Attractions in Italy

On Tuesday, 17th July 2007 the “2nd National Tourism Day” was held in Trieste: Confindustria (the leading association representing all Italian industries) organised this annual conference during which tourism businessmen and political representatives gathered to debate about the situation of the tourist industry in Italy. Authoritative speakers joined the debate: Italian Deputy Prime Minister Rutelli stated that “tourism will be the 1st national industry in the 21st century”, while Mr Illy - the President of the Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia - announced the opening, in Friuli V.G., of the 1st high-level education centre for businessmen and managers of the tourist sector. Businessmen and other official representatives, like Mr. J. Ejarque the President of “Turismo F.V.G.”, focussed on the faults of the Italian tourism, on a regional as well as on a national basis; the same points were then later highlighted by the President of Confindustria Mr. Montezemolo in his closing speech.

According to data issued by the Confindustria Research Centre, the town of San Michele al Tagliamento, i.e. Bibione, ranks at the 3rd place in Italy for what concerns the total amount of available bed-places: this datum needs weighting to create a complete analysis, nonetheless it is enough to measure the potential influence this holiday resort can exert on the overall tourist offer in Italy. Many tourist businesses are active in Bibione, being therefore able to play an important role in the development of the tourist industry with all its subcategories: accommodation firms, catering a food companies, without forgetting entertainment and beach management businesses.

The Casa Mare Agency is a bulwark of the real-estate sector: it has been actually dealing with rentals and real-estate sales in Bibione for more than thirty years, during which it could witness and actively take part in the development of the tourist world, sometimes being even ahead of the times. Comparing the guidelines stated in Trieste with the actions the agency CasaMare has already undertaken, it is possible to check how every single tourist company can help bringing Italy again to its rank as world leader within the tourist business field.

Among the first topics to be discussed there was need for the national tourist offer to become annual instead of seasonal. The agency Casa Mare is actually already complying with this suggestion since it is opened and provides its services all the year long, while among the very many accommodations it manages there are some disposing of heating, which is not at all a minor detail on the upper Adriatic coast, where almost everything has been planned for the summer.

A second element highlighted during the “National Tourism Day” was the issue of a much more diversified offer, which however must avoid the risk of excessive fragmentation, another typical problem for the Italian tourist industry. Almost as if it decided in advance to follow this suggestion, the agency CasaMare has been reorganising its availabilities in order to offer any kind of accommodation: camping places, villas with swimming-pool, hotels of any category and apartments in Bibione directly lying on the beach; no matter the kind of holiday, the agency CasaMare is able to provide every tourist with the most suitable accommodation according to his requirements.

Italy does not mean only Rome, Florence or Venice and this was eventually clearly stated during the meeting in Trieste: improving the whole national territory is the only way to overcome this stagnation and the agency CasaMare seems to have speeded up things again. By planning trips to Venice, Verona, Trieste, to the Postumia caves or to the wonderful Venice Lagoon the agency Casa Mare puts into practice the improvement of the national territory. Seaside resorts like Bibione should be renewed and thought in a different way, not only as seaside resorts but also as starting points to explore the hinterland, a very important input to develop tourism in a more thorough way.

Having been active in the real-estate sector for more than thirty years, the agency Casa Mare relies on a highly qualified staff: only by supplying a high quality service a real-estate agency can ensure constant results and enjoy positive trends in the long run. Besides providing top-quality services, the agency Casa Mare can also offer very competitive pricing levels thanks to economies of scale, which can be only developed by quite large firms. It is doubtless that Italian tourism needs renewal and in order to achieve that goal it needs a strong help from the Government, but the agency Casa Mare proofs that every single operator, every single firm can and should contribute to the common effort.

Italy, a founder member of the EU, is a relatively young country which was only unified as a nation in 1861. It has land borders with Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland while the Vatican City is a separate state within Rome. The country's long coastline, stretching some 7,600km, has contributed to problems with immigration control. Besides deep rooted problems, such as the need to import most raw materials, the country is also plagued by corruption and crime.

The economy is divided by the industrial north and less developed and poorer agricultural south.

As in much of Europe, property prices have been rising. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor's European Housing Review 2005, the housing market has been on 'a sustained upward swing for five years'. Last year 'agents were reporting that market activity was still brisk - although it had fallen below its peak'. Most Italian property is sold as freehold although Italian property law recognizes various other property rights and tenures. Usufruct is a right to use the property of another for a fixed period but not to change its nature.

