Church
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 04:24In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Even though you are already saints in our eyes, if the Catholic Church owns the property you may have a long wait. Our experience is trying to buy a small piece of woodland from the Curia (let's call it the Church administrator). As no one personally benefits from the sale the process took 2 years and the help of a Pezzo Grosso.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Another thing to maybe think about is the attitude of people living around you, if indeed that's something that would bother you. In the UK it's very fashionable to convert Churches but my partner was really quite horrified when he saw Churches being used as pubs, flats etc in Britain. Converting even an old ruined Church may unwittingly alienate your neighbours.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The church in our little hamlet has been derelict for years.
However, this year it has been renovated by the Commune, and is again open for people to use, although it doesn't [as far as I'm aware] have a priest yet.
As I understand it, Italian locals can be very protective to the churches - whatever state they are in, and I would be surprised if one would be allowed to convert a church into accommodation.
But maybe it's worth asking the local priest for his opinion.
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In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nicola;101601]Another thing to maybe think about is the attitude of people living around you, if indeed that's something that would bother you. In the UK it's very fashionable to convert Churches but my partner was really quite horrified when he saw Churches being used as pubs, flats etc in Britain. Converting even an old ruined Church may unwittingly alienate your neighbours.[/quote]
Yes - to be honest that's what I have always thought before now but seeing it in such a state - it's a real shame and it would be awful for it too crumble away all together (not far away from that now!). Will try and make some investigations locally too.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We are converting an old church although it was made into 2 houses at least 150 years ago.So it can be done.
We are finding lots of interesting stones on the site ( mainly just laying around the garden) which are cut and shaped for windows and doorways and one theory is that the church was built from stone recovered (nicked) from the site of a monastry in Serramoacesca which had been destroyed by an earthquake .A very beautiful Romanneque badia stands there now but its possible to find the traces of the old monastry closer to the river.I can recommend a vist if anyone is in this area of Abruzzo.
One of the most exciting things we found was some early christian 'grafitti' on the sandstone that forms part of the dooorway.interesting enough we saw something similar at another house that was also built using the stones from this monastry.Unfortunately the covering of 20th century cement has contributed to the decay of these delicate carvings and its only a matter of time before they flake off.
[quote=sarahandmark;101571]Wonder if anyone knows if there are any regulations or restrictions regarding renovating a little old falling down church and turning it into a habitable space? We have just found one - it is really beautiful and we wanted to know if it was worth making any further enquirys about it!
Thanks[/quote]
The most important thing to find out if it has been officially deconsacrated because if it hasn't those things which have to pass the eclesiastical tribunal can take years (many) the other thing is if by chance the belle arti know about it there could be stringent restrictions which could limit things somewhat.