9939 Hi

hi and welcome...........which part of Italy are you looking at ?

Hi R, D and M
South Liguria or Lunigiana. Are you there full-time, if so how long?

B

Welcome to the Forum, Borrini and best wishes regarding your plans. Do not worry about asking questions, it is very helpful.... at least most of the time. Cheers,

Hi there,
I read your post with interest as I have just spent 2 weeks in my small house in Lunigiana with my family (wife, 3 year old and 8 month old) with a view to moving there for a year and I was nervous as to how we would deal with snakes, heat, fussy 3 year old diet, no language etc etc etc...We have a converted barn in a villlage called Paretola outside of Licciana Nardi, 10 mins from Aulla.

It was brilliant!

Our house is in a small village with no shops etc and the locals couldnt do enough to welcome us. The nearest shops, restaurants etc are a 10 min drive down off the mountain and any time they were going down to the shop, they would call in and see if we needed anything. And I don't have a word of italian!!! They simply genuinely love the idea that there is new life coming to their village.

I hardly saw my 3 year old son for a couple of the local farmers calling by to bring him to the fields and the animals.

I know that my experience in that 2 weeks is probably different to what you might be nervous about by committing and moving, but all I can say is that we feel really positive about the possibility of moving there for a year and if you don't have a place there already, rent for a few months and see how you get on. Weather wise, I have been there about 7 times now, during various seasons so if you can deal with the fact that it's not 250 days a year sunshine, then you'll love the place.

The mountains, coast line, food and locals are fantastic! Go for it...

I hope this helps...gis a shout back if you need any other words of encouragement!

[quote=borrini;92581]Hi R, D and M
South Liguria or Lunigiana. Are you there full-time, if so how long?

B[/quote]

Yep full timers here, its coming up for 4 years in Sept..........cant think of a nicer part of the country or world come to that :yes::yes:

Thanks folks for your replies. I know a few people up in the mountains and it has been suggested to me that I buy a place there but it would be a long drive down to a decent restaurant etc. I suppose when you have always lived there you don't notice the lack of amenities. I would also like to be nearer the coast which would have the added benefit of better weather in the winter and spring. I like Pontremoli so a small village outside there would suit but would really prefer to be closer to La Spezia. I haven't really been into Aulla but saw a bad report on here about it. I wouldn't want to live anywhere where crime is rife as I live now in a place where it is very quiet. In order to make comparisons with England I think people on here who either have moved in the last few years or who have a holiday home will know the answers better than my asking Italian friends as they won't know the yardstick to compare by. Hope that all makes sense!

B

borrini - really you are asking for an impossible dream. You want to be near the coast, you want amenities, but at the same time you want a place free of microcriminalita. This does not compute. For sure you can find a delightful place 'up in the mountains' where it is too much trouble for the 'low life' malviventi to venture into...but you cannot have it all.

The best advice (frequently recommended on this forum) is to rent for a reasonably long period of time before deciding on a permanent move. You might find that what you presently consider as an unreasonable 'commute' to a main road becomes an irrelevance. Or you might find it is insupportable: it is all about how you can cope with (or even enjoy) these constraints, and if you don't try it out you'll never know.

I totally agree with Charles, you cannot have the best amenities in a small village. If you are looking at the coastal areas, such as Porto Venere or Lerici, prices are extremely high there. The Cinque Terre area is beautiful, but I would not live there. Great for a visit, though. It took us five extended trips to the area and plenty of discussions to get what we wanted. You can also rent a place for a while and see how you go. And try to be there at the worst possible time of the year.... say November or February when nothing much happens around. Things look different during the high season.

Sorry I do not think I am after the impossible dream! At present I live on the south coast in a large 'village' 6,000 app. people, we have a couple of nice restaurants and crime is extremely low. Also within 10/15 minutes drive there are loads of other places to go. What I wouldn't want is to pack in work and not be able to go out and socialise without a long drive on roads that are not what you would call 'well maintained'.
Everywhere has some crime I just don't want to live somewhere that you don't feel safe in the evening or worried about your property all the time.
After all when moving it should be for a better life than you have now and all things have to be considered.
I have been to the same area many times at different times of the year as I have distant relatives there and I love it, I love Italy. But I can't see me 'retiring' and not getting out and enjoying myself. Of course prices are a lot higher on the coast just as they are here. I will be back again in a few weeks so will visit the agents rather than just looking on the internet.

Careful with one thing we noticed when looking for a house near that area. Some of the villages are linked not only by roads which are not well maintained but also very narrow and difficult to drive. You have to think that if you forgot some essential on your shopping list, you have to drive all the way back in those conditions and then return.... This point became very important to us and made us decide on Bagni di Lucca itself... Plus the fact that we found the right property for us.
But you are doing the right thing by going there and talking to the agents. See as many properties as you can and then go back to check on your own without the agents. That will give you a good idea about the location. And be patient....don't rush.

