Gala Placidia's activity

 I agree that English is a very difficult language to learn for a foreigner. And you do not master it by age 5, even if you are a native speaker. A long learning process is ahead of the poor child and he/she will be tortured with spelling to test his/her endurance. Spelling is dreadful as it does not follow fixed pronunciation rules. It is far more difficult to spell words in English than in Italian. You do not believe me..... here you have a good example: The word FISH could be written as follows: GHOTIGH as in TOUGHO as in WOMENTI as in NATION A true nightmare for anyone

 Hello and welcome! I was hoping that somebody else was going to give you more accurate advice; however, it looks as I will have to start the ball rolling. Someone else may correct me if I am wrong.To start with, it is a bit difficult to advice without knowing much about the particular situation. There are legal and building considerations. Using a lawyer to make all investigations about the legal status of the property seems to be a good idea, particularly because you are dealing with a relative and it may be easier for you if another person points out any difficulties concerning the sale of the property. This is an area for either a lawyer or a notary public.There is no USA or UK equivalent to an Italian "geometra", the closest would be a surveyor, although it is just a similarity in some areas. The "geometra" has access to the Titles office and can obtain copies of those documents; however, I still believe that someone in the legal profession would be needed.As for the works to be carried out, it would be a good idea to ask the local comune who can submit plans, etc. There may be restrictions in the case of an old building and some of them are classified. It it is only a matter for some leaks in the roof to be fixed, a geometra can get workers to repair them; however, if there is a structural problem, a structural engineer may be needed. Contacting a local architect may be a solution as he/she could coordinate other professionals as well and you will be able to get a comprehensive project for  not only the restoration of the building but also to better adapt it to modern living while maintaining original features.We are talking about several possibilities here and you need to know what you can do and how much it is going to cost you before you take the plunge.You should also have the place inspected to detect the presence of xylophagous insects (wood borers) such as termites, "tralli" and other little beasts.Also, a restoration project requires a lot of personal involvement and you may need to travel frequently to oversee that everything is done according to your wishes, unless you have someone, preferably a professional, who can look after your interests.From our own experience, we recently restored an old watermill in Tuscany, but then, my husband is a retired architect and we have done several similar projects in different countries. We do not live in Italy permanently, but we could travel there on a regular basis to oversee everything. We employed a local geometra to coordinate building trades, but all plans and specifications were prepared by my husband; consequently, we were in a better position than most people restoring a building. Also, the scope of the works was not very big as the previous owner had already done some work in it and, fortunately, he did not ruin the place.You have to keep in mind that restorations are generally expensive and you have to take this into account when deciding the purchase price. Check the value of similar properties in the area, both restored and unrestored before committing yourself.On the bright side, to restore an old building, particularly if it is your family's ancestral home, is a very rewarding experience. The rewards are intangible, don't expect material gains as these are difficult to obtain in this field; however, to see a place that belonged to your family come alive again is a reward in itself. The difference between a dream and a nightmare resides in careful planning.Best wishes with your project.

 This is yet another time when I miss the "Grazie" button. The service seems to be slightly cheaper than the one we used last year. 

 Lentils from Castelluccio are considered the best in Italy and real "gourmet" food. They are small and green in colour and a real "healthfood" because of its high protein and mineral salts content. They should not be soaked as they cook very quickly. The only problem is that they are produced in limited quantities and you pay a high price for them. But really worth it!A typical dish from the area is "Lenticchie di Castelluccio con salsicce" (Castelluccio Lentils with Sausages).

Welcome back to the Community. I am very sorry to hear about your loss and I do hope that all your activity will help you to get over these hard times. There are a few members in the Liguria area and you may be able to forge some friendships.Also, the groups, as Valentina says, is a great way to communicate with people who share interests. Just join a few of them according to the topics you like. There is one for Liguria.Best wishes, 

I guess that she could always sign a power of attorney for someone to sign on her behalf before the notary, but you will need all the documents that Ram mentions. Plus all the sworn translations. 

 What a wonderful trip Penny! I am very glad for you. Also, you did all the right things without wasting precious time. It is always better to visit the Sistine Chapel by taking a tour. This way you avoid the queues and to visit Saint Peter you can go on your own.I also like the Pantheon immensely. It is a masterpiece.Thnks for telling us about your experiences. At times like this I wish that we had the "Grazie" button.

 I checked it, Anne, as I had written a review a couple of weeks ago and I had no problems. This time I got the same message. Perhaps the Admin is working on that particular feature at the moment. They have said that they are still enhancing the site. I would advise to wait for a few hours.

 Hi La Brezza Dave and welcome to the Community. Sorry to hear about your predicament. Are you sure that the kitchen furniture and water heater were included in the contract? I ask you to double check because it is quite usual for these not to be included in houses or apartments. I do not know these people as we are in Tuscany, so I cannot tell you about them. Perhaps other members could. Have you paid the full amount and who has inspected the property before completing the purchase?

Hi Gerry and welcome back. Best wishes with all your future plans.