2026 Abruzzi

Just a thought.
As you quite often see people asking where they have or are in the process of buying in Italy either permanent or as a holiday home I thought it may be an idea to have a list of people in Abruzzo. I have looked on this site and there are at least 12 people in Abruzzo (info gleaned from threads or public profile NOT PM,s. I thought it could be useful for people to know who is in their area for local info etc or to visit. Maybe on the lines of the following.

Canosa Sannita (Near Chieti) - Stribs
Manoppello - Manopello
Nasulti (Near Lanciano) - Baggio
Penne - Wishful Thinker
Castel Frentano (Near Lanciano) - Dave & Denise
Teramo (Near) - Russ
Gabbiano, Civitella del Tronto (Near Teramo) - Biagio
Vestea/Vitta Celiera/Civitella Casanova (Sth of Penne) - Eatone
Vestea (Sth of Penne) - Rob
San Valentino (Near Manopello) - HTB
Miglianico (Near Francavilla al Mare) - Shepsterboy1
Montebello di Bertona (SW of Penne [Near Vestea]) - Kerry and Susan
Bisenti - north west of Penne - Jan36
Bisenti - north west of Penne - Pilchard

Let me have your comments please for/against. I don't mind updating the list if anyone would like their town/name added.
No-one will be added unless they ask either on this thread or in a PM.

If you want to chastise me please be gentle.

Stribs

Category
General chat about Italy

I think this is a great idea, and one that could be extended to people living in other regions - it would, or could help prospective buyers in identifying forum members who would be in a position to offer advice based on personal experience of a particular region.

I have a place in Penne, in the province of Pescara, if that helps.

What about adding 'Regions' as a parent thread along side 'Discuss Italy', 'Italian Living' etc, then add the various regions as sub-topics (or divide into North, South, Central etc.)? Someone may have suggested this before.
As an example, look at: [URL="http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx"]http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx[/URL]

I think this would be a better way of getting to know people from the area you're interested in and keeps area-specific questions away from the General topics.

Excellent idea Stribs.
We are hopefully buying in Nasuti, 3kms from Lanciano (Abruzzo).
By the way found the house on google earth, it took a while but we got there in the end, thanks again for the tip.
Michelle:)

It's in the name..Manoppello near Pescara, well 35min drive!!!up a hairaising road!

Becky

Thanks for the great start, have now identified 24 eligible Abruzzi, maybe more?
Stribs

[quote=Stribs]Thanks for the great start, have now identified 24 eligible Abruzzi, maybe more?
Stribs[/quote]
[quote=Stribs]
If you want to chastise me please be gentle...
[/quote]

Instead of suggesting something for the forum to focus on one particular region, can we not do something that benefits all. I mean, this is an Italian forum. Will you also collect a list for the other regions? :rolleyes: Comments on my suggestion above please.

[QUOTE=derekL]What about adding 'Regions' as a parent thread along side 'Discuss Italy', 'Italian Living' etc, then add the various regions as sub-topics (or divide into North, South, Central etc.)? Someone may have suggested this before.
As an example, look at: [URL="http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx"]http://forums.livingfrance.com/default.aspx[/URL]

I think this would be a better way of getting to know people from the area you're interested in and keeps area-specific questions away from the General topics.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=derekL]Instead of suggesting something for the forum to focus on one particular region, can we not do something that benefits all. I mean, this is an Italian forum. Will you also collect a list for the other regions? :rolleyes: Comments on my suggestion above please.[/QUOTE]

I suppose I did ask for chatisement.
The vast majority of my other posts asking/answering various questions were I believe to the benefit of all.
Threads like the Pulgia Party the London Party will be of benefit to a minority of people who will be able to attend, but are of interest to us all (myself included). The Abruzzi thread may also be of interest to a minority of people who are living or want to live in the area and maybe want to meet up one day as in the 'Puglia Party' which I thought was a brilliant idea.
They same could also be said of Sport, Food & Drink, Pets TV etc
The 'Frappa' map is also a good idea but tends to pile people in the same area on top of each other (could be fun).

No, I will not be collecting a list of names of people in other regions, but would be supportive of anyone who does.

Stribs

Ok most things are of interest to everyone, but there are many things that are region specific. Can't you see the benefit, especially if you're a newcomer, of entering the website and immediately seeing a thread representing the area that you're interested in; a place where you can meet people already there, or are in the process of buying there, without having to look for them? A meeting place to swap local information, ask advice and, if inclined, arrange parties?
At the moment, I think if you're interested in one of the more popular areas like Abruzzo or Puglia, for example, it's fairly easy to find out who's there or who's going there and you'll generally always get answer if you ask a question about those areas; but if you happen to be interested in one of the less popular areas, it's not quite so easy. People here are generally very helpful but questions regarding some of these areas can quite easily get lost among the other threads.
I just think each region needs a forum home.

