Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Living in Italy Are you thinking about living, working or holidaying in Italy? Look no further! ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.livinginitaly.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The best small cities for expats in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/best-small-cities-expats-italy/) - Though events over the last year have put a hold on many international relocations, that should not stop expats and would-be expats from planning their next move. If you’ve been dreaming of relocating to Italy, you’ve probably researched Rome, Milan and Florence, and you may have looked into Naples, Amalfi or Positano too. However, there - [Greetings from Italy Travel Calendar and Posters](https://www.livinginitaly.com/greetings-from-italy-travel-calendar-and-posters/) - Step back into the golden age of travel with this Greetings from Italy vintage-style calendar. Each month features a retro illustration inspired by classic 1940s postcards, celebrating a different Italian city in bold, colorful artwork. The city name appears in uppercase letters filled with miniature scenes of famous landmarks, set against charming backgrounds that capture - [Florence Considers a Day‑Ticket for Tourists](https://www.livinginitaly.com/florence-considers-a-day-ticket-for-tourists/) - Florence is exploring the idea of introducing a day-trip visitor ticket, inspired by Venice’s “entry fee” model; however, no formal decision has been made. The debate follows data revealing nearly 8 million day visitors in 2024, accounting for over half of the city’s tourism, and raising concerns about sustainability in the historic center. Speaking at - [Creative Writing Holidays at an Italian Pope's Palace](https://www.livinginitaly.com/creative-writing-holidays/) - Write Your Manuscript or screenplay on a Tuscan Volcano The notion of writing a novel or screenplay in Italy is not entirely a new one, as creative writing holidays have been around for a while and they have proved to be very successful. However, a creative writing holiday in a Renaissance hermitage made from lava and - [Pasta with Black Cabbage and Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe](https://www.livinginitaly.com/pasta-with-black-cabbage-and-spicy-tomato-sauce-recipe/) - A delicious and nutritious vegetarian Italian winter warmer! One of the joys of shopping at the green grocer or vegetable markets rather than supermarkets is that one is so much more aware of which vegetables are in season. Buying fresh, locally grown produce at the right time of year is healthier for us and reduces - [Savoury Escarole Pie - Torta rustica di scarola](https://www.livinginitaly.com/savoury-escarole-pie-torta-rustica-di-scarola/) - Delicious hot or cold! When I first moved to Italy I was surprised to learn that escarole, the broad-leaved and slightly less-bitter version of the endive salad vegetable, could be cooked. Known as scarola in Italian, this winter salad leaf is the main ingredient of theSavoury Escarole Pie - Pizza di Scarola or Torta Rustica - [Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli, Olives and Anchovies](https://www.livinginitaly.com/orecchiette-pasta-with-broccoli-olives-and-anchovies/) - A delicious and healthy Mediterranean diet recipe! I first discovered orecchiette pasta with broccoli and anchovies whilst on holiday in Apulia (Puglia) several summers ago. This fresh pasta is shaped into "little ears" or "orecchiette" which are perfect for holding tomato sauce, or in the case of the Apulian recipe, olive oil and vegetables such - [A Frighteningly Good Halloween Pumpkin Risotto Recipe](https://www.livinginitaly.com/a-frighteningly-good-halloween-pumpkin-risotto-recipe/) - Save time and surprise your dinner guests with this pressure cooker main course! Halloween may be a rather low key affair in Italy where I live, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some devilishly delicious local recipes that can easily be adapted for the Fall festivities. No vegetable symbolises Halloween more than the pumpkin - or - [Venice Carnival - 2024 wall calendars available NOW!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/venice-carnival-calendars/) - Enjoy the unique atmosphere of the world famous Carnevale di Venezia or Venice Carnival all year round with 12 original photographs of traditional Venetian masks and costumes taken during the city's annual festival. ... - [5 Reasons Why the Vespa Scooter is a Timeless Pop Culture Design Icon!