Italian Properties

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Five New Resorts in Calabria
Italian Properties are proud to announce the launch of five brand new resorts in southern Italy, to be situated in Tropea, Pizzo, Vibo Valentia, Amendolara and Trebisacce. Pre-launch discounts available from between 6-10% off until August! With prices starting from ONLY €115,000 the best has never been so affordable. Each of our resorts offers a beautiful location, coupled with the opportunity of stunning sea views in most, direct access to facilities and the beach. * 80% LTV mortgage available, rates from as little as 5% * Management of your properties * Fully finished with kitchen and white goods * Payment plans starting from just 35% deposit <a href="http://www.italianproperties.org/calabria.html" italianproperties.org/calabria.</a> Southern Italy represents one of the finest investment opportunities in Europe. It posseses all the benefits without the inflated property prices of the more established northern Italian market. With miles of unspoilt coastline, rich in culture and steeped in history, it has long been a well kept secret by Italians and has a very strong homegrown tourist trade. The Italian government are ploughing 100 million Euros into the area to improve infastructure and to bring in more foreign investment making this already economically strong country even more attractive. With year on year capital growth predicted at 20-24% the potential of this intoxicating area is enormous. Peace of Mind Developments in Italy are bank guaranteed, giving you added reassurance when investing your money. Investment The government are set to invest €100 billion into the south of the Italy to improve infrastructure. Climate Mediterranean climate offering temperatures between 15-31 degrees year round. Accessibility There are currently several low cost airlines such as Ryanair, Alitalia and Aer Lingus flying from London, Manchester and Dublin with the added benefit of a short 2.5 hour flight. Tax benefits No Capital Gains Tax, plus clients can rest assured that there is a double treaty taxation in place between the UK and Italy. No Inheritance Tax. Inheritance tax was abolished in 2001. Capital growth In 2007 property prices increased by 25%. According to Media reports and studies prices are expected to increase by 20-25% per year for the next 5 years. Beaches Tropea was awarded the number 1 beach holiday location in The Sunday Times Top 20 Beach Holiday. Tourism Tourism predicted to rise year on year offering fantastic rental potential on your property if required. Activities New PGA Golf courses planned. World class diving and expanding ski resorts. Culture Steeped in history, art and culture Calabria has many beautiful beaches, historical sites and places of interest for the more intrepid traveller. EU member No restrictions on members of the EU when purchasing a property in Italy. See full details of the Five New Resorts in Calabria <a href="http://www.italianproperties.org/calabria.html" italianproperties.</a>

Undiscovered Italy
It is a cultured crowd (or at least they would like to think so) who make for Tuscany in summer. The region's undulating olive groves, Renaissance towns and stone borghi satisfy their romantic definition of "summer holiday". But those who dream of owning an Italian farmhouse in Tuscany will find the prices far from romantic. In sought-after parts of the region (so-called Chiantishire, for example) and even in neighbouring Umbria, an average four-bedroom, stone farmhouse can cost about €1.2 million. The British outpost, however, comprises a relatively small area of Italy. If you venture an hour north into Lunigiana or south into Emilia-Romagna, equivalent properties can cost up to half as much - and there is still plenty for classics scholars to sink their teeth into. For those prepared to explore, there are many lovely, old houses within easy reach of unspoilt coast and countryside all over Italy. Hardened Tuscanophiles will take some convincing that the countryside in Basilicata, in the far south, could be mistaken for Tuscany, but the €600,000 (£475,860) price tag for a bespoke stone farmhouse, surrounded by olive groves, might get them thinking. Here are 10 of the most enticing areas. 1. Majella, Abruzzo <SCRIPT language=javascript src="/core/NetGravity/mpu.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://ads.telegraph.co.uk/js.ng/site=property&spaceid=mpu&sz=200x200&sz=240x400&sz=250x250&sz=300x250&ls=f&transactionID=1213022115610&Section=property/overseas&view=details&xml=/property/2008/05/31/pitaly131.xml"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/N5054.telegraph.co.uk/B2875634.6;sz=300x250;click=;click=http://ads.telegraph.co.uk/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=27731&AdID=34727&TargetID=2551&ASeg=&AMod=&Redirect=;ord=bdfutxn,beeApKgdhnqIq?"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://m.uk.2mdn.net/879366/flashwrite_1_2.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=VBScript> dcmaxversion = 9 dcminversion = 6 Do On Error Resume Next plugin = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxversion & ""))) If plugin = true Then Exit Do dcmaxversion = dcmaxversion - 1 Loop While dcmaxversion >= dcminversion </SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> Getting there: Abruzzo International Airport, Pescara La cucina: Maccheroni alla Chitarra, black truffles I vini: Trebianno Abruzzo has slipped through the net of most British second-home owners. "Abruzzo has everything, yet still only Italians seem to be aware of it," says Lorna Richardson of Properties Around Italy. It is fronted on one side by the Adriatic coastline, with Europe's only blue flag beaches (seven in total). Further inland are some of Italy's best-preserved medieval and Renaissance hill-towns such as Castel del Monte and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, as well as the Roccaraso ski area and national parks. "I spent more than six years searching all over Italy to find my ideal property. I now live in Abruzzo. I rest my case," says Ms Richardson. "I can ski in winter, a 15-minute drive from my house, I can be on the beach in the summer, a 30-minute drive, and I live in the national park, with views to die for. Nowhere is like Abruzzo." <li> 2. Le Colline Pisane, Tuscany Getting there: Pisa airport La cucina: Peposo della Fornacina (beef cooked in a cotta pot with herbs and black pepper) I vini: Chianti Colline Pisane The hilly countryside south-east of Pisa is less "discovered" than other parts of Tuscany, but is still a viable option for culture vultures, as it is less than an hour away from Castiglioncello, Forte dei Marmi, Florence and Lucca. 