I have'nt got a problem with a regional forum home, but it would become rather large and I don't think it would be warrented.
Can we now please leave this alone and let other people air their views, unless they have already been put off.
Saluti
Dave

[quote=Stribs]Can we now please leave this alone and let other people air their views[/quote]

Err... thats exactly what people are free to do and what I was hoping for. :confused:

A section for regional posts could be interesting. The AngloInfo series of websites works this way successfully. I certainly find it useful for the overlap of Liguria and the Cote D'Azur. Its an idea worth further consideration.

My original thread was based on quite a few people (not just in Abruzzo) asking others where exactly they were, I thought it might be a good idea to start what I did, maybe other areas will follow.
If this regional idea is adopted then fine by me, I just thought that a simple list showing where people live would help neighbours by not having to search thro dozens of threads like I did to find 24 comparitively local neighbours, who may be able to help each other out.

ps didn't throw out all my toys, have picked them up ready for another day.

Saluti
Stribs

Having posted several threads (well not that many because I'm still a pleb!) on the area near Rome I think it's a great idea to simplify the threads people have to go through if they are interested in a particular area-I'm not very computer literate and it took a while for me to find where my threads had gone when I felt they were quite useful for anyone not familiar with the area-I'm in the Colli Albani and I know not many expats are nearby but I'd be happy to share my experiences with anyone who was interested in the area - just how do I do it:confused
Fiona B

so confused I couldn't work out how to put the smilie on at the end -sorry:o

Hi Stribs & All in Abruzzo
Hi, we are just completing on a house in Castel Frentano, near Lanciano. hopefully, all will be finalised on the 2nd Dec. (Fingers Crossed).
Denise

I think your idea is excellent Stribs, there is no detrement to other regions by identifying neighbours, all do the same as has been mentioned, if we need separate sections that's a shame because we can all learn from each other but the value from local to local experience would indeed be valuable and after all that has been said there is no shame in buying or living in Abruzzo!
It is also really nice to know where people are in your vicinity.
Ciao
Michelle

I support the idea too Stribs. Another one here in Abruzzo, near Teramo.

stribs... i see no problem with your suggestion and indeed no problem with the other suggestions regarding seperate regional areas... in essence when people research the place they generally have one or two areas in mind.... so a database of locals could be handy....

... also no one is obliged to join in... so really no problem for anyone.... i do however reserve my right to have an opinion on every region in italy... both on the occaision good and sometimes... not so good.... the only danger i see that when people do move to a region they tend not to publish the bad....for some reason they want other people to join them even if they do now know much abour where they live apart from its sunny and happy....

... a useful bit of local info regarding abruzzo and in particular the area of montorio al vomano is that they are planning and arguing over some massive gas turbine development.... it has a lot of opponents.... but someone buying here.... might not actually notice the future problem....that might just be down the road from them....

... now to me that sort of info is worth its weight in gold to anyone planning a life here in the province of teramo..... and if we get a few posts like that ... which hold info ... and opinions it will help everyone....

and it would also help if members forgot they lived in abruzzo or calabria....but actually specified the province.... ie teramo,abruzzo... i often see postings for info required and say .....where my in laws live is in the south of the region and we are in the north.... about a two hour drive seperates us....
and my knowledge of local builders does not extend that far....

I think it sounds a great idea. The Puglia people already seem to have a very close network which works well for them and isn't detrimental to the concept of the whole forum. Although we are buying in Abruzzo I still like to hear the views of people in other regions and have learnt by their experiences however it would be really useful to identify more local people and be able to draw on their local knowledge and experiences especially when it comes to renovations etc.

Jackie

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]stibs

Isn't the word for those who live in Abruzzo Abuzzeses[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]Or am I imagining it??

Becky[/FONT]

Abruzzese
Abruzzi is another name for Abruzzo

My ignorance I'm afraid. Thought Abruzzi were the people who lived there.
Tried to edit the title - failed.

Scusi
Stribs

Good idea Stribs. Agree with comments made by Adriatica. We have also recently purchased in Abruzzo. Our place is in a small hamlet - Gabbiano, Civitella del Tronto, Teramo, but 10km south of Ascoli Piceno - Marche. Hope our new house will be completed by June 2006............... I won't hold my breath though.

Biagio

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Stribs

You like me are getting used to the thin skins of some other people on this forum. I wasn't being sarcastic,just asking if that was the right name!

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Becky
There was no thought of sarcasm on your part whatsoever, when I get something wrong I've no problem with anyone putting me right. I'm here to learn and help others if I can.
Don't forget, me and mine and you and yours will have to meet up for a drink in the not too distant future
Dave

Hi Stribs,
How is the list compilation going, How will this work? I may sound thick but I just wondered if it will be easily accessible, you know for local knowledge etc.
If we complete on our tiny house in Jan/Feb we will need all the local knowledge we can get!!!!!!!!!!!