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/5-reasons-why-the-vespa-scooter-is-a-timeless-pop-culture-design-icon/) - From Roman Holiday to Lady Gaga, the cult of Vespa continues... Almost seventy years since Italian aircraft manufacturer Enrico Piaggio teamed up with a brilliant aeronautical engineer and inventor named Corradino D'Ascanio to create the Vespa scooter as a functional and cheap mode of transport in post-war Italy, this design icon is more popular than - [Vintage Italian Travel Posters](https://www.livinginitaly.com/vintage-italian-travel-posters/) - A curated collection of retro and vintage-style Italian travel posters for some of our favourite destinations - Rome, Florence, Capri, Verona...and many more! All posters are available for purchase - just click on the image or the caption to buy! More destinations coming ... watch this space! NB - All items available on Zazzle. Living - [Photography workshops with Alex Coghe in Rome and Naples in 2020](https://www.livinginitaly.com/photography-workshops-with-alex-coghe-in-rome-and-naples-in-2020/) - Update March 2020 Sadly, due to the situation in Italy regarding the COVID-19 emergency Alex has been forced to cancel these workshops. The next appointment is planned for 2021 with new dates. Watch this space! - [Online studio workshops with painter, photographer and creativity coach Michael Eldridge](https://www.livinginitaly.com/online-studio-workshops-with-painter-photographer-and-creativity-coach-michael-eldridge/) - During the pandemic, Michael has created online studio workshops which are principally about the good and bad times in the life of an artist and what it really means to be creative. And they include practical, playful tuition on image making and advice on how to get your stuff out there. ... Continue Reading - [The Rome Film Festival – Festa del Cinema!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/rome-film-festival/) - The second edition of the Rome Film Festival which took place during October 2007 closed recently in the Eternal city and judging by the statistics the city council and event organizers are boasting, the festival was a resounding success with a 30% increase in film-goers and brisk business done amongst distributors and producers. Certainly, as - [An Italian Ghost Story!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/an-italian-ghost-story/) - Who doesn't enjoy a ghost story over the Christmas period? If you’re looking for an Italian-themed spooky read then The Eleventh Gate by Rossella Cirigliano would make a great choice over the festivities. The action takes place in modern day Rome at a fictive museum in Porta Gaia, one of the many gate houses that - [Restoring a Property in Rome - Contemporary Design Meets Retro Urban Chic](https://www.livinginitaly.com/restoring-a-property-in-rome-contemporary-design-meets-retro-urban-chic/) - Casa Berardi is a small apartment on the ground floor of a 1930s building in Rome, situated in Torpignattara, one of the most historic suburbs of the capital, only a few meters from the ruins of the Roman Mausoleum of Helena and the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter (Ad Duas Lauros). The apartment was used - [Discovering the Aurelian Walls in Rome](https://www.livinginitaly.com/discovering-the-aurelian-walls-in-rome/) - After almost two decades of living in Rome, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I knew very little about the history of the Aurelian Walls (or mura aureliane in Italian), the old Roman defensive walls that have surrounded the city for almost two thousand years. - [Best places to settle in Sicily](https://www.livinginitaly.com/best-places-to-settle-in-sicily/) - Surrounded by warm, Mediterranean waters, home to magnificent architecture and adored for its dreamlike scenery, it’s no wonder Sicily welcomes millions of tourists each year. It isn’t only tourists that fall in love with the beautiful island of Sicily, however. The region makes a wonderful home for retirees and expats alike, and with so much - [So You Want to Work in Italy: Some Practical Advice - Part 1](https://www.livinginitaly.com/working/) - Though difficult, study abroad is a promising area for finding a job in Italy. There are over 100 American schools in Italy, all of which hire people to teach courses and administer their programs. Working in study abroad can be exiting, but it can also offer more stability and (possibly) better pay than other types - [So You Want to Work in Italy: Some Practical Advice - Part 2](https://www.livinginitaly.com/working-part-2/) - Some Legal Considerations Like all countries, Italy has legal requirements for foreigners who want to work and live there. Yet many articles on finding a job in Italy make no mention of this. To merely reside in Italy for any period of time longer than 7 days, foreigners are required to obtain official permission to - [Mixing