3. Casperia, northern Lazio </li> <li> Getting there: Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino airports La cucina: Saltimbocca alla Romana (sliced veal with ham in a Marsala sauce) I vini: Cerveteri vineyards, and Est Est Est from Montefiascone All eyes are on Viterbo in northern Lazio, as the area has been chosen for Rome's third international airport. Regular flights from the UK will boost the local economy and open up the surrounding countryside. The airport will serve both Rome and northern Lazio, bridging the gap between Rome and southern Umbria and Tuscany. Northern Lazio is dotted with medieval villages, such as Bagnaia, Montefiascone and Vitorchiano, and features two picturesque lakes, Vico and Bolsena. Further east towards Umbria, around the medieval town of Casperia, 45 minutes from Rome, there are stone properties and villas for sale at a fraction of what they would cost across the Umbrian border. </li> <li> 4. Corinaldo, Le Marche <SCRIPT language=javascript src="/core/NetGravity/mpu.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://ads.telegraph.co.uk/js.ng/site=property&spaceid=mpu&sz=200x200&sz=240x400&sz=250x250&sz=300x250&ls=f&transactionID=1213022490767&Section=property/overseas&view=details&xml=/property/2008/05/31/pitaly131.xml"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=VBScript> on error resume next ShockMode = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8"))) </SCRIPT><noembed></noembed><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> Getting there: Ancona, Rimini, Bologna airports La cucina: Vincisgrassi (baked lasagne without tomatoes) I vini: Verdicchio wine The Italians have claimed the coast of the Le Marche (pronounced Markay) region, and left the rolling inland countryside free for British buyers. "Le Marche is perfect for people who are gutted they can't afford to buy in Tuscany," says Dominic Hepplethwaite of Live In Italy.Expect to pay about €200,000 for a stone house with rural views, surrounded by private land, requiring renovation. Dermott Sales, of Le Marche Townhouses, recommends Monterubbiano, Corinaldo and Ostra Vetere - medieval and Renaissance towns within easy reach of beautiful walking country and the Adriatic coast. "The best properties for sale in Le Marche tend to be between 5km and 25km inland from the Adriatic coast, as they have the best of both worlds, with the sea less than 25 minutes to the east and the mountains and skiing only 30 to 45 minutes to the west," he says. </li> <li> 5. Garfagnana Valley, Tuscany Getting there: Pisa airport La cucina: Zuppa di farro (Tuscan bean and barley soup) I vini: Sangiovese wines and vin santo Garfagnana, north of Lucca, does not rival Florence or Siena in terms of culture, but the countryside is brimming with nature and you are offered a lot more property for your money (€400,00 to €600,000 for a property with land, compared with €1.2million to €1.3million in the most popular parts of Tuscany.) "You have a Tuscany address, but it is more isolated," says Dominic Hepplethwaite. This did not deter Carducci, Pascali, Shelley and Byron from visiting, and the annual jazz festival at Barga, near Castel Nuovo di Garfagnana, is attracting a larger crowd each year. Try not to let the fact that it is one of Italy's rainiest regions put you off.Garfagnana's proximity to the mountains, forests and coast will compensate for the unpredictable weather. </li> <li> 6. Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy Getting there: Milan airports La cucina: Salame di Varzi and black truffles I vini: Oltrepo Pavese (DOC) The region of Oltrepo Pavese is called "Little Tuscany" by those who know it, due to its undulating hills, vineyards and medieval hamlets. Until now, it has attracted mainly Milanese buyers (including Giorgio Armani) in search of a second home less than an hour from Milan. But British buyers are beginning to explore the area, finding properties priced about 50 per cent less that the equivalent in Tuscany. Towns such as Stradella, Broni and Casteggio are within easy reach of the Ligurian coast and Milan. Larger shops can be found in the university city of Pavia. Wine-tasting (wine has been made in Oltrepo for 3,000 years), walking, and riding will appeal to British holidaymakers, but spoken Italian is essential. "No one in Oltrepo Pavese that I have contacted from the property industry has ever attempted to speak English," says Paul Hudson of the Property Finders. </li> <li> 7. Lunigiana, northern Tuscany Getting there: Pisa, Parma and Genoa airports La cucina: Testaroli with pesto sauce I vini: Vermentino Colli di Luni DOC Squeezed between Liguria, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna, Lunigiana is a region of Roman ruins, medieval castles and baroque palaces. You might have heard of Cinque Terre, on the nearby Ligurian coast - five fishing villages, built on stone spurs, with coloured properties popular with wealthy Italians. But you may not have ventured further into the Lungiana hills, where there are vineyards and hidden villages. </li> <li> 8. Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna La cucina: Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, parmesan. I vini: Lambrusco. Getting there: Bologna, Milan (Bergamo), Milan airports The plains of Emilia-Romagna are dotted with grand towns such as Bologna, Parma and Modena, but if you venture into the mountainous north-west, there are good-value stone farmhouses and villas. Admittedly, it can be isolated, but if you are a nature-lover, it is a more affordable option than Tuscany or Umbria. Rupert Fawcett, of Knight Frank, recommends Val Tidone and Val Trebbia, two valleys popular with the Milanese and Genovese. "The surrounding Piacentini hills offer a similar landscape to Tuscany, but are better priced," he says. </li> <li> 9. Otranto, Puglia <SCRIPT language=javascript src="/core/NetGravity/mpu.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://ads.telegraph.co.uk/js.ng/site=property&spaceid=mpu&sz=200x200&sz=240x400&sz=250x250&sz=300x250&ls=f&transactionID=1213022673001&Section=property/overseas&view=details&xml=/property/2008/05/31/pitaly131.xml"></SCRIPT> Getting there: airports at Brindisi and Bari La cucina: Taiddha (mussels, potatoes, pecorino) I vini: Salento Puglia Southern Italy has more Mediterranean and Greek influences than the north, and this is reflected in the architecture and cuisine. Lecce, on the coast, is widely regarded as "Florence of the south", but unlike its northern twin, it is created from pietra leccese, the local stone. Here, there are designer shops, restaurants and a half-buried Roman amphitheatre. There are stunning beaches between Lecce and the town of Otranto - popular with Italy's jetset, with regular ferries to Greece. "Puglia is beach-orientated," says Rupert Fawcett of Knight Frank. House prices in the region have risen by 8 per cent in two years; buyers can choose between masserie (traditional courtyard farmhouses) and trulli (conical-shaped, white-washed houses, designed to be cool in summer and warm in winter) that cost as little as €30,000. </li> <li> 10. Matera, Basilicata Getting there: airports at Brindisi and