Yes GP the roads are bad. That is the biggest problem living in the mountains in the less populated areas, the roads are really dreadful. As much as I would love to live there for the scenery and peaceful surroundings I could not cope with driving on those roads at night after a nice meal and OMG no vino!! That would ruin everything.
I think to have a place there as a 2nd home would be wonderful but not 365 days a year. This is why the young generation have moved away and the population declined because people want a more sophisticated lifestyle.
I had heard that Bagni di Lucca is getting popular with English people - if you have good roads down to Lucca that is possibly one of the reasons why. I have some relatives from Lucca but thought it might be too hot in the summer for us. Do you live full-time or is it a holiday home? If the latter have you really thought what it would be like all the time?
B

Well, actually Bagni di Lucca was more popular with English people before than nowadays, although there are a few around. Actually, Council is trying hard to entice some of the British people to come and participate more. Recently, on the 31st of May, they inaugurated a Promenade on the River Banks and gave it the name of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and they intend to make the 31st of May of each year a friendship day between Bagni di Lucca and the UK. One of these days I will write more about this subject as it may interest other people as well. Byron, Shelley and others, as well as the Brownings were regular visitors, particularly during the 19th Century when Bagni had a famous spa (Ithey are still there but are not as popular as before) and casino (the first in Europe, apparently).
Regarding the road to Lucca, it is excellent, it takes less than half an hour to cover the 25 kms distance through beautiful scenery.
As for the climate, it is not too hot in summer, it enjoys a great microclimate. The altitude is about 200 metres above sea level and in the river area (where we are) we benefit from great fresh breezes practically always. At night, even in the middle of summer, you need a light blanket. In winter it is not too cold either but if you go to the villages in the mountain conditions may be different.
We are also close to the Versilian Coast as well as the Abetone ski resort and Florence, Pisa, Siena, Bologna, the Cinque Terre are all day trips for us, either by car or public transport. Last time, we had a lovely day trip visiting Lake Trasimeno, Panicale (Umbria) and Cortona.
At present, we use the house as a holiday home, but we are going there at least 3 times in the year and spending several weeks each time. I would not mind moving there permanently, but I also like my place in Spain so this arrangement is better for us.
The main reason why we decided to buy in Bagni di Lucca, after visiting several times many areas in Luguria and Tuscany is that we did not feel isolated there and everything we needed was within walking distance, without having to get into the car all the time. It is also a beautiful place. We are very happy about our choice. We are both in our (young at heart) 60´s and it is important to be in a place where you can see and communicate with other people. It keeps us alive and (hopefully) young.
Best wishes with your plans.

Hi borrini,

We seem to have found the place you're looking for: 15 minutes drive to La Spezia, 20 minutes to Lerici, 5 from the motorway, a spanking brand new hypermarkey at the bottom of the hill (3km), 2 restaurants in the village and numerous others in the valley, decent road, no crime, seaview and a rejuvenating population as we are in easy commuting distance to La Spezia. I'll send you a pm.

The first time we came to Italy , about 17 years ago was to Lunigiana and I was instantly besotted.Quite a few years later, when I was hoping to buy a holiday home there, prices had risen a lot, probably because a lot of English people were buying there , and I thought I'd have to give up, when I was introduced to a house in the Val Di Vara just over the border and still in Lunigiana. I bought it, wondering if I'd miss the Tuscan side of the border and if a tiny hamlet would be too isolated. Guess what. Besotted again, and we are so much a part of that community that our social life can be exhausting! Mountain restaurants are very cheap as well. Supermarkets 20 mins away by car but village shop and post office only a mile. I think it would be hard to live anywhere in Italy without being swept off your feet with the area and the people.I have noticed that everyone loves the region they have settled in. In fact, is there anyone who would not reccommend their bit of Italy?
ciao
pam

Ronan
So pleased for you that you have had such a great time. I'm sure in England you wouldn't feel confident of letting your 3yr old go off with strangers!
Presumably you have recently purchased your house? Will you be working in the area when you go for a year?
I feel that moving to what is a different life has to be done carefully. I don't want to just go along blindly and make a big mistake. I will choose the place that 'ticks' all the boxes that are important to us. I am sure that you having a young family will have different priorities to me as I am older than you but I reackon we both want a happy, pleasant, safe environment to live in.
Best wishes.

Gala Placidia
Your place certainly sounds beautiful. I too think it important to be within walking distance of civilizaion (especially when past the first flush!) By the way the new 60 is 50 so you can cut 10 years off!!
Also if you do have to drive much in the local area that the roads are at least reasonable. I feel very nervous where the road has fell away down 200 feet or more and they just put a bit of plastic tape round the gap!! I much prefer the drive say into Levanto where there are barriers along the road.
Cheers

Yes Pam, everyone shouts for their corner! and that's how it should be. We all want something different and we all hope we will get what we want.
I thought that Lunigiana was in Tuscany! I didn't realise that part was in Liguria? My family were from Zeri. Yes, I am very happy there and especially the people. But there is a distinct lack of a quality restaurant or bar. I would be extremely happy there for holidays (as I do anyway) but to live permanently would be different. The roads are another problem!!!! Maybe I'm just a whimp!

:eeeek::eeeek:

Borrini, you are right, Bagni di Lucca is a beautiful place. We fell in love with it and still are. If you want more information on the area, have a look at
[url=http://www.valdilima.com]Val di Lima - The guide to Bagni di Lucca and around - Start here![/url]
Also, do a quick search with the name of the town and you will get plenty of information.
If you are in the area, go and visit it. Also, have a look at the Garfagnana, particularly Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and Barga. Both superb! We go there for coffee or lunch and when they have special events.
Happy hunting!

Oops! I forgot another interesting site on Bagni from the local Comune

[url=http://80.17.156.51/]comune di Bagni di Lucca[/url]