Spaghetti And English: Teach English In Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/teach-english-in-italy/) - For those who dream of teaching abroad, Italy is often the first country that comes to mind. Beautiful, historical, and surrounded by a sense of romance, Italy is a dream for most Westerners who plan on traveling for a career. It should come as no surprise, then, that English teaching jobs in Italy are somewhat - [The first steps to business success in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/business-success-in-italy/) - preferably in a pair of Gucci loafers In this remarkably beautiful country nothing is more important than creating and maintaining the bella figura to achieve a successful introduction into the business environment. Italy is famous for its strong cultural heritage and this also extends into its business customs and etiquette. Understanding and taking advantage of - [The Italian Bread Myth](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-italian-bread-myth/) - Come on, admit it, British bread is much better than this Italian stuff... I have finally discovered something that I miss about Britain; a nice fresh, soft loaf of Mothers' Pride bread. Processed, probably filled with all kinds of weird modified, life-threatening chemicals, but doesn't it taste good? It makes perfect toast, lightly grilled with - [How to Make the Most of Your Property Hunting Trip to Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/property-hunting-trip-to-italy/) - Is this a property hunting trip or a holiday? It's important to keep these two separate! Of course, even the most determined property hunter seems to relax into the Italian way of doing things very quickly. In fact, after the white knuckle drive on Italian roads from the airport to the hotel or bed & - [All the Fun of the Festa!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/all-the-fun-of-the-festa/) - Any summer visitor to Italy cannot fail to see all the publicity for the annual sagras and festas. They are a fabulous opportunity to join the locals and enjoy typical food of the area very cheaply. When I first moved to our village of Pieve di Compresseto, near Gualdo Tadino, I was a tad intimidated - [Container Gardening at your Italian Holiday Home](https://www.livinginitaly.com/container-gardening-at-your-italian-holiday-home/) - How to keep your balcony plants thriving through a long, hot Italian summer! Growing flowers, plants and herbs in containers on balconies and terraces and in small gardens in Italy can offer the exciting possibility of being able to enjoy plants that are typically Mediterranean, which for many UK or Northern European residents are almost - [Understanding Italian soil - The key to successful gardening in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/understanding-italian-soil-the-key-to-successful-gardening-in-italy/) - Italy is, essentially a very long piece of rock and the types of soil that can be found up and down the length and breadth of this rocky peninsula vary immensely. Soils range from friable acidic sand in the Dolomite mountains in the North, almost unworkable clay loams around Bologna and in Tuscany to poor, - [Italian Garden Design - Topiary In Italian Gardens](https://www.livinginitaly.com/italian-garden-design-topiary-in-italian-gardens/) - Italian garden design has always adopted the use of art topiary to establish strong, evergreen structure in the Italian garden. From the origins of the Italian garden, Italian garden designers have shaped evergreen plants into both symmetrical, obtuse and representational forms to highlight entrances, underline geometrical features or to accentuate angles etc. Even in Roman - [Plants for Italian Gardens - The Right Plant for an Italian Garden](https://www.livinginitaly.com/plants-for-italian-gardens-the-right-plant-for-an-italian-garden/) - What is the right plant for the Italian garden? What is the best type of plant for the Italian garden style? These are two questions that I am asked frequently asked as a garden designer here in Italy. The range of plants and garden styles in Italy is as rich and as varied as the - [Contemporary Italian Gardens](https://www.livinginitaly.com/contemporary-italian-gardens/) - Classic Italian gardens have stunned the world for centuries with their symmetry, elegance and sense of shape, form and scale. However the contemporary Italian garden now appears to display a rather confusing disregard for their Renaissance origins. Although created from aristocratic oppression and social poverty, these glorious works of Renaissance garden art could still be - [A Beginner's Guide to DIY in Italy – Fai Da Te - Part 3](https://www.livinginitaly.com/fai-da-te-part-3/) - The