Bari La cucina: calzone di verdura (folded pizza with chard, peppers and raisins) I vini: Aglianico del Vulture The lesser-known Basilicata forms a triangle between Campania, Puglia and Calabria, and, according to Rupert Fawcett, the landscape could be mistaken for Tuscany. "It is geographically closer to Greece than Milan," says Mr Fawcett. "And this is reflected in the food and culture." There are good beaches and countryside, with stone villages and vineyards. </li> <li> Buying property in rural Italy </li> <li>Spend time in an area before buying. </li> <li>Find an English-speaking agent or use a buying agent, e.g <a href="http://www.italianproperties.org">www.italianproperties.org</a> </li> <li>Italians don't go in for glossy brochures. The best properties are often found by word of mouth. </li> <li>Be warned: if Italians smell a foreigner, they are prone to double the price. </li> <li>Negotiate: prices are flexible by as much as €200,000. </li> <li>For rentals, buy in an area with a good infrastructure: airport, station, and motorway. </li> <li>Seek financial and legal advice before purchase. </li> <li>Both buyer and seller must pay agent's fees, usually 3 per cent. </li>

Italy set to abolish property tax
Following last week's elections in Italy, the country's government should soon be implementing some reforms, which could spell good news for Italy's housing market. Newly re-elected Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has pledged to see his electoral campaign promises through. During the run-up to the Italian elections, Berlusconi pledged to eliminate the main Italian property tax. At the first meeting of his newly formed government, the Italian PM said that this is a promise he would fulfill, despite the estimated cost to the government. Abolishing the principal property tax in Italy (the ICI) would undoubtedly be a boon for any investor in the Italian property market, but it is reckoned that by doing so, the government would see a loss of roughly € 2 billion in potential revenue. The abolition of the ICI would add to Italy's potential for those thinking of investing there, as capital gains tax (CGT) on property is wiped out after five years of ownership. By getting rid of the ICI, home buyers would be presented with another incentive to sink their money into Italy and this in turn could help to push up property prices in the country. Combined with the lack of CGT, this could mean long term investors would see favourable returns upon sale, Berlusconi was eager to please during the electoral campaign and sceptics fear that he may have been too enthusiastic, estimating that if he were to act upon all his pre-election promises, he would need to find €63 billion of government cash to fund them, It would seem that canny investors have already started to cotton on to the benefits of Italian property; earlier this year a survey carried out by A Place in the Sun Magazine ranked the country fifth in the top ten destinations for overseas buyers. The poll showed how Italy was muscling in on the traditional destinations such as Spain and France (ranked first and second respectively), moving up three positions from the previous survey.

Italian Property tax laws benefiting new buyers
Taxing times for Italy? Italian tax laws have recently changed and it is private buyers looking for holiday homes, supplemented by holiday rentals that are now streets ahead compared to the taxing times of old. Considerably lower completion costs and the potential to bypass capital gains tax will certainly benefit the already formidable Italian property market. Non-professional investors who are looking for a holiday home that they will enjoy for at least five years, or a permanent residence, are undoubtedly the winners in the Italian property market. New tax laws now favour this sector of the market with dramatic tax benefits. Purchase costs in Italy used to be as high as 15-17%, but new rulings mean that this figure can decrease to approx 4% - 5%, which is a huge gain in some cases. Furthermore, after five years of property ownership owners, even holiday home owners, are exempt from capital gains tax in Italy. Capital gains tax stood at 12% but under new rulings this has been raised to 20%, so long term investors seeking stability gain considerably. This coupled with inheritance tax only on high value properties and still significantly lower than that of UK death duties, is also a big factor to mature individuals looking to invest here. Sarah Ferrara, Managing Director of Garda Homes, says, “To gain some perspective of just how beneficial the new taxs laws are, if we take the featured two bedroom apartment in Caneto, near the popular Lake Garda town of Salò, as an example, we see that under the old rules taxes on this property would have been £16,500. However, under the new rulings this figure drops dramatically to around just £2,250; the savings are evident for all to see. Furthermore, if the owner becomes an Italian resident within 18 months of purchase this figure drops again to around just £600. Therefore those looking to invest into the Italian property market to enjoy the benefits of this region also gain significantly financially. The new tax laws will undoubtedly bring a resurgence of buyers back to Italian shores which will further strengthen this market which has performed well over the last decade.”

Change in Italian tax laws makes property more alluring
Italian tax laws have recently changed and it is private buyers looking for holiday homes, supplemented by holiday rentals that are now benefiting. Non-professional investors who are looking for a holiday home that they will enjoy for at least five years are undoubtedly the winners in the Italian property market. New tax laws now favour this sector of the market. Purchase costs in Italy used to be as high as 15-17 percent, but new rulings mean that this figure can decrease to approximately 4 - 5 percent. Furthermore, after five years, even holiday home owners, are exempt from capital gains tax in Italy. Capital gains tax stood at 12 percent but under new rulings this has been raised to 20 percent. This coupled with inheritance tax only on high value properties and still significantly lower than that of UK death duties, is also a big factor to mature individuals looking to invest in the country. Sarah Ferrara, managing director of Garda Homes, said: “To gain some perspective of just how beneficial the new tax laws are, if we take the featured two bedroom apartment in Caneto, near the popular Lake Garda town of Salò, as an example, we see that under the old rules taxes on this property would have been £16,500. “However, under the new rulings this figure drops dramatically to around just £2,250; the savings are evident for all to see. “The new tax laws will undoubtedly bring a resurgence of buyers back to Italian shores which will further strengthen this market which has performed well over the last decade.”

