casa del campanile's activity

Questions Asked

Anyone have any familiarity with the innards of an Italian toilet, as in how to stop a tiny leak after the tank has filled. Have cleaned around the bottom flange, however cannot see how to remove the rubber flange and replace with a new one?

Sat, 07/06/2013 - 14:40

We have recently encountered some difficulty in making contact with SKY.IT.Their website only allows us to reach a point where we can actually describe our problem and then just goes to sleep.

Sat, 06/15/2013 - 16:22

Since most of the language "spoken" on this forum has a definitive accent, thought this research report from Boston, an area of the USA that also speaks with a discernible accent, would be appropriate.

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 15:40

Anyone know if the SKY TV UK FTA is still at 28.2E. Also, the direction for SKY.IT satellite.Thanks,

Sun, 04/21/2013 - 18:30

While harvesting grapes wife was bitten/stung on the arm by an unknown insect. Actually nipped  a bit of flesh away.

Thu, 09/30/2010 - 16:40

We send a fair amount of mail to the US from two different post offices here in Lunigiana. In the past three months, three letters to the US containing checks have not arrived. One of our neighbors has had a similar experience mailing to GB.

Tue, 09/28/2010 - 20:07

Seeking advice regarding building a garage; build from bottom up, buy a prefab, wooden or metal or??? Thanks, Fred

Mon, 06/21/2010 - 16:42

We have a very small vineyard and produce wine for our own consumption. We would like to improve our wine by introducing some cabernet into the mix. Does anyone know where one might obtain some cabernet vines, either dry root or in containers.

Thu, 04/22/2010 - 15:20

We have acquaintences, two couples, wishing to attend an Italian cooking school, preferably in the general Tuscany area. Any suggestions, recommendations welcome. Thanks, Fred

Thu, 04/08/2010 - 16:03

It has been suggested that perhaps some directions would be helpful, DUH!Varano is about 10 minutes beyond Licciana Nardi on the road to Tavernelle. There is a parking area just below the church.

Fri, 09/04/2009 - 17:22

Comments posted

Tue, 06/08/2021 - 11:15

As mentioned in a previous post, there are several long-term lease programs available to non-EU citizens. Peugeot and Renault offer a new car, fully insured, with pick-up and delivery sites in a number of European cities, including Italy. If you pick up and return in a French city the cost is reduced by some €400. There is also an advantage to driving a French licensed vehicle in Italy. Check them out for leasing up to six months.

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 21:14

Congratulations on getting your first vaccine shot. We are in La Quinta, near Palm Springs, and are still waiting for an appointment.

We happen to have a property for sale in Tuscany not too far from Lucca. It might be more than you are looking for, small vineyard, large garden, etc. but you might check it out.

https://www.italymagazine.com/property-for-sale-in-italy/124005-have-tuscan-dream

https://larchitrave.com/en/234/casa-bernarda

 

Thu, 03/26/2020 - 21:07

Obtaining Italian Citizenship via the “Jure Sanguines” procedure

 

We have been residing in Europe part-time since 1974, the last 15 in Italy. As my wife has dual citizenship, US and an EU country, we have not had to deal with the 90 day EU restriction for non-EU citizens. Approximately 10 years ago we decided I should apply for Italian citizenship through the “Jure Sanguines” procedure for various reasons. We located all of the necessary documents, had everything translated, etc., and made application to a US based Italian Consulate. I was interviewed and paid the necessary fees. The Consulate contacted me a few times over several years asking for more documents. We decided at one point to forget it and I stopped responding to the Consulate’s correspondence for several years.

Several months ago I received a registered letter from the Consulate stating that they only needed two more documents to complete the application. One was my grandfather’s “original birth certificate” and the other was for another copy of some other document. Since we had decided to forego ever returning to Italy, I answered thusly; 

 

“Dear ……., you of all people should know that entities do not provide “original birth certificates” as there is only one “original” which is why only copies are provided, which, incidently, I sent to you in 2010. The other document was sent to you in full translation in 2014 for the second time. 

So, why don’t you look someplace where the “sun don’t shine” and you might get lucky and find something.”

 

Two weeks later I received another registered letter from the Consulate congratulating me for being awarded Italian Citizenship along with a form to submit for my Italian EU Passport.

 

What a country!!!

