how could it give real pleasure?...
This morning I received the Santo Stefano Brochures of these fantastic Sextantio Private Homes in the historical hamlet of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo. Each of these Italian Homes is an absolutely unique piece.
Lately the pound raised in value against the Euro considerably.
I believe that this morning it was trading at around 1.20, i.e. you need to 1 pound to buy 1.20 Euro.
I found it interesting to bring these figured into perspective producing a concrete example on one of our Italian Property in Tuscany. Of course a similar exercise could be done with our other Italian property like Dominio San Sebastiano in Liguria and Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo.
Following on from the last health tips; ‘Olive oil’ and ‘Coffee’, produced by Susan Marshall Tomassini* back at the beginning of March and "Fibre" and "Red Wine" of March 23, here we offer another couple of suggestions.
As you might already be aware, if you have been reading the previous pieces on this subject, they are meant to give small useful bits of advice on how (and why) a more balanced Mediterranean diet can improve your health and your life.
Da oggi anche sul nuovo sito Realitalia potrai accedere ad una serie di immagini che in pochi minuti rappresentano la bellezza di questa proprieta' affacciata sul mare della Liguria, nel litorale di Bergeggi, il quale ormai e' uno dei pochi parchi marini protetti in Liguria, altri sono per esempio quello del promontorio di Portofino, Le Cinque Terre e Portovenere.
La Casa che Ti Ripaga - Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA, Bergeggi, Liguria
Caro Lettore,
Oggi pubblichiamo in anteprima la presentazione del Dominio San Sebastiano, Resort Casa Vacanza & SPA nel paese di Bergeggi in Liguria.
Si tratta di un progetto sviluppato secondo un modello innovativo, in cui la promozione e la gestione professionale della locazione turistica costituisce un efficace supporto per generare un servizio di gestione professionale a favore degli Ospiti e dei Proprietari a condizioni competitive.
Following on from the last health tips; ‘Olive oil’ and ‘Coffee’, produced by Susan Marshall Tomassini* two weeks ago, here we offer another couple of suggestions.
As you might already be aware, if you have been reading the previous pieces on this subject - they are meant to give small useful bits of advice on how (and why) a more balanced Mediterranean diet can improve your health and your life.
I strongly believe that your Italian home will certainly be a great opportunity to enter into a very genuine/Mediterranean way of life, especially one of our Italian properties, as they usually also allow you to access to a certain kind of community - one very much linked to the local environment.
Further to my piece Your Italian retreat as a new healthier way of life, much more than just a property in Italy I am very happy to say that Susan - Susan Marshall Tomassini, Nutritional Therapist BSc MBANT - and I decided that it was a good idea to produce a number of hints about healthier food habits.
Actually Susan kindly has agreed to spend some time on this project: thank you Susan!
These hints are thought to give you small useful suggestions on how a more balanced Mediterranean diet can improve your health and your life.
Of course I will be very happy to hear if you find them interesting or if you wish any particular topic to be approached. If we can we will.
We start from two main "ingredients" of the Italian/Mediterranean diet: Olive Oil and Coffee...
I was intrigued by the opinion of Susan, an English Nutritional Therapist who highlights the medical benefits of a traditional Mediterranean diet:
'Not only is the Mediterranean diet appetizing and delicious, scientific research shows that it can actually reduce one's risk of heart disease, diabetes and other degenerative diseases. This is likely due to the emphasis placed on fresh, seasonal, whole foods, as well as the protective qualities of the antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables and healthy fats (such as olive oil) on which the traditional Mediterranean diet is based.' Susan Marshall Tomassini, Nutritional Therapist BSc MBANT...
I was happy but not surprised to learn that Italy got its place among the 10 best places to live out of 194 countries that were analyzed by the staff of International Living.
Beside other things, they highlighted that circa 60% of the arts treasuries of the world are in Italy, and that the health system has been ranked one of the best in the world.
Actually there are many reasons why your Italian property can be a life changing experience...
Recently, spending some time at a SPA hotel I thought again on how well the Hotel sector grew - in the last 10 years or so - to match the increasing desire of a certain type of people to stay well and to enjoy a genuine sophisticated atmosphere.
You will read what I actually think on this problem in my piece that will go on-line soon. In my opinion the concept is simple: Il caffe' e' un piacere ma se non e' buono che piacere e'? (coffee is a pleasure but if it's not good, how could give a real pleasure?)...
His office is a 12 stores building, which I do not think is older than 30/35 years. Each floor hosts either 2 or 3 units, normally quite large. Most of them are offices.
The entrance is basically a corridor that leads to two 4 people lifts...
Recently I wrote a Twitter about what I think is good news: in accordance with the Economist (05/12/09 page 11) if policy is well designed the cost of addressing climate change effectively could be relatively low...