third of my personal favorite DIY tips for restoring property in Italy looks at recycling the original materials found in your Italian home. We'll focus specifically on the materials that one finds in a traditional rural farmhouse - terracotta floor tiles, granolithic (graniglia) floor tiles and wooden ceiling beams. DIY Tip No.3 – Recycling - [Living in Italy: the Real Deal](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-real-deal/) - Our base in Pavia, which we were renting until we found a house to buy, was a flat owned by Giorgio and Franco. It was a lucky find. In the summer of 2007, we visited Pavia for a week to find an apartment for my six months study abroad and Nico’s sabbatical. At first, that - [Wildlife in Italy!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/wildlife-in-italy/) - This time of the year is lovely in Italy. The intense heat of July has faded slightly but it is still very warm in the daytime. Eating outside is a pleasure under our pergola carpeted with passion flowers and our solar fountain tinkling in the background. The sagra season is still in full swing and - [Modern centrally heated 3 bedroom property in Umbria for sale](https://www.livinginitaly.com/villa-magnolia/) - Villa Magnolia A modern centrally heated 3 bedroom property in Umbria, situated between Assisi and Gubbio in the Appenines. It is on the edge of a small hilltop village with local facilities only a 10 minute drive. (The village has a bar and Post Office.) Perugia airport is 45 mins and Ancona airport just over an hour. - [Summer is here!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/summer-is-here/) - Well, summer has arrived with temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30 degrees, the farmers have cut the hay and the swifts are swooping and squeaking. The wildflowers are lovely at this time of year and that is very timely, as today (7th June) is the Infiorate or celebration of Corpus Domini where all the towns - [Journey to Church...in Assisi!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/journey-to-church/) - Our journey to St Leonard’s on Sundays takes around 45 minutes in the car with a 10-minute walk through Assisi. It might sound like a long way, but if there was a competition for one of the most beautiful journeys to church ours must surely rank near the top. After leaving the village of Cerqueto behind - [How to Prune Lavender in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/how-to-prune-lavender-in-italy/) - The right and the wrong way to prune lavender in Italy Lavender has to be one of the most misunderstood plants in the Mediterranean plant list, in my opinion. The various tones of violet and blue flowers that the 25 varieties of lavender offer the garden designer in Italy an amazing choice. The stunning violet - [Food of Italy...Buon Appetito!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/food-of-italy-buon-appetito/) - The pleasures and love of Italian cuisine are known the world over. Italian cookery and recipes vary from region to region, and on the whole it is very healthy and nutritious, using natural ingredients that are in season. Most traditonal and 'speciality' dishes as we know today, are on the whole derived from simple peasant - [The Lustre of Lucca](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-lustre-of-lucca/) - In the 16th century they built Lucca’s imposing walls to keep out raiders. These days the barrier, still perfectly maintained and nearly 25ft high in places, seems to have another purpose —preserving the town as an oasis of picturesque, unspoilt charm amid the hubbub of tourist Tuscany. To visit Lucca is to visit a Tuscan - [10 Reasons Why the Mediterranean Diet is Good For You](https://www.livinginitaly.com/10-reasons-why-the-mediterranean-diet-is-good-for-you/) - Low in Saturated Fat Physicians and nutritionists the world over all agree that a diet that is high in saturated fat can have very negative consequences on a person’s health and wellbeing. Indeed, a diet that is high in saturated fat can cause a person to suffer heart disease, can lead to cancer and can - [Choosing the Right Property for your Pocket and Time Scale](https://www.livinginitaly.com/choosing-the-right-property-for-your-pocket-and-time-scale/) - The Romantic Ruin A labour of love but real potential to realise a dream home. The initial investment is small and further works can be staged. Beautiful stone farmhouse in lovely position requiring full restoration. Approx. 