Leasehold rights, which may be for a fixed period of 20 years or more or in perpetuity, allow the lessor to use the property as if he or she were the owner, subject to a requirement to improve the land and pay a rent. Building rights entitle the holder to construct a building on land belonging to a third party, or maintain a building standing on land belonging to a third party. Building rights may be for a limited or unlimited period of time, but if for a fixed period, ownership of the building reverts to the owner of the land on their expiry. Italian property transfer processes have some similarities to France. Based on land registration, the state regulated process involves both purchaser and seller using the same state appointed notary to complete the transaction.

The process begins with a formal and nominally binding offer to purchase arranged through an estate agent. If accepted during the set period of the offer, this is followed by a preliminary contract signed by both parties (at which point a deposit will be paid). Finally comes formal completion. The notary, in front of whom the completion documents must be signed, will verify that the documentation is correct, that the property is free from registered encumbrances and checks the identities of the parties involved. Searches beyond what is included in the registry are unlikely to be exhaustive.


The notary also collects the taxes and duties involved. These vary between Non-resident property purchasers are treated differently to resident purchasers in a number of ways. In particular they will be obliged to pay higher registration fees, although residence can be claimed within a fixed time subsequent to the purchase. Total fees and charges are likely to amount to between 5 per cent and 20 per cent, including estate agents fee, if applicable, registration fees or VAT if a new property, and the notary's fee. Fees in the order of 8 to 10 per cent are also payable on sale of a property.

Some charges are based on the registered value of the property, which is likely to be less that the actual purchase price. This also applies to local property taxes, the amount of which varies from region to region. The Imposta Comunale surgli Immobili is paid by both resident and non resident owners - although the amount is halved for property that is not habitable. In addition there are likely to be charges for local services. Italian taxation is undergoing reform. From the start of 2005 personal tax rates have been set on a graduating scale ranging from 23 per cent to 39 per cent, with a 4 per cent supplement for income in excess of 100,000 euro.

Property owners are obliged to file annual tax returns but are only taxable on income arising in Italy. However, there tax is levied on the notional rental value of the property (based on its registered value) whether or not it is rented out. Both residents and non-resident property owners are subject to Italian inheritance law and tax. But the good news is that currently there is no capital gains tax to pay on property gains.

When the summer season has come to a close, there's no better way of preserving the colourful fruits of the season than by making some jam. The jam tradition is said to date back as far as the Ancient Greeks, who would gently cook quinces with honey in order to preserve them before the days of refrigeration. Such a method for storing of fruits remains as popular as ever today. Italy offers a number of different types of fruit preserves, with recipes varying across the peninsula. Marmellata generally refers to jams made from citrus fruits, like oranges, Clementines and lemons. Confettura is the term more widely used to comprise all categories of fruits, including some of the Italian favourites, such as the fig, fruits of the forest and plums, all of which can be served with breads and cheeses.

Mostarda is the perennial conserve to grace the cheese plate - a condiment to accompany cheeses made from a mix of fruits, sometimes grape must, and mustard seed. Under each of those categories are a thousand and one recipes and traditions, below I've written about an array of fruity conserves to savour on hot toast and adorn our tarts over the cold winter months.

Confettura Di Fichi

This is a delicious fig jam. It may be "seedy in the extreme", but most importantly of all, it is lovely and fragrant, like a good fig jam should be. This jam has a smooth texture, which reminded me a little of the make-up of the fruit. One of my children found the "seediness" of the pips irritating, but the majority appreciated the tasty conserve of this special little fruit. All in all, the gloopy texture was perfect for piling onto a toasted crostini with a strong round of goat's cheese.

La Nicchia Marmellata Di Limoni

This fruit conserve falls into the marmellata category, and is made from lemons from the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria. This jam is the very solid in consistency. One member of my family suggested that the conserve "smells slightly medicinal", but the general consensus is that, being the least sweet of all the jams, the smell wasn't concealed by the sugary scent.

The texture is firm, with a 'rindy' quality to it. Some concurred that this was the most grown-up of all the jams - not too sweet, and "perfectly tart", offered an enthusiastic lover of the preserve. Serve this slightly bitter marmalade on a fresh croissant for best results.

