Posted in general information on Dec 29th, 2008 No Comments »
I would like to wish all readers of my blog a Happy New Year!
Remember , your own happiness in the coming year depends on what you do for others .
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
(William Arthur Ward)
Posted in general information on Jul 12th, 2008 No Comments »
GLOSSARY
| Assegno Circolare | Banker’s draft. This is the preferred means of payment at completion (i.e. at signing of the title deed = Rogito or Atto Notarile) |
| Caparra | This is a deposit paid by the buyer at the moment that the Compromesso is signed. Its value is decided by mutual agreement, but is generally 10% to 30% of the agreed purchase price. If the buyer pulls out of the purchase after signing of the Compromesso, he loses this deposit. If the seller pulls out, he pays twice the value of this deposit to the buyer. |
| Catasto | The regional land registry offices. This is the public office where all cartographic and tax data for property and land is kept, including specific information relevant to each property. |
| Certificato di Abitabilità | A document confirming that a property is suitable for habitation, registered at the local council offices (Comune) |
| Codice Fiscale | Tax Code. Anybody who buys a property in Italy is obliged to obtain this code (issued in the form of a card), which is obtainable from the local tax office (EU nationals) or an Italian Consulate in the buyer’s home country (non EU nationals) |
| Compromesso | Preliminary contract to buy/sell the property. This is a binding commitment by both parties to carry out the transaction at an agreed forthcoming date. It involves payment of the Caparra on the part of the buyer (see above). |
| Comune | The local council offices. This is where documents are kept relating to a property’s status in terms of compliance with building regulations, planning permission and ‘habitability’. |
| Condominio | Residents in blocks of apartments are organized into condominiums, which hold regular meetings to make decisions regarding the joint running of the property. The condominium is under the overall direction of an administrator (Amministratore di Condominio), who is responsible for putting decisions into effect and for collection of charges for the services carried out (cleaning/maintenance of common areas, lift, heating if centrally controlled, etc.). |
| Geometra | Surveyor. Responsible for searches for necessary documentation at the Catasto and Comune, and for any specific surveys requested on the property. |
| ICI | Property tax, paid yearly and based on the rateable value of the property and any land attached. |
| Imposta di Registro | Registration tax. This is payable by the buyer of a property at the moment of completion (signing of the Rogito/Atto Notarile), together with two minor taxes (Imposta Ipotecaria and Imposta Catastale). |
| Imposta sui Redditi | Income tax. |
| Notaio | The Notary, responsible for the drawing up and correct execution of the Rogito/Atto Notarile. He/she is a public legal official who is expected to act with complete impartiality, although he/she is usually nominated by the buyer. |
| Permesso di Soggiorno Stay Permit | A document that all non Italian nationals are obliged to obtain after spending more than 6 months in Italy. It also applies to EU citizens, although in this case it is usually granted automatically. |
| Proposta di Acquisto | Preliminary purchase proposal. This step is usually taken when negotiation takes place via an estate agency. It is a binding offer for the buyer up until a date fixed by himself, by which date the vendor must indicate whether he accepts it (by signing it) or not; it contains the offer price and any other conditions attached to the offer. The buyer making the offer pays a deposit of approximately 1% - 5% of the proposed purchase price, refunded if the offer is not accepted, or counted as part of the Caparra if accepted. |
| Certificato di Residenza | All people choosing to live permanently in Italy (including Italian nationals) have to declare residence, specifying the Comune (local authority) of residence. Obtaining residence has the advantage of halving the amount of Imposta di Registro (Registration Tax) to be paid if the property is the first purchased by the buyer in Italy. |
| Rogito/Atto Notarile | This is the final Deed of Purchase legally confirming completion of the purchase. It takes place in the presence of a Notaio, who is also responsible for the correct drawing up of the Deed. |
| Valore Catastale | The rateable value of a property, i.e. the official value of the property as registered at the land registry offices (Catasto). In the majority of cases, this tends to be appreciably below the actual purchase price. It is the value upon which the Imposta di Registro, the Notary’s fee, and ICI are based. |
Posted in general information, Places to visit on Jun 20th, 2008 No Comments »
Cats, dogs and other animals here on Italy’s northwest coast now have new beach to frolic away from the summer heat.