 

Casa del Campanile

Fri, 09/27/2019 - 13:24

Just received my Italian citizenship after 10 years of shuffling papers, etc.
If your Italian immigrant grandfather became a naturalized citizen of the US, my understanding is that you do not qualify for Italian citizenship under the "jus sanguinis principle."
Check out the website for your nearest Italian Consulate ( Miami?) and you can get all the info you need to check your qualifications and information regarding applying if you qualify.
Good luck and be prepared for the paper shuffling experience of your life if you proceed.

Tue, 07/23/2019 - 21:37

Steve, thanks for the input. Could you elaborate a bit as to the process you used and what method/vehicle was used to satisfy the Italian notaio that the funds had been transferred from buyer to seller to the satisfaction/verification/certification of the notaio. Devil is always in the details.
Thanks,
Fred

Tue, 07/23/2019 - 12:47

Thanks guys for your responses.
Probably better to just do it the "Italian way" and avoid all the extra paper shuffling.
The extra cost of two currency exchanges and the transfer costs are a small price to pay to just get it done.
As a former notary in the US, obviously totally different from European notaries, and having written zoning laws as a city planner, am well aware of the "bureaucratic jungle" that exists just about everywhere one encounters human presence and activity. So be it, and thanks again for the input.
Fred

Sun, 07/21/2019 - 18:40

Ugo, thanks again for your input, however, not to belabor the point, but for my own edification, I should like to explore one additional situation.
One of the banks we deal with is the Bank of America (founded as you probably know, by an Italian immigrant, A.P. Giannini) in San Francisco many moons ago) which has a branch office in Milan as well as numerous other branches in numerous other countries, including many EU countries.
If my buyer deposited the full purchase price into our local B of A branch, and our local branch notified the Milan branch that the funds were on deposit, could not then an Italian notaio receive legal verification/certification from the Milan bank that the necessary funds were, in fact, on deposit and available to the seller? It seems to me that if an Italian notaio could legally receive verification/certification of deposit from the Milan bank if the funds were, in fact, deposited into the Milan bank, the notaio could accept the Milan bank's verification/certification that the necessary funds were, in fact, in the possession of the B of A organization and available to the seller. Just askin', you know.

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 13:14

Ugo, thanks for your input.
If I understand your post correctly, an Italian Notaio would not, or could not, accept a verification from any US entity; bank, attorney, escrow company, US notary, whatever, that a specified amount of $$$ has been transferred from one US bank account to another US bank account for the purchase of an Italian property when the buyer has paid to the Italian Notaio, all the fees, taxes, etc. in €s in Italy?

Wed, 09/06/2017 - 05:41

Carolyn, the information provided by Katie and Sean pretty much covers what is necessary to obtain residency in Italy for a non-EU citizen. It may seem daunting at the outset so be prepared for doing some "due diligence" and paper shuffling. Good luck.Fred

Thu, 08/31/2017 - 04:27

As we have answered similar inquiries, we offer this:As a non-EU citizen you are restricted to 90 day stays in the EU unless you get an extension from the Italian Consulate in the US for an additional 90 days. The regulation is that after a 90 day stay in the EU you must leave the EU for a period of at least 90 days before you can return. Past enforcement in various countries has been relatively lax, however, given the increase in terrorism in Europe, would expect a tightening in enforcement. If you plan to have longer stays in Italy you can apply for a form of residency. A number of non-EU folks on this Forum have opted for this process and can give you more precise information.There are several “flight paths” from the US to Pisa via Munich, Paris,  Rome, or London via various carriers. We travel annually from LAX to Pisa via Munich.You might have a look at Fivizzano and environs in Lunigiana. It is 30-40 minutes from the autostrada at Aulla on a well maintained “highway.”  About 1.5 hour drive from Pisa airport. It is a fortress city, historical, good medical facilities including a hospital, etc., a train depot in another village a few miles away, good bus service, a number of restaurants, bars, including Elvetica which hosts the English book library, Oxfam English library and store, active Expat community, small “supermarket,” gas station, a pharmacy, bank, and a number of small shops. An ideal location for someone who wants to be out of the tourist traffic, yet not too far from "civilization."  They also have an extensive market in the square every Tuesday, I think.  There is a wide range of properties; from city apts. to town houses, to detached houses with small land areas just outside town, and some estate type properties with vineyards, boscos, etc. in the general area. Check out properties at Lunigiana2000.comIt is just below the mountain range that has a fairly good ski resort. Not sure of winter snowfall ,in town, if any, or temps. Maybe someone from there might weigh in on that subject.Good luck,Fred