Alta Valtellina Confettura Extra Di Lamponi

 
A rich dense red is the enticing colour of this exemplary raspberry jam from the mountainous north of Italy. The texture is perfection itself: "lots of chunky, fruity bits", "nice seedy texture" and "juicy liquid too". This was a crowd-pleaser of a jam, one for all members of the family to spoon onto a crusty hot baguette. The jam seems like it hasn't been heavily processed, leaving it with generous lumpy reminders of the fruit in its previous state. The taste in itself "wasn't too sweet", but "soft and mellow" with a little acidity to break through the sugariness.

The sort of jam you can imagine making a fantastic filling for a traditional crostata (tart), thanks to its textured consistency and sharp fruity flavours. The only thing it wouldn't suit, on the other hand, was a cheeseboard.

Italy is one of the most popular places to visit in the world. It’s a favorite of millions of tourists worldwide. And who can blame them? Nobody can resist the charms of Italy’s culture and architecture. This boot-shaped country was, after all, the home of the Legendary Romans and the Heroes of the Renaissance. Indeed, if you’re going to go to Italy, be prepared to have your breathe taken away by the sheer beauty of the place.

1.) The Coliseum

No other civilization in the world could top the Romans in terms of strength and power, and indeed, the Romans practically conquered the world. And for their entertainment, the Romans had the world. They had the Coliseum where the prizes of their conquests, lions and other exotic animals were made to battle with the gladiators. Indeed, if you stand within the walls of this gigantic complex, you can almost feel the spirit of celebration that once rang through the place.

2.) Piazza Campidoglio

The Piazza Campidoglio, or the Capitoline Hill, was the seat of power of the Ancient Romans. And up until today, it still stands as Italy’s center of politics. It holds the famous statue of Castor and Pollux and various structures designed by the great Michaelangelo himself like the double staircase and other buildings.

3.) The Roman Forums

Also, there’s nothing more exhilarating than to visit the place where democracy was born. The Roman Forums, where the Roman senate once held their heated debates discussing everything from large-scale wars to petty squabbles, are also popular tourist attractions. Here, you can find the Forum of Caesar and the Forum of Trajan, and there’s also the Palatine Hill and all the other temples dedicated to the various gods and goddesses of the ancient Romans.

4.) The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the best places that you can visit in Rome. It’s teeming with beautiful architecture, beautiful sculptures, and beautiful statues. This magnificent building is also the home of the grave of the famous painter, Raphael.

5.) The Trevi Fountain

This world renowned fountain is famous for its sheer beauty and size, and it features several sculptures, including one of Neptune coming out from underwater, riding on a sea shell that’s drawn by two horses with wings. It’s featured in Dan Brown’s famous novel, the Da Vinci Code. Also, toss a coin into it while facing away from it and it is said that you will be guaranteed a return to the great city.

6.) The Grand Canal in Venice

There’s nothing more Romantic than going on a boat ride through the famous canals of the floating city of Venice. These quixotic canals are featured in various movies and are a favorite of newlyweds all over the world. It’s also a great way to take in all the sights of the beautiful city.

7.) The Sistine Chapel

The Vatican, though it’s considered as an independent country in itself, is still found in the heart of Italy. And, there, you’ll find the great Sistine Chapel where extraordinary pieces of art can be found. There, you’ll see the works of Michelangelo and Botticelli.

8.) St. Peter’s Basilica

Also, if you’re a fan of great architecture, you will have to see the famous St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s the largest Catholic Church in the whole world, and it’s simply teeming with beautiful paintings, frescoes, and statues. You can also see this Basilica’s famous dome which is literally filled with works of art.

9.) St. Peter’s Square

And of course, if you’re going to St. Peter’s Basilica, you might as well walk a few steps to get to St. Peter’s Square. This beautiful plaza is designed by the famous artist Bernini. It is also featured in Dan Brown’s novels.

10.) The Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens as beautiful as they are large. This grand paradise is filled with beautiful sculptures, fountains, and flowers. It’s a great place for sightseeing and picture-taking.

A country of pasta and wine, sunshine and snow, renaissance palaces and roman ruins, Italy is as beautiful as it is complex, making this region of Italy so popular for people to come and have a self catering holiday here in a rental villa or a rustic rural house. Lombardy is an Italian region which occupies a major part of Po Valley.

Orobic Alps, Rhaetian and Lepontine form its northern borders and it has a hilly district having major Italian lakes from lakes of Iseo, Como and Varese to Easter slopes of the Lago Maggiore. This area is rich in water mainly because of Po and the affluents. The capital of the region is Milan and the major cities are Brescia, Bergamo, Varese, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Sondrio and Como.