300 sq.m. - would make 5/6 bedroom house. Full architectural plans available of both present state and future restoration - [A Budget Holiday in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/a-budget-holiday-in-italy/) - There are a lot of reasons why Italy is at the top of the travelers’ wish list. Awe-inspiring cultural attractions and historical monuments rank highly; so, too, does the wonderful climate, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine and friendly people… it goes on and on! But as far as the budget traveler is concerned, arguably the best - [Discover Capri](https://www.livinginitaly.com/discover-capri/) - Air The Naples Capodichino Airport offers connections to all Italian cities and major European destinations with traditional or low-cost airline companies. From the airport the Alibus shuttle service takes you directly to the port of Naples. Train The Central Station of Naples is well connected to all of Italy. For times consult the Trenitalia site. - [Florence in a Day](https://www.livinginitaly.com/florence-in-a-day/) - Discover the best of the sights of Florence Italy, even if you only have a day to spare Overflowing with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that’s very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum alone could easily eat a day or two into any - [The Beautiful Island of Sardinia](https://www.livinginitaly.com/sardinia/) - The majestic island of Sardinia is located off the west coast of Italy just below the island of Corsica. The second largest island in the Mediterranean it runs approximately 250 kilometres from north to south and 110 kilometres from east to west. Italian is the main language of this vastly diverse island although various regions - [Sardinia - a journey of pure emotion!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/island-of-sardinia/) - There is an island in the Mediterranean where the air is fragrant with the sea, the earth and myrtle: Sardinia. Sardinia offers enchanting and unforgettable landscapes, revealing moments of bewitching magic and unsuspected emotions. Lovers of nature, history and tradition can find impressive evidence of the past: infinite varieties of colours, sounds, perfumes and flavours - [A Venetian Vacation](https://www.livinginitaly.com/a-venetian-vacation/) - One of the highlights of a trip to Venice is simply arriving. If you’re not the romantic type, you could take a bus across the causeway that connects the city with the rest of Italy. But if you want to enter Venice in style you have to do it by water. Boats leave the airport - [Escape to Le Marche, Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/escape-to-le-marche-italy/) - For the last four years I have been escaping to Le Marche to write my novels. You might think the tranquil pace of life in Amandola or Force is a world away from the historical civil wars, revolutions and chaos of China that are the subject of my books, let alone the China of today - [Trains & Stations](https://www.livinginitaly.com/ebook/) - The Italian train system is very efficient and convenient if you have to cover long distances. In Italy trains are very popular in everyday life. They are a common means of transportation for commuters, students, business men, etc. Taking the train in Italy can definitely get you closer to the Italian culture. Let's see how - [An Introduction to Hostelling in Italy - From North to South on a Budget](https://www.livinginitaly.com/backpacking-in-italy/) - From the great food, fabulous wine and infamous dolce vita to unbeatable art collections and architecture, there are few countries as attractive or exciting than Italy! Although prices can be high – like much of Western Europe – an abundance of cheap hostels and good public transport mean that Italy’s lively cities and dramatic countryside - [Artistic revolution in Le Marche, Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/artistic-revolution-in-le-marche-italy/) - Italy, with its range of landscapes, is a distillation of the world; the Marche is a distillation of Italy. Guido Piovene - Viaggio in Italia (1957) Le Marche is a land peppered with medieval mountain villages and framed by the dramatic Sibillini Mountain range. The area has historically drawn artists and spiritual seekers to gain - [Italian coffee – something for everyone](https://www.livinginitaly.com/italian-coffee/) - Espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino; there would seem to be as many types of Italian coffee as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffees are an art form accompanied by hundreds of customs and traditions. Whether it's a corretto coffee thrown back like a shot of alcohol, a cappuccino coffee and croissant for breakfast, - [Introduction to Italian Wine](https://www.livinginitaly.com/introduction-to-italian-wine/) - Each year, it is not uncommon for Italy to find itself at the top of a number of wine-related