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]I'm looking for a good map of the area of the Maiella Park.Stribs do you know where I can get one? My daughter downloaded [I]google earth[/I] and we had great hopes as we could easily see our house here in Cornwall BUT in Italy outside of Chieti it goes a bit grainy..if you are between there and Pescara you should be ok.By the way you can also select to highlight earthquakes and I was surprised how few we had in Abruzzo..but boy oh boy I would not want to be between Umbria and Le Marche its like a bad case of teenage acne.

Found a very good site about Abruzzo you should see [url]http://www.rusticocooking.com/abruzzo.htm[/url] its not just cooking has tips on good places to eat and events.

it's got a lot about Sulmona on it.

Stribs, will see you in Abruzzo next year! We looked up where you were on the map and its quite close to Manoppello!well just a short hop over the mountains.

Ciao

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Baggio
All I am doing is editing my first post to show any additional names that come along on this thread, this is the only way that I know.
There are still a lot of people in Abruzzo who have not answered the post, it is a free world and people are entitled to their own feelings, maybe it was not such a good idea, just thought it may be also helpful for those not there full time but would like to know there is someone close who could have a quick check on their property for them.
Thanks for your interest.
Dave

Thanks Stribs,
I appreciate the clarification will keep an eye on your original post, Thanks again for doing this.:)

Becky this site sounds fab will check it out.:)

Becky
Sorry can't help with the map, we were given one by an estate agent and it's proved quite useful. We drove up to Passo Lanciano (just south of you) back in june we then just kept driving around for hours, it was lovely, I enjoy getting 'lost' maybe not at this time of year though[I][/I].
As far as google is concerned, our house is about halfway between Chieti and Lanciano the definition is very good we can even count the olive trees.
Thanks for website, will check it out.

Saluti

Manopello/Becky

I don't suppose the satellites in your part of Italy have that many military areas to look at. It's amazing how clear Google Earth gets when there is a Nuclear Submarine Base to look at.:D

Dave

As Sir Bob put it "There's always someone lookin at ya...."

Hi

Just to let you know that we are interested in being added to the list of Abruzzi dwellers.

We live in a valley between three villages Villa Celiera, Civitella Casanova and Vestea, which is just south west of Penne.

regards to all

Eileen and Richard.

[QUOTE=manopello]...My daughter downloaded [I]google earth[/I]...

By the way you can also select to highlight earthquakes and I was surprised how few we had in Abruzzo..but boy oh boy I would not want to be between Umbria and Le Marche its like a bad case of teenage acne.[/QUOTE]

That is indeed interesting. I knew, of course, that there were earthquakes in central Italy, but I had no idea they were so common. I was already concerned about seismic precautions on my future home, but I'm more than just concerned now. I know what people say about some of these old houses having stood for centuries and so being tough enough to deal with future tremors, but I'm considering again whether it might not be better just to buy some land with a pile of rubble and do a complete rebuild with everything done to modern seismic standards (and perhaps a bit more).

I grew up on the West Coast of the USA. I've experienced a few quakes and I'm not ashamed to say they frighten me.

Oh, and while there aren't many red blotches on the Google Earth map of Abruzzo, bear in mind that earthquakes are the result of pent-up forces in the earth being released. A lack of earthquakes in an area can mean one of two things: either the geology is stable (as in Britain) or the geological pressure is building but not being relieved by smaller tremors and so something spectacular will happen at some point in the future.

No need to thank me for that cheerful thought! :D

Al

... apreciate the views on earth quakes and the pressure build up view... however abruzzo being quite large by italian regional standards is not that large in a global sense and you will find that this year alone we have had three small quakes off the caost of the marche and the molise is a very active area....

so according to my theory on life...which has no assurances or guarantees ... we should be safe..... or maybe not

howver as regards older buildings ...our house has a new roof... this roof has been bilt of armoured concrete been pinned into and is integral to the older wall.... the older walls ahve been checked in order to ascertain if they can take the extra weight ....the geologist has taken soundings around the house to make sure the ground is solid enough....the middle floors have been checked to make sure they also provide an intergral strucurally sound base for holding the house together in the case of a tremor/earthquake/....

i am a great exponent of new build properties as cheaper than renovation projects.... however some like the character of the older build.... but here lies the problem.... they often cost the same or a lot more per square metre to rebuild and that is where people get caught out...because they think in uk relatively simple rebuilds.... always allow minimum e1000 per sq meter for any work.... you buy a ruin of 160 m sq... quite small for say e20,000 ... you renovate.... plus 160,000 ... plus 15 % = you are roughly at e205,000 you can do the new build at the same price and often much quicker.... they now have prefrabricated constructions... just like real houses... from the north.. mainly german,swiss/austrian companies...that can have your house up and running in little over a month from the foundations being laid....with full seismic standards... and their prices start at e700 per sq meter... its something to think on

Doesn't the forum allow for Public Groups?

