Weddings in Umbria Blog

Кто не слышал о знаменитом бальзамическом уксусе? :)

2014-10-06T01:01:00.002-07:00

Кто не слышал о знаменитом бальзамическом уксусе? Изобретенный в городе Мо́дена, в Эмилии-Романье, бальзамический ускус (aceto balsamico di Modena) является одной из визитных карточек итальянской кухни. В прошлые выходные мы отправились на День открытых дверей производителей бальзамического уксуса, где были проведены экскурсии и дегустации, в том числе были приглашены шеф-повара местных ресторанов, которые устроили несколько мастер классов. Мы успели посетить двух производителей: Aceto Balsamico Giusti и Aceto Balsamico del Duca.

И вот, что мы узнали. В рукописях впервые бальзамический уксус упоминается в 1046 году, когда будущему королю Генриху II был подарен маленький бочонок уникального продукта. С этих пор была положена традиция преподносить королям такие «дорогие королевские подарки». Производство бальзамика в средние века было привилегией небольшого круга семейств среднего класса и аристократии, которые имели свои тонкости и секреты изготовления.

Традиционный бальзамический уксус DOP ценится во всем мире. Для его изготовления используется сусло сортов винограда, произрастающего в провинции Модены и Реджо-Эмилии, в основном это треббьяно, ламбруско, спергола, берцемино.

Отжатый сок винограда уваривают в котлах на открытом огне до уменьшения первоначального объема на 30-50%. Некоторое время полученный густой сироп настаивается, затем начинается процесс естественной ферментации, после чего наступает фаза созревания продукта в деревянных бочках, в течение которой формируется характерный вкус и аромат бальзамического уксуса.

Бочки устанавливают в чердачном помещении, где на созревание бальзамика влияют и сезонные погодные изменения. Раз в год бальзамический уксус переливают в следующую бочку из другого вида дерева. Для выдерживания уксуса используют бочки трех видов: самые маленькие — из ясеня и дуба, средние — из каштана и вишни, а большие — из тутового дерева. Каждый вид дерева придает бальзамику свой особый оттенок аромата: богатый тонином каштан придает бальзамику темный цвет, тутовое дерево способствует скорейшей концентрации продукта, вишня слегка подслащивает вкус бальзамика, а в дубовых бочках уже готовый бальзамик приобретает характерный аромат с оттенком ванили. Часть созревшего бальзамического уксуса из самой маленькой бочки (10-20 %) поступает на продажу, а освободившийся объём дополняют из второй по величине бочки, вторую доливают из третьей и т. д.

Готовый продукт характеризуется темно-коричневым насыщенным цветом, сиропообразной густотой, устойчивым сложным букетом аромата. Его отличает особый кисло-сладкий вкус, интенсивный и хорошо сбалансированный. Существует два срока выдержки традиционного бальзамического уксуса DOP – рафинированный (аffinato) с минимальным сроком выдержки 12 лет и экстравыдержанный (еxtravecchio) со сроком созревания не менее 25 лет.

Традиционный бальзамический уксус Модены запечатывают в бутылочках объемом 100 мл из толстого белого стекла, с квадратным основанием.

Все продукты типа «бальзамический уксус» можно разделить на две большие категории:

1. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP (ABTM) — традиционный бальзамический уксус из Модены, полученный долгим выдерживанием, и имеющий сертификат DOP.
2. Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, «промышленный» бальзамический уксус, в составе которого присутствует винный уксус, и который не требует долгого выдерживания.

Все производители традиционного бальзамического уксуса из Модены объединены в консорциум Consorzio dei Produttori dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena; производимый консорциумом продукт имеет статус контролируемого по региону происхождения (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta).