The first thing you can do in Lombardy is to view its Romanesque architecture. Each major city of Lombardy has beautiful examples of this type of architecture and the most stunning monument from the Gothic period remains the Cathedral of Milan.

The period of Renaissance has left some sumptuous churches and splendid palaces in Lombardy that are worth seeing if you have visited the place. The Lombard paintings received their greatest splendor in the 15th century.

There are several art museums in Lombardy which include several sections dedicated to applied arts, sculpture and painting. The Brera Gallery exhibits some of the all-time painting masterpieces and the Poldi Pezzoli museum has a rich collection of paintings from great masters, art objects, fittings and jewelry. Painting masterpieces can also be seen in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.

The second thing that you will not resist from doing in Lombardy is participating in activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Being a region of snow, these activities are an all time favorites for the visitors of Lombardy.

There are even institutes that provide instant training to people who do not know how to ski or snowboard. Other activities that you will love to do include cycling, hiking, trekking, camping and wildlife viewing.Rental accommodation can be found in the towns or a chalet in one of the sky resorts.

Shopping is the third thing you will love to do in Lombardy as a visitor. Apart from Milan, there are other places also that provide great shopping facilities for the shopper's minds. Bergamo has the biggest shopping center of Italy named as Oriocenter and it offers everything that you can shop for including foot stuff, jewelry, clothes and Italian leather goods.

Bellagio also has several stores in its central district where you can buy some expensive leather and fashion goods. Visit the Strada Nuova area of Pavia which is a major pedestrian and shopping area of the town.

Some of the major Italian lakes include Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. The fourth thing you can do here is to be on a steamer that cruises between stately gardens and resort towns. Also visiting the famous gardens of Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Borromean Islands is worth it.

The fifth thing you must do in Italian Lakes is to become a part of the film and music festivals, sporting competitions and local events that are held in the area all year through.

There are also several villas, villages and historic towns that are able to satisfy you if you are interested in exploring the culture of the area. The diversity of this region make it so accessible and easy for families to have a self catering holiday here.

If you are looking forward to lakes, beaches, mountains, cladded slopes, medieval towns, architecture, castles, museums and skiing, all at one place, Le Marche is the perfect place to be this vacation. This travel destination is mostly the agricultural area that is covered with greenery. Situated in the very heart of Italy, this place is truly a wonder. A large number of people from various parts of the globe visit this destination in order to spend quality time with their friends and family. The top five things to do in Le Marches include visiting the beaches, walking through the brilliant parks, talking pleasure in the Le Marches events, enjoying the sports and visiting the historical sites.

This area of Italy divided into five regions make it such a popular area for renting holiday accommodation. There are rentals in the mountains or villas overlooking the beautiful sea. The Le Marches area provides a brilliant range of activities and sports for the travelers so that they can have an excellent vacation time. The sports that can be enjoyed by the adventure enthusiasts include horseback riding, biking and hiking. The travelers can easily explore the entire Monte Conero while riding on the horse back.

There are clubs that offer daily riding and hiking for the interested, keeping aside their level of capability. Also, discovering the hiking paths and tracks in Le Marche regional parks is a great activity to perform. Even biking is among the favorite sports for a large number of tourists as well as the local Italians. The gentle and sloping hills serve as the ideal setting to carry on the hiking activity. Taking pleasure in the Le Marches beaches is the next best thing to do. There are various options of Itlian beaches in the Le Marche area. These beaches range from the vibrant Senigallia to the family oriented San Benedetto to the secluded ones of the Monte Conero Coast. The month of august is the time when many travelers gather on the Le Marche beaches.

If you are one of those who desire to spend relaxing, private moments, warm seas and pleasant weather with your loved ones, the months of June, July and September are best to visit the Le Marches. This travel destination is also known for being the home to various Blue Flag Beaches, the quality seal that is provided on the basis of water quality, safety, environmental management and cleanliness. Among the other things to do in Le Marche, a visit to events and food festivals is a brilliant way to know the culture and history of this region. Each and every village and town of Italy proudly conducts its own celebrations and events in order to characterize the local culture and traditions. Most of these festivals take place in the summer season. Every festival celebrated at this destination is highlighted by different renaissance or medieval costumes.