lists, not the least of which ranks it as the largest producer, exporter and consumer of wine in the world. This fact is all the more impressive when you consider that Italy is not a very - [Wines from Le Marche, Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/wines-from-le-marche-italy/) - Rosso Conero (DOC) Primarily made from the Montepulciano grape variety. Sharing its name with that of Monte Conero, which rises to an altitude of 572 metres above sea level and overlooks the city of Ancona, this red wine has a long and illustrious history. Indeed, the wines of Ancona were cited by Pliny the Elder. - [The Region of Le Marche...](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-region-of-le-marche/) - is divided into five provinces - Pesaro & Urbino in the North, followed by Ancona, Macerata, the recently created Fermo, with Ascoli Piceno furthest South bordering with Abruzzo. Italy's once secret gem Le Marche is now fast competing with Toscana and Umbria as both a holiday destination and also the perfect spot for investing in - [The Italian School System](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-italian-school-system/) - There are many reasons to move to Italy: holiday, finding a job, following the true love, and, last but not least, studying. In fact in Italy the number of foreign students is constantly growing. This phenomenon depends partially on the children of immigrants joining their parents living in Italy (38,000 in 2008), partly on children - [Real Estate Taxes in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/real-estate-taxes-in-italy/) - Disclaimer: The content on this post was first published in 2007 and is provided for historical informational purposes only. Updated tax information coming soon! IMPOSTA DI REGISTRO variable* IMPOSTA CATASTALE 2% IMPOSTA IPOTECARIA 1% Notary's fees calculated on a sliding scale (approx. from euro 1,400.00 upwards for a declared value of euro 50,000.00) Other miscellaneous fees - [Buying a Property in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/buying-a-property-in-italy/) - The following guidelines are presented to help foreign buyers, but are based exclusively on personal experience and should not be taken as strict, legal advice. Please read the site disclaimer for further details as to use of information here. The advice may sound complicated but is designed to help….NOT frighten away prospective investors! To buy - [Termoli - An East Coast Paradise](https://www.livinginitaly.com/termoli-an-east-coast-paradise/) - Many American Tourists when visiting Italy hit all the tourist traps Rome, Florence, Milan, and the like, which are magnificent. But to appreciate Italy we suggest going to a small town. You experience the food, culture, and social events as Italians do with reverence, appreciation, and zest. We suggest visiting our small town of Termoli - [The Island of Capri](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-island-of-capri/) - The island of Capri has attracted the rich and famous for centuries — from Emperors Augustus and Tiberius in Roman times to, since the 30s and 40s, every Hollywood star and international playboy worth their salt. Legendary British author Graham Greene and music hall favourite Gracie Fields loved it so much that they are now - [People from Le Marche, Italy - World Famous Marchigiani!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/famous-marchigiani/) - Whilst that beautiful Italian region nestling between the Apennines and the Adriatic - Le Marche - has only been "discovered" relatively recently by foreign visitors, it has curiously been the birth place of some of the world's most famous Italians! One of the most well known Marchigiani in the world today is MotoGP motorcycle champion Valentino - [How to Negotiate the Purchase of a Property in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/how-to-negotiate-the-purchase-of-a-property-in-italy/) - ...or Asking the Right Questions! One of the best pieces of advice that one should take to heart when looking for property in Italy is to ask the right questions at the beginning... and then roll with the punches when the answers are not quite those you'd like to hear! If you're buying in a - [The President of the United States Barack Obama in Taranto!