Six of the best northern Italian towns
THE most famous temptations of northern Italy - the cities of Venice, Milan and Turin, and the panoramic charms of the Lakes - make it easy to forget the diversity and richness of the region's smaller towns. Yet from Rivoli in western Piedmont to Trieste in the east, it is possible to enjoy all pleasures of the region, but without the crowded sprawl and high prices of the larger destinations. Here, from Vercelli to Padua, are six towns in which history and contemporary life enjoy a successful and reassuringly comfortable long-term marriage. You can reach them on budget airlines to small Italian airports, such as Bergamo and Treviso, and all are within easy reach of each other by car or local trains and buses. VERCELLI “You are like a land no one has ever mentioned before,” the poet Cesare Pavese wrote. So discreet is this narrow labyrinthine town that, arriving from the railway station, there appear to be no hotels. Parts of the massive Cathedral of St Eusebius go back 1,500 years. It is home to the Vercelli Book, which includes one of the earliest English religious texts, the 8th-century Dream of the Rood. Vercelli is where England's “first tourist”, Thomas Coryat, discovered the “fork” in 1608. It is also the rice-growing capital of Europe, and the many local risotto dishes are unique to the region. Try panissa: risotto with Saluggia beans, sausage (such as the salam d'la duja) and red wine. At eight in the evening in Piazza Cavour, the central square, there is not an empty seat in any of the three cafés, despite the rain. I am the only foreigner. “So sleepy,” says my waiter, catching the eye of a local beauty. “We are a town of 40,000, nothing happens here. Now in Turin ...” Stay in Hotel Matteotti (00 39 0161 211187, <a href="http://www.hotelmatteotti.it/">www.hotelmatteotti.it</a>, B&B doubles about £63) on the outskirts of town. For delicious snacks, stop in at the Sassone bakery on Galileo Ferraris, which is full of exotic breads such as fogliette and diplomatici. CREMONA The centre of Cremona is defined by three large squares surrounding the massive cathedral and the highest bell tower in Europe. Cremona has a musical rhythm: a four-movement day. Mornings are about shopping, a blur of colours and mercantile sounds. Afternoons can be very hot: siesta stillness hits town. Each square has its own vibe: the cathedral square, Piazza del Comune, is older, quieter, content to watch the light play tricks on the duomo's façade. Expensive ice-cream rules. The Piazza della Pace is very young; in the Piazza Stradivari dinner is part of the process. This is the to-be-looked-at square: the women appear to have walked out of the Bertolucci movies of the 1970s; men want to be hot footballer Paolo Maldini. A retro-is-chic feel is everywhere. Stay near the cathedral to savour piazza life throughout the day. Albergo Duomo on Via Gonfalonieri (00 39 03 72 35 242, B&B doubles about £56) has decent rooms, a good chef and talkative diners. Drink in pretty much any of the central bars, though the gelateria Portici del Comune opposite the cathedral, is expensive and features few Italians; if you want to be right at the centre it's better to sit on the steps of the duomo itself and eat ice-cream bought at Pierrot on Largo Boccaccino. LODI Just a few hundred metres from Lodi's dark Romanesque cathedral is an octagonal church, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary Crowned. It is covered, almost wallpapered, in frescoes and paintings, some by Il Bergognone. Built on the grounds of a medieval brothel as a kind of almshouse, the church is a magnificent jewel of space: a place for silent contemplation or listening to rousing music. Locals often told me this is a ghostly and conservative farming town. But there is a marvellous rhythm, and a sense of quiet contentment. Festivals are flecked through the year, costume dramas all of them. And hidden in Lodi's nooks and crannies are fantastic cheese shops, fashionable bars, and gentle hints of history - such as the Battle of Lodi, won by the young Corsican general Napoleon Bonaparte. Stay at the Hotel Europa (00 39 0371 35215, <a href="http://www.hoteleuropa-lodi.it/">www.hoteleuropa-lodi.it</a>, B&B doubles about £74). For more luxury, try the Hotel Una, near the motorway (00 39 0371 410461, <a href="http://www.unahotels.it/">www.unahotels.it</a>, B&B doubles about £57). Eat anywhere in the Piazza della Vittoria; there are five options. I liked the Nationale best, though the Duomo feels most local. MANTUA The Gonzaga family ruled here during the Renaissance, but the revenues from their territories never kept up with their lavish lifestyle.Take the “secret” Gonzaga route from the palazzo back past the city walls and on to Mantua's grand central squares and palace, and stop at Andrea Mantegna's home, built with “classical” precision. Now the house is a modern art gallery, with fantastic computer-based installations about Mantengna's life: new media and classical architecture in perfect harmony. Avoid the Piazza Sordello for food or drinks, and stick to the Piazza delle Erbe. I also enjoyed the quiet of the Ristorante Tiratappi in the small Piazza Leon Battista Alberti, and the bustle of the jazzy Delle Erbe restaurant. Tortelli di zucca (pumpkin and almond pasta) is a must here. The Hotel Rechigi (00 39 0376 320 781, <a href="http://www.rechigi.com/">www.rechigi.com</a>, B&B doubles from about £148) on Via Pietro Fortunato Calvi is comfortably central. PADUA In term time students dominate the Piazza della Erbe, the focal centre of the city. In the Palazzo della Ragione, morning is a riot of peaches and barter, haggles and oranges. Above the vaulted market, the first-floor room of the palazzo is like a three-dimensional map. Four walls covered in frescoes tell the story of time, with enough visual storytelling to keep J.K.Rowling in plots for decades. The cheap central modernism of Albergo Verdi on Via Dondo dall' Orologio (00 39 049 8364163, <a href="http://www.albergoverdipadova.it/">www.albergoverdipadova.it</a>, B&B doubles from about £74) makes for an ideal budget starting point. I drank Campari spritz at both the main bars of Piazza dei Signori, and if the locals seem slightly chilly here, then move on anywhere in the Piazza delle Erbe. SAN PELLEGRINO A brief bus journey from Bergamo's railway station takes you to my favourite of all these small towns - because its pleasures are so unexpected. San Pellegrino, as the name might suggest, is a bubbly place. Hemmed in by mountains - take a day trip up to the San Marco pass and its bikers' lodge - San Pellegrino makes a sparkling debut after the smaller towns of the Brembana valley. San Pellegrino has long been known for its spa water, but only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries did it become an upmarket destination. So, while there are no Renaissance masterpieces, or Venetian tropes, it feels easier to imagine its past than those of some of the more famous Italian towns. This is the place to write that Great European Novel. The Centrale (00 39 0345 21008, <a href="http://www.albergo-centrale.it/">www.albergo-centrale.it</a>, B&B doubles about £47) is in the middle of San Pellegrino's high street with great views of the derelict Grand Hotel and the mountains beyond. The town is small enough to try out all the cafés and bars. Caffetteria degli Artisti, on the corner of Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII and Via Mazzoni, offers cha-cha-cha classes, afternoons and evenings. Until San Pellegrino Terme's spa hotel opens again (scheduled for next year), the best way to exercise is to walk <SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function pictureGalleryPopup(pubUrl,articleId) { var newWin = window.open(pubUrl+'template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id='+articleId+'&&offset=0&&sectionName=Travel','mywindow','menubar=0,resizable=0,width=615,height=655'); } </SCRIPT>