Visiting the historical sites and attractions of Le Marches is the fourth important thing to do. Some of these sites include Raphael's Birth House, Villa Imperiale, Museo Villa Colloredo Mels, Church of Santa Maria and Santa Casa and Basilica. Also, walking or cycling on the footpaths of Sibillini National Park and other regional parks like Parco Regionale della Gola and di Frasassi is a fantastic thing to do in Le Marches. These footpaths are specially designed for all those who wish to go nearer to the nature. So, plan your next rental holiday to Le Marches and experience a truly wonderful time.

There is such a lot of places to go and see in the Le Marche region making it a sort after choice when renting holiday homes or villas. The choice of food and wines make catering a very easy and pleasurable experience for the whole family, keeping everybody relaxed and ready to explore this beautiful region of Italy.

In 1915, the first motor home was built by a rich New York couple. The real craze for motor homes began in the 60s, although several automobiles were modified to incorporate cooking utilities and sleeping gear. Basically, there are three categories of motor homes namely, Class A which is a bus type custom body on truck chassis ,second is Class B which are conversion vans and third is Class C which is pickup chassis or custom body on a van. 

Class A motor home has 1-bedroom.Class A is perfect for couples. The dinette can be made into another bed. Class B vans are good as they can be parked anywhere. In these the roof can be extended upward but size is somewhat similar to that of a Ford van. It sometimes includes toilets and shower. These motor homes are luxurious for traveling .The tourist can travel with their dogs without having to hunt for a dog-friendly hotel. Tourist can get motor homes in Italy very easily. Italy is so diverse that traversing in a motor is an experience of all times.

Tourist can stay in good farmhouses, and can enjoy their trip. These farmhouses add more comfort to the vacation. Az. II and Querciollo are the two farmhouses that have all the amenities and luxuries for the tourists.

Az. Il Querciollo

Az. Il Querciollo is situated at the heart of Valdichiana. It is an old farmhouse of 18th century. It is a captivating farmhouse which is surrounded by sun flower and wheat fields, grains, vineyards and olive oil. There is an old courtyard which in its epoch was known to be social center of farming life style. Az. Il Querciollo is a beautiful farmhouse that was built in the area of an old farmyard. The farmhouse is the place where one can experience the true beauty of nature. 

The farmhouse which is in the heart of rural culture was renovated without loosing its original characteristic and charm. It turned into six beautiful, comfortable and cozy apartments that have all the modern days’ amenities like microwaves and satellite TV, with furnishings with antique furniture. It is surrounded by valleys, and is sited in a way that allows the full view of the surrounding. In every season, the valley offers diverse astonishing views. 

Every season has its own magical colors like in summer there are ripe wheat which look lustrous in golden yellow color and the very bright green color of spring, in autumn season the ochre of the earth that is ready for sowing after ploughing .In a bright sunny and panoramic location there a nice pool that is equipped with deckchairs, sun umbrellas and sun beds. There is a very beautiful garden, large in size with a wood oven, garden furniture, small lake for fishing, a barbecue, mountain bikes, and a play area for children.

Agr. Crosticia

Agr. Crosticia is an astonishing farm vacation residence .This is a building that has been brought to a new life by expertly and cautiously renovated and restored.This beautiful farmhouse is near Castiglion Fiorentino, fully covered with Appenines gentle hills and the Valdichiana's green plain. It is very close to the nature with all the natural and beautiful scenery around it. This is an ideal place for those tourists who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Tourist will find that this farm house is equipped with all the modern days’ amenities without loosing the touch of an ancient farm house. It has a nice vibrant blue swimming pool, olive oil trees with very bright silvery green color. This thing displays the owner's good taste and helpfulness, who assures a tranquil and restful vacation in Italy. L'Oliveto, Il Poggetto and Il Rio are the three beautiful apartments of Agr. Crosticia.

All these apartments are furnished expertly with mostly rustic furniture and, modern amenities and comfort. It has lovely gardens, including garden furniture and a beautiful swimming pool. It provides its guest the offer, to buy and taste organic products such as Jam, vegetables, chestnuts, wine, oil and honey. Agriturismo la Crosticia was once inhabited by farmer. Between the verdant Val di Chiana and beautiful hillside of Tuscan Apennine lies a estate near the Castiglion Fiorentino.There are three apartments of Agriturismo La Crosticia which is comfortably and tastefully furnished .It is possible to buy and taste the local products of this place. These vacation houses are a beautiful place for spending vacations in Italy with all peace and tranquility.

