Leaving behind the country in which you were born in search of unknown adventures overseas isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain combination of courage, vision and perhaps a dash of foolishness to abandon everything familiar and jump in to a new world feet first. Seven years ago, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of fractional ownership company Appassionata, did just that. With numerous family members in...
Michael Hobbs renovates and sells properties in Le Marche and is embracing the region’s quiet, laid-back lifestyle When Michael Hobbs decided to move to Italy, he thought first of the gentle rolling hills and elegant piazzas of Tuscany. It was 2005, and the British businessman had been running Adams Childrenswear for almost a decade in the UK. The role followed two years in the coastal town of Duxbury,...
There are many reasons why expats are drawn to Italy. It has a reputation as a country of art and culture, great food and wine, and warm, lively people that believe in living life to the fullest. Here are 4 good reasons that just might convince you to move to Italy. Climate The climate in Italy is one of the best in Europe: summer is always hot, especially in the South. Spring and autumn are sweet and...
Outdoor party season has finally returned! Make sure your house party will be the best in your neighbourhood thanks to these 9 ideas. Make Your Cooler the Coolest Forget filling up your freezer with ice makers and save space for some Vodka. Buy a bag of balloons and fill them up with water. Freeze them over night and place the balloons in your cooler. Bonus: After the ice melts you have ammo for a water balloon fight! More info here.
Cortona is one of the most charming towns in Tuscany and it is crowded all year around; the streets are full of fashionable art and antique shops; people wearing their designer clothes are having an aperitif in a classy bar, while waiting for the latest exclusive event. After all, Cortona itself, from its dominating position 500 metres above the sea level, seems to be saying “hey, Val di Chiana, I am the...
Italy's fragmented past saw the Country divided into dozens of tiny independent states, bequeathed in a plethora of small urban settlements which offered the neighbouring countryside a place of aggregation and trade closer than the capital city. Many towns and villages, the so called borghi, still bear the signs of their turbulent history in their interesting buildings and monuments which are a testimony...
These tools may not be on the market yet, but someday they'll change your life. WHAT’S IN MY FRIDGE? That’s the question we all probably ask every day. This prototype smart fridge will read the RFID of the products and will let you know what’s in your fridge, without opening the door and wasting energy. THE MILKMAID: MILK MADE SMART Unsure if your milk is still good to drink? The Milkmaid promises...
All the VIPs buy a house in Italy! Everybody knows that many VIPs have chosen Italy to buy their overseas house. We are pleased that, having the possibility to buy a property wherever in the world, they choose our land! After all Italy is the land of culture, warm sun, crystalline sea water and green rolling hills! Let’s see, who have chosen to invest in Italy and where: GEORGE CLOONEY: maybe he’s...
Flowers decorate your home, give a fresh, welcoming look and say something about you. Communicating with flowers was very fashionable in the 1800s: flowers were often used to express feelings that couldn't be clearly and directly communicated. So, what is the meaning of flowers? What will you say with your flower decorations? Here are the meanings of the most common flowers: Rose Red roses mean passion...
There are many theories about preparing a dining table, all different from each other. Yet there is only one rule to distinguish a well set dining table from a bad one: good taste. Said the above, it’s easy to set a dining table, whether it must be formal or simple. You just have to follow a scheme, which is the base for all the mise en place. You can choose a standard tablecloth, a placemat or a...