Romantic Verona
There is no world without Verona’s walls/But purgatory, torture, Hell itself…’ Romeo was prone to melodrama, but his passion for Verona is understandable. Deep in the vine-lush Veneto heartland, this pretty city has slipped under the mass-tourism radar. Serene, sensual and steeped in history, it’s an inspired choice for Valentine’s Day – or any other. Get your bearings with a cappuccino in Piazza delle Erbe, the original Roman forum. The market stalls and cafe terraces buzz with trade and tittle-tattle just as they did in ancient times. One of the wealthiest cities in northern Italy, Verona has invested in the preservation of past glories. Imposing Roman gateways open onto thoroughfares hemmed with Renaissance palaces. Medieval churches built from local pink-and-white stone shield delicate frescoes. And for sheer drama, no opera house in the world can compare with the towering arches and perfectly preserved terraces of the Roman Arena. Tradition also triumphs in Veronese kitchens, where earthy specialities such as horse-meat stew are savoured with robust Veneto wines such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. But the city has a present tense, too. Contemporary bars, name-in-lights designer stores and modernist Michelin-starred eateries lend it the air of a mini-Milan. If you’re following in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s star-cross’d lovers, the city will satisfy even the most incurable romantic – yet its roots lie in hard-headed classical reason. Die-straight Roman streets, two amphitheatres and the Archaeological Museum make it a must for history buffs, too. Whether you’re mad for love or longing for logic, you’re guaranteed to fall head over heels for Verona. Quick facts £1.30 BUYS: A glass of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene (below), a tongue-tingling spumante. £8 BUYS: A three-day Verona Card, which gives you access to museums and churches, plus free bus travel. EAT UP: Long ago, local babies were weaned on peara (purée of bread, pepper and marrowbone). It still gets served for Sunday lunch with boiled meat. GORE BLIMEY: Bloodthirsty feuds à la Romeo and Juliet were the stuff of life – and death – in Renaissance Verona. One family boiled up the liver of their enemy’s son and served him for dinner. GNOCCO ROCKS: Europe’s oldest carnival celebrates Verona’s love affair with the potato dumpling every February. On Gnocco Friday, the Gnocco King parades around on a donkey, brandishing a huge bit of pasta on a fork. AGE OF ROMANCE - Once the Roman forum, Piazza delle Erbe has witnessed centuries of history. Today, Balkan accordionists squeeze out Cole Porter classics for cafe crowds, under the gaze of palaces adorned with statues, frescoes and crenellations. Just around the corner in Piazza dei Signori, you’ll find a statue of Dante: it pays homage to the high priest of Italian romance, who found refuge in Verona during the 14th century, after his Florentine patrons condemned him to exile. - Top stop for Veronese Valentines is Casa di Giulietta (23 Via Capello; 00 39 045 803 4303; £3). The honey-stoned 13th-century house once belonged to the Cappello family, and the similarity of their name to Capulet inspired Antonio Avena, director of Verona’s museums in the 1930s, to declare it Juliet’s house. It’s said that if you rub the breasts of the bronze Juliet statue in the courtyard you’ll be lucky in love. We say: pass on the grope, but do take a peek inside the house, which is daubed with frescoes narrating Shakespeare’s tragic tale. Also take a look up at the famous balcony: very pretty but very fake (it was added in the 1930s), and improbably high. (No wonder it all ended in tears – Juliet probably couldn’t hear a single word Romeo was saying.) - Also from Avena’s 1066-and-all-that school of history, yet enjoying a certain allure among tourists, is Tomba di Giulietta (35 Via del Pontiere; 00 39 045 800 0361; £2). Housed in the echoing, empty crypt of the San Francesco al Corso convent, Juliet’s solitary, roughly hewn tomb of rose-pink stone is scrawled with graffiti by lovelorn Italian adolescents. (Did Jackie love Marco for always? You can only hope.) Be warned, however: a visit to these serene, pine-scented cloisters might tempt you, heaven forbid, to give up on passion altogether, and get thee to a monastery Gear up for a romantic evening with a sunset stroll along Via Sottoriva. Once the artisans’ quarter, the butter-coloured arcades still shelter quaint watering holes – at Osteria Sottoriva (Where to Eat), for example, cashmere-clad crowds clutter up the cobbles with their mopeds, the Valpolicella tastes like velvet, and the meatballs deserve a medal. CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVES - The sense of space is overwhelming when you perch on the time-worn tiers of the Roman Arena (Piazza Bra; 00 39 045 800 3204; £3). The sinister black tunnels that burrow beneath the auditorium once spat out lions, tigers and gladiators. Today, Aida and Carmen come to an equally sticky end during the summer opera festival (June 20 to August 31; for concert tickets, call 00 39 045 800 5151 or visit <a href="http://www.arena.it/">www.arena.it</a>). Still, the stage sets are sumptuous and the solitary quartet of arches (all that remains of the outer wall) peering over the auditorium reminds you that the place was even bigger in ancient times. - Built in the year AD1, the ancient Roman road Corso Porta Bórsari is framed by Renaissance and medieval palaces garnished with Roman funerary inscriptions and carvings. These days, designer showrooms, such as Dolce & Gabbana, have colonised the ground floors; but don’t miss the Gorgon’s head carved on the corner of Via Valerio Catullo. Experience a Shakespearean soliloquy under the stars at the Roman Theatre (2 Via Rigaste Redentore; 00 39 045 800 0360; £2). The summer performance festival runs between June and September – for tickets, call 00 39 045 807 7500 or visit <a