I assume that this will allow you to have a 'virtual Abruzzi' group that can be contacted........ just a thought. It might be possible to do the same for other regions and other interest groups...... just another thought.

(time for a lie down now, I reckon!)

As I said before this thread was just an idea to let people know who are in their neck of the woods in time of need.
I just wanted to have something simple (a bit like me), the idea of regional groups is Ok as long as it does not detract from the idea of all of us sharing our knowledge whatever part of Italy we wish to lay our head.
I would not want this thread to be the catalyst of isolation.
If there is a simple way of doing it so that we can insert our own local places to see or to eat, shop etc, ok, the problem is that there could be so many sub sections it would become so unwieldy especially with the same format for other regions.
Think of the poor webmaster.
I don't want it to become a battle of where is the best region, those of us that have either moved or are in the process of moving have made up our own minds on where the best place is for us.
The information may also be good for the future members who do not want to be completely isolated nor have the south of spain situation.

OK, I'll go and have a lie down.

Stribs

[QUOTE=AllanMason]

I grew up on the West Coast of the USA. I've experienced a few quakes and I'm not ashamed to say they frighten me.

Oh, and while there aren't many red blotches on the Google Earth map of Abruzzo, bear in mind that earthquakes are the result of pent-up forces in the earth being released. A lack of earthquakes in an area can mean one of two things: either the geology is stable (as in Britain) or the geological pressure is building but not being relieved by smaller tremors and so something spectacular will happen at some point in the future.

No need to thank me for that cheerful thought! :D

Al[/QUOTE]

Hi Al,

Having lived my entire life (so far) in Southern California I can agree with you.
We have little shakers and big shakers. Building standards are very high here,
and when we expanded our current home (still waiting for a buyer) here (adding a second story) we had to add additional footings and all sorts of things. Our Architectural Engineer had to do all kinds of mathmatical and structural figuring to make sure that we were going to be safe before building could be done. We had city inspectors in at every step, and if something wasn't done right, it had to be redone. This was completed 17 years ago and since then we're had a couple of big ones. Our home has been fine, not even a crack in any plaster. It was a drag to go through, but has been worth every step knowing we have the safety.

Dee

[QUOTE=Stribs]......I don't want it to become a battle of where is the best region....[/QUOTE]

Heavens no!

My suggestion was to help those of certain interests to share........Abruzzi, tifossi di calcio (or is that calci?), those wanting 3 rounds in the gravel over estate agent tactics etc....

Nothing more........ maybe I should have stayed in bed! I'll get me coat!
;)

Please add me to your Abruzzo file. I have a house in San Valention and will be there full time in a year, until then just a frequent visitor.

Count me in on the list of contacts:

I have a small flat in Miglianico, close to Francaville Al Mare, on the Miglianico Golf course, with a lovely view of the Maiella, oops and the 8th green!

Hi Stribs

You can add us as well........Kerry & Susan.
Close to Vestea but in the comune of Montebello Di Bertona.......too many listed as Vestea :D

Cheers

[QUOTE=Kerry & Susan]Hi Stribs

You can add us as well........Kerry & Susan.
Close to Vestea but in the comune of Montebello Di Bertona.......too many listed as Vestea :D

Cheers[/QUOTE]

Oi U2,

Getting a bit snooty aren't you - too many in Vestea, eh.
You wait till we see our new neighbours from Grimsby, we'll tell'em, just you wait.

Love Robxxx

Hi Rob

Well we've got to get Montebello on the map also, haven't we?

Be careful of any neighbours from Grimsby, it's a bit of a dodgy place ;)

Say hiya to Linda

Love from Grimsby xx

Will do, speak soon.
LOL
Robxxx
PS; how's Mum & Dad?

They're fine thanks, really enjoyed their first trip to Abruzzo. Mum hasn't stopped talking about it, acts as though it'll never happen again........keep telling her come spring we'll be able to spend plenty of time in our new home and one of the most beautiful parts of the world........well that's what I think.

definitely speak soon.......oh dear are we hijacking the thread?

Kerry

Yes, but who cares?
Have a good xmas neighbours.
LOL
See you soon,
Rob e Lindaxxxxxxxxxx

LOL

Buon Natale e Buon Anno

Kerry & Susan xxx

Just found this thread and we're still in the process of negotiating for a property in Abruzzo. Any new members out there who live in Abruzzo but have yet to find this thread and may want to declare their abode?