Just bought a house in Abruzzo

[miolas]

Hi! Great blog ! :-) Whats your email ? Heres mine, drop me a message, if you wish to exchange more details. miajolas at yahoo dot com

Greetings, Mia from Finland

PS. My sister has bought a place in Ofena, us in Capestrano.

[miolas]

Visited the blog, looks great ! Claire, want to change your profile so that one can send you private message as well via this site ? Looking forward to talk some more about Ofena...

- Mia from Finland

[Goingtoitalia]

Hello Caterina,
I looked in Lunigiana and Bagni di Lucca two years ago. Loved the area, but with the escalation in prices and the smell of that "strange wood" buring in Winter, I decided on Ofena. I looked with Lunigiana2000.com and a small company in Bagni di Lucca that changed names. Very nice in Bagni, with the river running through the town reminds me of Paris or a mini Rome. Loved the history of the area, the first casino, Bonapart's horse stables etc. large swimming pools in summer and a real city! Lunigiana was very nice and close to the sea. I guess that everybody loves Tuscany I appologize for throwing my two cents in, but I had too....
Ciao,
Bruce

Hi Claire

I am new to this forum well forums in general. I was trying to reach your blog, but was unsuccessful. Would it be possible for you to post a link to your blog on here? That would be wonderful.

I planning to move to Tuscany next year, have not decided exactly on which city yet, but I have several in mind.

Grazie,
Ciao
Caterina[/quote]

[Stella Artois]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone could recommend a good geometra ( architect) and a locksmith in Abruzzo, please!

[stefanaccio]

In which part of Abruzzo are you looking? Does the person need to be English speakinig?

Casale-Senza Bidet

[Stella Artois]

Originally Posted by stefanaccio

In which part of Abruzzo are you looking? Does the person need to be English speakinig?

Casale-Senza Bidet

Hello stefanaccio, near Penne and no, we speak Italian, the main thing we are looking for whould be quality of his work...

[Teres]

Hi

I am looking for any information on the Ciccone family in Carrufo ...my Nonna and Nonno were first cousins and got married in Carrufo and moved to Canada. My Great Uncle and his wife were first cousins moved to Canada same time. The Ciccone's are on my mother's side.

My grandfather Luigi was born Feb 24 1890. Married Lizziana Ciccone. His brother was Baptiste and he married Caterina. Sabitino (my great grandfather) ws born Feb 29, 1856 and died Jan 6 1923. Siblings of my Nonna were Gulia and Guiseppe Ciccone's. I do not know for sure but Angela Torchetti could be my great Grandmother on my Nonno's side.

I have in my pile of memobilia a birth certificate of Lidio Ciccone (mother is Gulia Ciccone) my Nonna's sisters son. Father Guiseppi.

I just got back from 1 month in Italy and visited the cemetary in Carrufo and Ofena. I saw a picture of Emma Ciccone on her headstone. She looked exactly like my mother. I really am not sure if she is related but by looks I would say "Yes".

I met lots of friendly tourists in Italy and found that buying in some of the remote areas of course are very cheap. (Before the renovations start). Stayed in Calitri...selling lots there ....took lots of pictures. Takes guts to buy in a foreign country.

Any information would be nice. I regret never learning Italian. I loved my Italian family very much and miss my ties to them and hearing the language.

Thanks
Teres

[Barry]

Hi Teres,

We are 3rd cousins. You can go to my website Our Family History

[flawed]

Originally Posted by Goingtoitalia

Hi Barry,
Thank you for the information. Very helpful. I am not an Italian citizen, so I guess that I will be looking to make good friends with the locals I don't know if anyone has shipped their own car to Italy, would be curious to learn more. I know insurance is about the same as in America about $2,000 Euros a year. I drive a Porsche over in the states, but might ship a smaller car, just need to know if I can insure it in Italy. I noticed a storage center in a field off the highway to Ofena, where they park caravans and autos. I might have to leave it exposed to the elements. Right now I am like a sponge, trying to absorb all the pecularities of living in Italy.
Bruce

hey bruce, so you got your house in ofena? did you end up buying a car, or find out where you could store it? we are purchasing a place at the moment, and worry about how to get there.

[Goingtoitalia]

Originally Posted by flawed

hey bruce, so you got your house in ofena? did you end up buying a car, or find out where you could store it? we are purchasing a place at the moment, and worry about how to get there.

Hi,
I bought my place in Ofena I spent a night in the house, but it needs some (ok, a lot of) renovation. I am planning on returning in January. I didn't buy a car or settle in yet, with the crazy stock market and an election coming up soon here in the States waiting for some calm to return to the financial markets. I found a place to store a car in a town not too far away, very cheap, (100 euros a year). But that is only helpful when I am gone for several months. I think that I will know more in Jan. I think it all depends on how much time you plan to spend in the area. I rented a car the last time, which although expensive proved to be worth it's weight in gold. I drove in from Rome, trying to get my bearings as to the best way to move about. I really want to go to Pescara on a regular basis from Ofena. I know that there are buses, but there is something about the freedom of a car.....It is a big learning curve especially from being in America.
I know that the buying process seems to take forever and then it's done. Like no time has passed. I wish you luck and patience. Nothing like buying in America and I was a real estate agent in America for a short time. My head still spins when I describe it to friends.