Genoa’s beach for animals opened Friday near in the suburb of Vesima, just past the Jauna municipal beaches. It is the first public beach in the region for pets.
There are other beaches for pets in Liguria but they are all private.
The Vesima beach is equipped with water fountains and hoses as well as a distributor of shovels and plastic bags for those needing to to clean up after their pets.
“The Vesima beach is dedicated to domestic animals. It is an experiment aimed at meeting the needs of the many people who every summer do not know where to bring their pets,” explained the municipal councillor for animals Maria Rosa Zerega.
“We have calculated that one out of four families in Genoa have at least dog or a cat. So Vesima beach plays a social function and is also an alternative to abandoning animals,” she added, referring to Italians who abandon their pets when going on holiday.
Posted in general information on Mar 5th, 2008 No Comments »
From Cape Cervo to the French border, a continuous series of bays, ports and coves that 300 m above the sea became valleys, gorges and peaks.
Posted in general information on Feb 15th, 2008 No Comments »
Every year shortly before Easter the Italian Riviera gets really crowded , I would almost say , even more crowded as in august ( if that is at all possible ) . The reason is , that the Italians use their holidays ( 1 week) to not only celebrate the Easter Days but also to view and choose suitable holiday apartments for their summer holidays .
Who works in the rental business along the Italian Riviera , knows that after the Easter Holidays are over , all of the nice apartments and holiday villas are booked for the coming summer .
So wether you plan your next stay in Liguria for Easter or the summer holidays , make sure you book before the Easter crowds arrive !
Posted in general information on Jun 17th, 2007 No Comments »
60-feet down on the seabed off Genoa, stands an enormous bronze statue - Christ of the Abyss, protecting saint of divers. Once a year, the statue is the object of an unusual event, as divers, carrying torches, deposit a crown on the figure’s head.
Divers can admire a similar statue of Jesus Christ of the Abyss close to the island ” La Gallinara ” , which is surrounded by an unforgettable underwater world with multicolored fih an d corals . La Gallinara is the only privately owned island on the ligurian coast and it is located right in front of the beach of Alassio ( 1.5 miles)
Posted in general information on Jun 3rd, 2007 No Comments »
The cuisine of the Ponente Ligure is green, fragrant, with simple ingredients cleverly mixed together. But it is also a very light cuisine, almost vegetarian with flavors very closely tied to olives. Some dishes, such as “cappon magro” 
are the best expression of the mixture of products deriving from the earth and the sea. The Ligurian cooking has taken its peculiarity from other influences such as those from the Middle East, Spain and North Africa, having passed long periods of contact and exchange. We find a wide use of vegetables and herbs used in preparation of fillings for pastry covered dishes, stuffed veal, soups, and the magnificent “pesto” (basil sauce). A wide use of “white” meats is customary: chicken, rabbit, or pasture meats such as goat, lamb, not to forget wild boar and snails. Pine nuts, walnuts, olives, and mushrooms appear often, as also fritters, bread foccacce, and pizzas are widely eaten. Blue fish prevails: sardines and anchovies and sea bass, salt cod, stockfish. In the pastas, ravioli are placed on top of the list followed by pansoti (pasta filled with herbs and greens), trofie, trenette, gnocchi.
The oven cooked flat cheese garnished “focaccia” bread of Recco is a marriage of ancient and simple flavours, the intense and fresh fragrance of soft “stracchino” cheese spread overa thin layer of bread.
Then the “trofie” which, in their elongate and somewhat knaggy shape, carry the patient marks of the housewives who have formed these little noodles, one by one, with an expert and skilful touch; a rite of former times, crowned by the encounter of pasta and pesto, the savoury sauce of Liguria. Gastronomy and good healt go arm in the paradise of Mediterranean diet and the extra virgin olive oil dignifies a light and digestible menu.
Posted in general information on Jun 2nd, 2007 No Comments »
The Italian Riviera is rich with art, history, and spirituality and is surrounded by an enchanting landscape and seaside It’s one of Italy’s most magical locations, and the perfect place for vacationers , adventures , holiday home buyers painters , writers and those who love exciting landscapes and unspoiled nature , genuine food and friendly people .