Italy rentals are very popular in the Campania region. Campania is a beautiful region of Italy famous for its numerous tourists attractions and rich culture. This region is best known for its fertile lands and amazing landscapes. This region also offers The Vesuvius that is one of the active volcanoes of Europe located on the Gulf of Naples. Its Amalfi coast is world famous for the grottoes and high cliffs. Tourists can also enjoy shopping, nightlife and beautiful beaches of this region.

One of the best things to do in Campania is exploring its market. Here tourists can easily explore the fantastic Italy's fashion and its rich culture. The best place of shopping in Campania is Sorrento or Naples, both known for their famous clothes and jewelries. Tourists can avail designer clothes in malls as well as local shops although local shops are less expensive than the malls. Besides fashionable clothes, tourists can also shop for good bottles of wines such as red wine, which is a specialty of Campania. Also, you can enjoy the wine specialties like key chains and shot glasses. This region is also known for its unique art materials and gift items. Above all, journey to Campania is incomplete without shopping.

If you go to this region, then you should not miss the nightlife as it offers various activities such as casinos and bars. One thing which is seen in Campania often is people sitting on the road and enjoying a glass of red wine. One can also enjoy the visits to the bars and clubs. You can spend your nights in cafes and enjoy delicious drinks. This region also offers various theatres and music shows like Opera in the nights. In addition to these, live entertainment shows can be enjoyed. Tourists can also visit the local shops known as piazza and restaurants as these remain open for the whole night.

One must also visit the Pompeii town which is located at the foot of famous Mt. Vesuvius. The interesting feature of this mountain is that it is the only mountain of Europe with active volcanoes. Here, tourists can know about the histories of volcanoes with the help of hired guides. This tour also includes the historical information of Pompeii town and the events during the volcanic eruptions. Another beautiful attraction of Campania is the Amalfi Coastal road known for its long stretch that runs through the various towns of this area. 

Tourists can enjoy the long drive of this coast which involves sightseeing of various landscapes, huge cliffs and ocean view. One can either go for drives by their personal cars or rented cars which is easily available there. Last but not the least, Campania has various beautiful beaches and rivers such as Marina Piccola and Baia di Ieranto. However, the famous among all is Marina Piccola, a beach known for the adventurous water sports and volley ball. Tourists can try surfing and sailing on this beach which makes this place more exciting and amazing. 

One can also enjoy paragliding and banana boat ride as they are the common water sports of this beach. Catch a boat from Sorrento and visit the islands of Capri and Ischia for exclusive shopping and great dining not worrying what time to be back as self catering villas will give you the freedom to explore. Families and couples come to this very beautiful Campania region of Italy to rent a self catering villa, giving them the independence to sample the beautiful foods and culture with total freedom.

Undertaking a renovation project in Italy can be very challenging but can also be plenty of satisfaction. Putting your own sign on a property to restore means to bring back to life a home and it is also very important to keep the region's architectural traditions, resulting into a home that reflects your own identity and expectations and at the same time can also fit into its natural surroundings. Restoring is not for everyone, it means time and money. Undertaking a restoration project, of course, is time and energy consuming. For a standard home, assuming the building structure is sound, a complete renovation with a supervision service takes between 6 months and a year.

A good way to save money is to do some of the physical restoration work yourself, but before starting to restore a home make sure you have the necessary technical skills, in order to avoid expensive setbacks, loss of time and poor results. For example, could you restore the roof of your Italian ruin by yourself? Are you able to check the condition of the existing foundations? Don't worry, in case you need some help you can always ask your Italian Real Estate Agency, which usually works with a network of selected partners and professionals, such as architects (Architetto) or Geometra (surveyors), which you must have to sign any restoration projects. We suggest you use an architect, especially if you have particular requests to realize your dream home. However, the use of a Geometra is usually enough to satisfy any standard needs.

The expenses of restoration for an Italian property depend on several factors, mainly on the size, on the structural conditions of the house to renovate and on the quality of materials that you choose. Italy has a very wide variety of great materials and a long tradition of their skilful use. If you have a generous budget, you can restore your dream home using local traditional materials like terracotta floors, wooden beams, travertine, etc. If you have a more modest budget, you can use medium-priced materials that still have very good standards and will allow you to have a high-quality result.