href="http://www.veroneseestateteatrale.it/">www.veroneseestateteatrale.it</a>. Aside from the actors strutting their stuff, there’s real drama in the spellbinding river and rooftop views beyond the stage. And perched above the theatre’s crescent of stone terraces, the Archaeological Museum (details as for theatre) delivers a fascinating glimpse into classical culture. Hunt down the mosaic that depicts a gladiatorial scrap in exquisite bloodthirsty detail. - Presiding in striped splendour over a little piazza just outside the centre, the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore (2 Piazza San Zeno; 00 39 045 592813; £1.70) is a showstopper. Don’t miss the Biblical scenes cast with breathtaking precision on the bronze door panels. Then pay homage to the magnificent triptych by 15th-century Renaissance master Andrea Mantegna above the altar. In marked contrast to the rosy complexions found in similar paintings in Venice, the icy cheeks of Mantegna’s Madonna and Child testify to the influence of cold-blooded German artists on Verona’s painters. WHERE TO STAY NO EXPENSE SPARED Gabbia D’Oro, 4A Corso Porta Bórsari (00 39 045 800 3060, <a href="http://www.hotelgabbiadoro.it/">www.hotelgabbiadoro.it</a>). On central Corso Porta Bórsari, this 18th-century palace has been perked up with pet parrots and orange trees. Bower-like beds are draped with lace curtains; oak furniture, opulent textiles, period ceramics and silverware create a to-the-manor-born charm. Doubles from £230, B&B. Villa del Quar, 12 Via Quar (00 39 045 680 0681, <a href="http://www.hotelvilladelquar.it/">www.hotelvilladelquar.it</a>). Opera singers loll by the clover-shaped pool at this in-the-know hideaway. Surrounded by acres of vineyards, a 10-minute taxi ride from Verona, the 16th-century manor is decked out with silk-upholstered furniture and antique rugs. Most rooms gaze onto rolling vineyards. Doubles from £185, B&B. MIDDLE OF THE ROAD Hotel Giulietta e Romeo, 3 Vicolo Tre Marchetti (00 39 045 800 3554, <a href="http://www.giuliettaeromeo.com/">www.giuliettaeromeo.com</a>). Pastel-painted walls, pale floral sofas and swagged curtains give rooms in this romantic, Arena-handy retreat a welcome lustre. WiFi access and flat-screen TVs keep you in the modern world. Lovers should book rooms 101 or 103, with their Juliet-style balconies. Doubles from £100, B&B. <div class="clear"></div> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function pictureGalleryPopup(pubUrl,articleId) { var newWin = window.open(pubUrl+'template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id='+articleId+'&&offset=0&&sectionName=HolidayTypeBreaks','mywindow','menubar=0,resizable=0,width=615,height=655'); } </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function pictureGalleryPopup(pubUrl,articleId) { var newWin = window.open(pubUrl+'template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id='+articleId+'&&offset=0&&sectionName=HolidayTypeBreaks','mywindow','menubar=0,resizable=0,width=615,height=655'); } </SCRIPT>

Italy chases Spain as the favourite country for investment
Experts in selling properties in Italy for over 20 years reports a record number of sales of homes in Italy to UK citizens in October of this year. It is quite incredible particularly bearing in mind that clients have contacted Agents initially with a view to discount saying that with a strong euro etc the property market must be weak and with the advent of winter, people are probably not purchasing. On the contrary, figures show the market to be the opposite of their perception”. Recent figures from Foreign Currency Direct property portal, show that overall enquiries from November for Italy were 19% of the total market with only Spain more at 27%. There has been an initial surge of interest in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe but this tends to lead to speculation buying and with it comes inherent risks. Interestingly, figures show that the market has now turned on its head and reverted back to investors looking for established countries such as Italy where there is a track record of capital growth and rental returns. Italy has fine wines, superb cuisine and an excellent infrastructure plus a great many Italians speak some English. All of which makes owning a home in Italy a far better option than taking a chance on an emerging country. Within 2/3 years of these new countries coming onto the market, buying figures show that the tide has turned and that established countries are where investors choose to put their money”. One of the most popular areas of Italy with buyers is the Lakes. These are a popular destination both in the winter for the skiing and the summer. With an approximate rental return of 5/9% and very few void periods they make excellent investments. The other area to look at is Western Liguria where buying closer to the sea will make a better investment even if initially more expensive. The average property sale price in Italy is around £200,000. Recent information also suggests that there is a 12% increase in buying property abroad compared to last year all of which points to a stable overseas market in 2008.

Le Marche - Investment opportunity
One of the areas stirring the most interest is the delightful seaside towns of Numana and Potenza Picena on the Adriatic Coast, 5 mins from the famous Conero Golf Club. Situated just 25 minutes from the international Ancona airport,(daily flights from London Standsted and Liverpool makes these developments an easily accessible weekend destination. It is in this location where we are marketing the delightful development villages Lido Azzurro and Borgo Marche Marina and Beach at PotenzaPicena and Marcelli di Numana resort. These latest developments are built on a panoramic and elevated location above the nearby town of the same name, offering unparalleled sea and mountain views. Each resort consists of 200 one bedroom, two bedroom apartments and three bedroom townhouses. Lido Azzurro and Borgo Marche Marina and Beach will consist of a collection of apartments and townhouses with a comprehensive range of facilities including restaurants, shops, bars, and more. Both resorts are within a few minutes stroll of the beautiful beaches. The popular Conero Golf Club is also nearby. These off-plan properties start at just 150,000 euros . Payments can be made in stages throughout the build time, starting February 2008, with mortgages available from a variety of well known banks. LIDO AZZURRO This village is situated in a natural park near Monte Conero with sea and mountain views. There will be 200 townhouses ranging from 40 - 90 sqm, each with its own garden, a few minutes walk from the beach. BORGO MARCHE MARINA AND BEACH This village is situated on a hill in Potenza Picena, each of the 200 townhouses will have a view of the Adriatic Sea and Monte Conero. There is a range of accommodation available starting 45/55/60/75/90 sqm each with its own garden and garage or parking space.