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/obama-in-taranto/) - A new work by sculptor and ice-cream impresario Francesco Trani Artist Francesco Trani has succeeded in combining the professions of traditional ice-cream maker with that of sculptor. In fact, this eclectic sculptor has decorated both the interior and exterior of his ice-cream store, which over the years, has become something of an art gallery! But - [The Sanremo Music Festival](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-sanremo-music-festival/) - A stand up comedienne on Italian television recently joked about how if somebody had fallen into a coma in Italy fifty years ago and woke up today they'd find that nothing had changed at all! More specifically, the jibe was aimed at the annual Sanremo Music Festival and its septuagenarian presenter Pippo Baudo, who with - [Authors in Tuscany](https://www.livinginitaly.com/authors-in-tuscany/) - The modern human has many bohemian aspirations, living on a desert island just off the Caribbean, setting up an organic farm in Provence or guiding groups of ramblers through the Himalayas. However, for many, the notion of someday finding a quiet place overlooking rolling fields, dotted with cypress trees and ancient farmhouses in Tuscany and - [A Beginner's Guide to DIY in Italy – Fai Da Te - Part 4](https://www.livinginitaly.com/fai-da-te-part-4/) - The fourth of in our series of DIY tips for restoring property in Italy looks at renovating a modern house in a rustic style. Many foreign property buyers are looking for a traditional farmhouse which is large enough to accommodate both their own extended family and guests, as well as having some additional space for - [A Beginner's Guide to DIY in Italy – Fai Da Te - Part 2](https://www.livinginitaly.com/fai-da-te-part-2/) - The second of my personal favourite DIY tips for restoring property in Italy looks at painting your Italian home. We'll focus specifically on decorating a traditional farmhouse where the wall surfaces and overall condition of the property inevitably require more attention than in newer properties and where the foreign property owner is most likely to - [A Beginners Guide to Keeping an Italian Vegetable Garden](https://www.livinginitaly.com/a-beginners-guide-to-keeping-an-italian-vegetable-garden/) - One of the first words I learnt in Italian was the word for the vegetable garden – orto. Moving to the countryside and being self-sufficient is a common daydream for many city dwellers, however, when I packed up and moved from London to rural Italy, I arrived with only the vaguest of ideas of how - [A Beginner's Guide to DIY in Italy – Fai Da Te!](https://www.livinginitaly.com/fai-da-te/) - Every village or even tiny hamlet in Italy seems to have its own handyman or tuttofare – if you need something plumbed or wired, or some pan tiles moved to fix a leaky roof, then Peppe - for he's inevitably called Peppe – is your man. It's somewhat surprising, therefore, to discover that Do It - [Furnishing your Italian Home](https://www.livinginitaly.com/furnishing-your-italian-home/) - Finding Italian Designer Furniture at Reasonable Prices Finding Italian Designer Furniture at reasonable prices in Italy can be a challenge - in fact a Minotti sofa can cost as much as a Smart Car! Whilst both look fabulous you are probably going to get more mileage out of a high quality sofa. Quality is the - [The Chestnut Tree in Italian Gardens - Castanea sativa](https://www.livinginitaly.com/the-chestnut-tree-in-italian-gardens-castanea-sativa/) - The Bread Tree The European Chestnut may not be the obvious tree for an Italian garden as it is common in gardens across northern Europe in far milder climates. However, the chestnut tree can stake a claim to a large slice of Italian history both cultural and culinary. The chestnut tree is native to Europe - [Organic Gardening in Italy and Making Compost](https://www.livinginitaly.com/organic-gardening-in-italy-and-making-compost/) - Design an Italian garden for making compost, don’t just make compost for your garden! Compost is still a rather taboo subject in Italian gardens – the sight and the smell of a standard compost lump is something that gardeners in Italy have yet to comprehend. In most countries gardeners have understood the importance of this - [Green Lawns in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/green-lawns-in-italy/) - Making the perfect English lawn in Italy For centuries the standard garden has been represented by the presence of a few trees, packed flower beds and a bright green lawn. With the onset of expensive irrigation systems, fertilizers and various chemical potions during the 1970’s the creation of a perfect green lawn has become possible - [Gardening in Italy](https://www.livinginitaly.com/gardening-in-italy/) - What does Gardening in Italy Involve? How do Italians perceive gardening?, How do Italians design their gardens? or Is gardening important to the Italians? These are just a few of the questions that I am constantly asked as a garden designer, living here in Italy, by my contacts back home in England. 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