Labour costs and sometimes even prices of materials vary from one region to another. For example costs in Tuscany can go from €1000/1500 per square metre for a renovation that keeps original features using standard quality materials, to €2000/2500 using luxury materials. Umbria is a bit less expensive and prices go from €1200 to €1400 per sq. m.; Sardinia from €700 to €1000, about €1000 are needed in Liguria, from €700 to €1500 in Le Marche and from €400 to €750 per square metre for a restoration in Sicily.

You should also be aware that renovation estimates usually refer to building work alone and do not include plumbing, electrician's fees or finishing costs. You should ask for these separately or at least ask whether they are included. Moreover, a good way to avoid contingencies putting you over your budget, is to choose a property with an agreed fixed-price contract on its restoration work. Finally, you can obviously save a considerable amount of money in the long-term by following the principles of green building that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. 

Green building incurs higher initial costs, but will save you money in the long run and will reduce the overall impact on the environment. To give you an idea, a restoration using green-building materials that incurs a 15/20 per cent increase in costs on normal restoration, can save you up to 50/60 per cent on utility bills; whereas if we consider reconstruction with an upfront investment of 30% more, you can almost forget your bills and save in the region of 90%. At any rate, once the project of your restoration property is done, you will be for sure the proud owner of an Italian home that fully reflects your taste and your identity.

You're off to Italy on a cooking school tour you've been dreaming of for years, perhaps in the magnificent Barolo wine country in Piedmont or on the east coast in Sicily with views of the Mediterranean and snow capped Mount Etna.

You want to enjoy your sensual experiences in Italy to the maximum: the beauty, the countryside, food, cooking lessons, wine tastings, sightseeing excursions and visits with local people.

Here are four detailed tips on getting all the joy possible out of your Italian cooking school tour, gleaned from my 12 years of experience creating and leading cooking tours in Italy.

1. Many cooking school tour members tell me, "I've eaten too much! There's too much food. I'm a food lover so how can I discipline myself when everything is SO delicious."

Find out what is on your lunch or dinner menu so you can pace yourself. That way you avoid eating a lot of one course only to find three more courses are coming and you don't have room for all the wonderful food.

Most Italian meals for special occasions (all cooking school tour meals are special occasions) have five courses: one to five appetizers, pasta or rice, meat or fish, vegetable side dish and dessert, so pacing yourself makes a big difference in your enjoyment of your meal.

A good cooking school tour guide will list all the dishes on the menu to the group before a meal. If she doesn't, ask her to do so.

Sample a little bit of everything so you experience as many flavours and dishes as possible. That's one reason you go on a cooking school tour, isn't it?

Trying a bit of everything will also avoid offending your hospitable cooking teachers or chefs. Then you can smile and say, "It was absolutely wonderful, but I just don't have the space." I'm on the petite side, so this line makes perfect sense to my Italian hosts.

2. Some cooking school tour participants say, "The cooking classes were hands-on but I didn't get enough time to cook hands-on during the lesson. The chef did too much of the cooking in the class."

If you want to participate more hands-on in the class, get beside the chef and jump right in. If you hang back, waiting to get asked to do something, you may wait awhile and go away feeling disappointed you didn't get a real hands-on class.

Some tour guides and chefs notice who is shy and hanging back in the kitchen and encourage them to "step up to the plate", but others don't. You have to be assertive and volunteer.

3. Some cooking school students wonder, "Will I gain weight during my cooking tour with the vast quantities of irresistible food?"

One woman told me she lost 10 pounds during her cooking lesson trip in Italy. No fried chicken or hamburgers, just healthy, natural, less fatty foods. Italians eat less junk food and more fresh, local foods than many North Americans. She drank water and no pop. She did much more walking than she ever does at home.

If you can find time on your cooking school tour to go for walks or hikes, you'll go home weighing the same or less, and feel much more energetic while on your cooking tour.

Better still, choose cooking school tours that include some good walks perhaps along paths in the Tuscan or Piedmont wine country or along coasts in Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

4. Communicate in a direct, friendly way with your tour guide about what you want.

Once you're in Italy in the middle of experiencing your cooking school tour, you may want to change the tour itinerary slightly. For example, you discover many tempting leather shops in a Tuscan hill town and want to spend more time shopping and forego your spa treatments on the itinerary.

Ask your tour guide how you can change activities. Most tour guides try to be as flexible as possible. After all, their job is making sure you enjoy yourself!