Mammaâ€s boys
Pity us poor Italian men, said Andrea, my barber in Rome, as he gave me my new year haircut. The other customers nodded. “Listen,” said one as he leafed through Corriere dello Sport and waited his turn. “We are all men here, I can be frank. Our women have become independent-minded, they all go out to work, they don’t cook so much any more, we have to look after ourselves. We are second-class citizens.” Now wait, I said. What about Fabio Capello? Not only did he take over the England football squad yesterday, he is a fine example of Italian manhood: elegant, sharply dressed, supremely confident, a born winner. He even likes modern art. “Well, quite,” said another customer. To the outside world, and not least to Brits, Capello looks like an Italian New Man, a new breed of Italian male. He is happily married to Laura, his wife of 40 years, has no dalliances on the side – at least, not as far as British tabloids have been able to discover – likes Bach and jazz, reads philosophy, goes to Mass, spends his holidays exploring archaeological ruins in Tibet or Colombia instead of chatting up women on the beach, collects Kand-inskys and Chagalls and cultivates Rome’s modern artists. A far cry, then, from the unscrupulous Lotharios of old. But a welcome advance and a sign of the times? It does not look quite like that to many Italian men. They have a sneaking admiration for old-style Casanovas – men such as Silvio Berlusconi, a self-made businessman with a buccaneering style that has involved him in several brushes with the law (which he usually wins), a penchant for risqué jokes and an eye for the ladies, to the chagrin of Veronica, his stunningly beautiful wife, a former actress. Or Marcello Mastroianni, the actor with matinée-idol looks who made an art of appearing debonair, louche and charming.  <div class="clear related-attachements-bottom"></div> <div class="padding-top-5"></div>  But Berlusconi is 71 and Mastroianni is dead, along with the dolce vita era that he embodied in Federi-co Fellini’s films. Many Italian men feel sorry for themselves in 21st-cen-tury Italy – browbeaten, overworked and underpaid. Even the famous Latin lover is exposed as a myth: one medical congress in Rome heard that six out of ten Italian women claimed to be “sexually dissatisfied” with their husbands, partners or lovers, according to a survey. Chiara Simonelli, a sexologist at Rome University Hospital, says: “On the basis of my clinical experience, I can say that these statistics are inferior to reality.” She claims to know of many women in their thirties and forties who were opting for celibacy “in despair”. Claudio Cricelli, the president of the conference, says that sexual frustration often leads to hypochondria, nervous problems and tension, adding that it was also probably one reason why Italy has such a low birth rate. Another survey suggests that Italian men have even lost the art of picking up women – including foreign tourists – at beach resorts or in bars and pavement cafés. “Death of the gigolo” ran one headline. And yet, underneath the gloom and self-pity, many Italian men still nurture an image of themselves as effortlessly superior beings who are born to run the world and to be admired for making a bella figura. And the reason is simple: their mothers tell them so. While more Italian women are making careers and scoring belated victories for feminism, they are also — as mammas — doting on their male offspring in the way they always have. Take Capello’s widowed mother, Evelina Tortul, who told reporters when her son’s appointment as England manager was announced that she was “worried about my boy”, even though he is 61 and she is 85. The media, she said at the modest flat in Pieris, near the Slovenian border, where she brought up her son and his sister Bianca, were “fine when you are winning, but when you lose they cut your throat. I’m his mother, so that is going to make me unhappy.” She added: “I wanted him to stay in Italy. He’s a big boy, he’s old enough to make his own decisions. But your mamma is always your mamma. Fabio was such a good boy . . . he comes here every summer and it’s always lovely to see him.” Hardly surprising, then, that Italy’s “mamma’s boys” still think, in their heart of hearts, that they are God’s gift to women. About a third of Italian males, indeed, live at home until the age of at least 30, enjoying Mamma’s home comforts. Even when they marry, their wives know that their mothers-in-law are usually not far away and still have a powerful hold on their “big boys”. As for feminism, every Italian newsstand is festooned with 2008 calendars depicting naked models and “showgirls”, who can also be seen on TV variety shows every night wearing not much more. No political correctness there, then. According to Emma Bonino, the former European Commissioner and now Minister for International Trade and European Affairs, 11 per cent of Italian Members of Parliament are women, which is much the same proportion as 30 years ago. Not only that, she says, but although it is true that more women go out to work, it is often part-time because there are few crèches for younger children and because older children have to be brought home by someone when school ends at lunchtime. That someone, inevitably, is mamma. It is invariably the women who “make sacrifices” to ease the strains of daily life, Bonino says. So the lot of the Italian man is perhaps not so bad, after all — and the advent of the Italian New Man may still be some way off. How Italian is your man? 1. After lunch, does he drink a) a cappuccino b) a camomile tea c) an espresso macchiato 2. When driving on the autostrada, does he a) Bowl along in the middle, occasionally veering without warning into the overtaking lane b) Edge tentatively into the slow lane and remain there unless absolutely necessary c) Weave expertly through traffic, driving very close behind anyone doing less that 90mph in the fast lane and flashing his lights until they pull over 3. At what age did he leave home? a) 18 b) 28 (but only after his mother put her foot down about the washing) c) Hey, what’s the hurry? 