If there's anything you're not enjoying on your tour, take your tour guide aside, give constructive, friendly feedback and work together to make changes. Don't be like some people who say nothing about their disappointments until they fill out the tour evaluation form at the end of the tour when it's too late to help them.

If you're enjoying an activity tremendously, ask your guide how you can do more of it. "I loved that boat ride! Is there any way we can do more boat rides?" Tour guides love seeing you happy and will do all they can to delight you.

In conclusion, if you pace yourself at the table, try a small amount of everything, assert yourself in the kitchen, enjoy the healthy cuisine, get some exercise and communicate well with your tour guide, your Italian cooking school tour will give you all you dreamed of and more.

There are some little facts that tourists and holiday makers to Tuscany need to know about the reputed food and wine that have made the Italian city a must-visit destination. It is well known among visitors and tourists to Italy that Tuscany has some of the Continent's finest cuisines and wines which are mostly used to entertain first-time visitors. Wine adds a special touch to any occasion that is worth celebrating. This explains why people from all over the world choose to travel all the way to Italy and specifically Tuscany, to celebrate special moments. As for Tuscany, it is not in any way different from other favorite tourist destinations in terms of relaxation spots but what makes it stand out is the unique taste of its dishes; making it an attraction to all comers.

Tuscany wine has an unrivaled reputation among all others in the region with a distinct flavor that makes it a favorite to many wine lovers all over Europe and globally too. Since wine is known to add color to all events being celebrated, it is only wise for one to make Tuscany a preferred holiday destination. There are multiple wine zones in Tuscany. Some of the most important of these wine zones include Chianti Classico, Bolgheri and Montalcino.

It is arguably true that Tuscany is a major center of Italian's wine producing cities because it is also widely said that Italy is the highest wine producing country in the world. Thus, Tuscany boasts of some of Italian's finest with a wide variety of such wines. For many decades, wine has been a major attraction to Tuscany; what with the number of visitors and tourists flocking into the city regularly for their fair share of wine-dine sessions. In recent years, Tuscany's wine makers have been putting in extra effort to enhance the quality of their wines which results in the high class products that make their way out of Tuscany's vineyards.

The excellence of Tuscany's wines are better tried and tasted for the above facts to be agreed. Whether it's for domestic consumption or for the world's markets, Tuscany can't simply be ignored on a list of the best towns producing the best wines. As the saying goes, “the taste of the pudding is in the eating, so does the taste of Tuscany's foods and wines. Within the town itself, it is very easy to locate any restaurant, eatery or bar for a quick go at any of the city's numerous foods and wines. For those who choose to take away the exotic wines, there are lots of stores where they can be found.

Tuscany's wines have come a long way that the best among the different wines have earned the term "Super Tuscan Wines". These are the types that are made using several blends of exotic varieties of fruits like grape, strawberry, cherry, etc. The west of Tuscany where the Bolgheri wine zone has its base is known as the birthplace of Tignanello and Sassacaia; both of which are Super Tuscan Wines. The wines from Bolgheri have lately been receiving more attention than ever before. Most especially in recent decades and this is largely because of their high quality among other Italian wines. Red Tuscany wine is one of the favored drinks among both locals and visitors to the Italian city.

This may be because of its unique mode of preparation whereby several different grapes like Syrah, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are blended together to give the finished product. The above grapes are also used to produce different types of wines. Although much has been highlighted about Tuscan wines, the city's food also enjoys the same attention as its beverage counterpart with the comments and feedback of many visitors and tourists to Tuscany.

Holiday makers to Italy always love to stop over in Tuscany to have a taste of what they often read about on the pages of travel magazines and journals. For many visitors to Italy, there are more than enough varieties of cuisines to try for an entire month for those who may be visiting the country as first timers. There is equally a wide array of mouth-watering delicatessens to try for those who are regular comers to Tuscany.

As a good way of enjoying your stay in Tuscany, you can decide to take down the list of the most popular dishes that are common among locals. Along with this list, you may also copy the recipes of the dishes that are easy to prepare or that belong to your list of favorites; with love from Tuscany. In the absence of something new to take home as souvenir from Tuscany, one can take this simple but important list of cuisines back home so as to make something out of the Italy trip. Really, foods and wines in Italy and to be specific, Tuscany, are cheap, affordable and readily available too. Depending on your preferences, you just can't run out of what to eat or drink while you are out in the Tuscan home of Italy. See you there.