4. Does he regard a scooter as a) A bit infantile but nevertheless quite fun at weekends b) A cheap and efficient way to avoid the London congestion charge c) An instrument of extreme manliness, especially when revved excessively at traffic lights and with its exhaust modified so as to make an ear-splitting noise 5. How many man-bags does he own a) One (and it’s more of a briefcase, really) b) None. No way c) 17 (and that’s just from his autumn/winter collection) 6. Does he wear his jumper a) Over his shirt b) Around his waist c) Tied jauntily, at an angle, over his shoulders 7. How many cashmere items does he own? a) A few, mostly presents from you b) 325 (not counting the socks) c) One, moth-eaten 8. What kind of pants does he wear? a) Crumpled boxer shorts b) Very tight, white Y-fronts, bought and lovingly ironed by his mother c) Stylish designer ones 9. Does he wear a vest? a) Only in the height of winter b) All year round, including August (you can never be too careful) c) As soon as the temperature drops below 10C 10. When skiing, does he a) Launch himself out of helicopters, power through the powder and generally behave like a teenager on heat b) Materialise, unsmiling in an all-in-one, at the top of the blackest mogul run he can find before descending, skis glued together, in a bum-wiggling display of prowess c) Join the queue at the ski school and head out with a group of six-year-olds 11. On the beach, does he emerge from beneath his towel wearing a) Sand-bleached surfer-dude shorts b) Tight black Speedos c) Slightly small and slightly elderly swimming trunks 12. At weekends, he helps out with the children by a) Drafting in his mother (or, worse, his terrifying spinster sister) b) Taking them for a pizza while you treat yourself to a nice massage c) Remembering a very pressing business meeting that can take place only at the football stadium and is likely to last for at least four hours. Ciao . . . Answers Answers: 1 a:1 point, b:2, c:3; 2 a:2, b:1, c:3; 3 a:1, b:2, c:3; 4 a: 2, b:1, c:3; 5 a: 2, b:1, c:3; 6 a: 1, b:2, c:3; 7 a: 2, b:3, c:1; 8 a: 1, b:3, c:2; 9 a: 1, b:3, c:2; 10 a: 2, b:3, c:1; 11 a: 2, b:3, c:1; 12 a: 2, b:1, c:3 If you scored 15 or under Your man is not very Italian at all, is he? Perhaps he’s Swedish? No? Oh well, never mind. He may not rake in millions from babysitting spoilt football players, but at least he knows how to change a nappy. 15-20 Your man is distinctly al dente, but in a good way. Stylish, full of life, loyal, a little bit excitable — all the best things about being Italian. Maybe a little too fond of his Mamma, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Watch out that he doesn’t start to slide, though: if he starts doing things like tucking his napkin into his shirt, put your foot down. 20-plus You’ve got yourself a proper Mamma's boy. There’s not a lot you can do about it while the sainted parent still walks this earth, so the best thing to do is get her on side. Swap depilation tips, share recipes (remember: hers are always superior). Keep your friends close, keep your mother-in-law even closer, as the Italians say . . .  <div class="clear"></div> <div class="padding-top-5"></div>  <div class="comment-article"><SCRIPT language=javascript src="/tol/js/m20-enter-view-comment.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> var show=false; var articleID = "3146489"; var sHaveYourSay = 'Have your say'; var sCollapseForm = 'Hide the form'; var sHideMostComments = 'Show fewer comments'; var errorString = ''; var testFlag = true; var nTotalCharacters = 1000;// Value for the total number of characters that can be submitted - change to suit requirements // // Array of required fields for the named form var aFormEnterViewCommentValidation = new Array('your_view','name','email','town_fs_city'); /* get the cookie string in cookie associated with cookiename */ function getCookie(Name) { var search = Name + "=" var CookieString = document.cookie var result = null if (CookieString.length> 0) { offset = CookieString.indexOf(search) if (offset != -1) { offset += search.length end = CookieString.indexOf(";", offset) if (end == -1) end = CookieString.length result = unescape(CookieString.substring(offset, end)) } } return result } /* set the cookie string in cookie */ function setCookie (name, value, lifespan) { var cookietext = name + "=" + escape(value) if (lifespan != null) { var today=new Date() var expiredate = new Date() expiredate.setTime(today.getTime() + 1000*60*60*24*lifespan) cookietext += "; expires=" + expiredate.toGMTString() } document.cookie = cookietext return null } /* validating whether required fields are being entered before submitted */ function PostingValidate(objForm) { // if remember me is checked, the information is saved into the cookies if(objForm.remember_me){ setCookie('TimesOnlinecomment_name',objForm.name.value,30); setCookie('TimesOnlinecomment_email',objForm.email.value,30); setCookie('TimesOnlinecomment_city',objForm.city.value,30); setCookie('TimesOnlinecomment_countryState',objForm.countryState.value,30); } // seting the title to article headline so that the moderator get to know on which article, comment is made objForm.title.value = "Mamma’s boys"; errorString = ''; testFlag = true; if(objForm.body.value.length=="0"){ objForm.body.focus(); document.getElementById("label_your_view").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("label_your_view").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; testFlag = false; errorString = ' * Please enter the comment'; } else { document.getElementById("label_your_view").className = ''; document.getElementById("label_your_view").style.fontWeight = 'normal'; } if(objForm.name.value.length=="0"){ objForm.email.focus(); testFlag = false; document.getElementById("label_name").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("label_name").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; errorString += ' * Please enter the Name'; } else { document.getElementById("label_name").className = ''; document.getElementById("label_name").style.fontWeight = 'normal'; } if(objForm.email.value.length=="0"){ objForm.body.focus(); testFlag = false; document.getElementById("label_email").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("label_email").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; errorString += ' * Please enter the Email'; } else { if(objForm.email.value.indexOf("@",1)==-1){ document.getElementById("label_email").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("label_email").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; testFlag = false; errorString += ' * Please enter a valid Email'; } else{ document.getElementById("label_email").className = ''; document.getElementById("label_email").style.fontWeight = 'normal'; } } if(objForm.city.value.length=="0"){ objForm.body.focus(); testFlag = false; document.getElementById("label_town_fs_city").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("label_town_fs_city").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; errorString += ' * Please enter the city'; } else { document.getElementById("label_town_fs_city").className = ''; document.getElementById("label_town_fs_city").style.fontWeight = 'normal'; } if (testFlag == false) { document.getElementById("enter-view-comment-error-container").className = 'color-bd0000'; document.getElementById("enter-view-comment-error-container").style.fontWeight = 'bold'; document.getElementById("enter-view-comment-error-container").innerHTML = "Error: "+errorString+" "; return false; } else { return true; document.getElementById("enter-view-comment-error-container").className = ''; document.getElementById("enter-view-comment-error-container").style.fontWeight = 'normal'; } } var sReadAllComments = ""; </SCRIPT> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="bg-f8f1d8"> <h3 class="float-left section-heading padding-top-5 padding-left-right-10"> </h3> <div class="float-right padding-top-5 padding-right-7"> . </div> </div> </div>