Facebook: Acetaia Giusti - Aceto Balsamico dal 1605
Aceto Balsamico del Duca
И вот, что мы узнали. В рукописях впервые бальзамический уксус упоминается в 1046 году, когда будущему королю Генриху II был подарен маленький бочонок уникального продукта. С этих пор была положена традиция преподносить королям такие «дорогие королевские подарки». Производство бальзамика в средние века было привилегией небольшого круга семейств среднего класса и аристократии, которые имели свои тонкости и секреты изготовления.
Традиционный бальзамический уксус DOP ценится во всем мире. Для его изготовления используется сусло сортов винограда, произрастающего в провинции Модены и Реджо-Эмилии, в основном это треббьяно, ламбруско, спергола, берцемино.
Отжатый сок винограда уваривают в котлах на открытом огне до уменьшения первоначального объема на 30-50%. Некоторое время полученный густой сироп настаивается, затем начинается процесс естественной ферментации, после чего наступает фаза созревания продукта в деревянных бочках, в течение которой формируется характерный вкус и аромат бальзамического уксуса.
Бочки устанавливают в чердачном помещении, где на созревание бальзамика влияют и сезонные погодные изменения. Раз в год бальзамический уксус переливают в следующую бочку из другого вида дерева. Для выдерживания уксуса используют бочки трех видов: самые маленькие — из ясеня и дуба, средние — из каштана и вишни, а большие — из тутового дерева. Каждый вид дерева придает бальзамику свой особый оттенок аромата: богатый тонином каштан придает бальзамику темный цвет, тутовое дерево способствует скорейшей концентрации продукта, вишня слегка подслащивает вкус бальзамика, а в дубовых бочках уже готовый бальзамик приобретает характерный аромат с оттенком ванили. Часть созревшего бальзамического уксуса из самой маленькой бочки (10-20 %) поступает на продажу, а освободившийся объём дополняют из второй по величине бочки, вторую доливают из третьей и т. д.
Готовый продукт характеризуется темно-коричневым насыщенным цветом, сиропообразной густотой, устойчивым сложным букетом аромата. Его отличает особый кисло-сладкий вкус, интенсивный и хорошо сбалансированный. Существует два срока выдержки традиционного бальзамического уксуса DOP – рафинированный (аffinato) с минимальным сроком выдержки 12 лет и экстравыдержанный (еxtravecchio) со сроком созревания не менее 25 лет.
Традиционный бальзамический уксус Модены запечатывают в бутылочках объемом 100 мл из толстого белого стекла, с квадратным основанием.
Все продукты типа «бальзамический уксус» можно разделить на две большие категории:
1. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP (ABTM) — традиционный бальзамический уксус из Модены, полученный долгим выдерживанием, и имеющий сертификат DOP.2. Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, «промышленный» бальзамический уксус, в составе которого присутствует винный уксус, и который не требует долгого выдерживания.
Все производители традиционного бальзамического уксуса из Модены объединены в консорциум Consorzio dei Produttori dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena; производимый консорциумом продукт имеет статус контролируемого по региону происхождения (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta).
Facebook: Acetaia Giusti - Aceto Balsamico dal 1605 Aceto Balsamico del DucaИ вот, что мы узнали. В рукописях впервые бальзамический уксус упоминается в 1046 году, когда будущему королю Генриху II был подарен маленький бочонок уникального продукта. С этих пор была положена традиция преподносить королям такие «дорогие королевские подарки». Производство бальзамика в средние века было привилегией небольшого круга семейств среднего класса и аристократии, которые имели свои тонкости и секреты изготовления.Традиционный бальзамический уксус DOP ценится во всем мире. Для его изготовления используется сусло сортов винограда, произрастающего в провинции Модены и Реджо-Эмилии, в основном это треббьяно, ламбруско, спергола, берцемино.Отжатый сок винограда уваривают в котлах на открытом огне до уменьшения первоначального объема на 30-50%. Некоторое время полученный густой сироп настаивается, затем начинается процесс естественной ферментации, после чего наступает фаза созревания продукта в деревянных бочках, в течение которой формируется характерный вкус и аромат бальзамического уксуса.Бочки устанавливают в чердачном помещении, где на созревание бальзамика влияют и сезонные погодные изменения. Раз в год бальзамический уксус переливают в следующую бочку из другого вида дерева. Для выдерживания уксуса используют бочки трех видов: самые маленькие — из ясеня и дуба, средние — из каштана и вишни, а большие — из тутового дерева. Каждый вид дерева придает бальзамику свой особый оттенок аромата: богатый тонином каштан придает бальзамику темный цвет, тутовое дерево способствует скорейшей концентрации продукта, вишня слегка подслащивает вкус бальзамика, а в дубовых бочках уже готовый бальзамик приобретает характерный аромат с оттенком ванили. Часть созревшего бальзамического уксуса из самой маленькой бочки (10-20 %) поступает на продажу, а освободившийся объём дополняют из второй по величине бочки, вторую доливают из третьей и т. д.Готовый продукт характеризуется темно-коричневым насыщенным цветом, сиропообразной густотой, устойчивым сложным букетом аромата. Его отличает особый кисло-сладкий вкус, интенсивный и хорошо сбалансированный. Существует два срока выдержки традиционного бальзамического уксуса DOP – рафинированный (аffinato) с минимальным сроком выдержки 12 лет и экстравыдержанный (еxtravecchio) со сроком созревания не менее 25 лет.Традиционный бальзамический уксус Модены запечатывают в бутылочках объемом 100 мл из толстого белого стекла, с квадратным основанием.Все продукты типа «бальзамический уксус» можно разделить на две большие категории:1. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP (ABTM) — традиционный бальзамический уксус из Модены, полученный долгим выдерживанием, и имеющий сертификат DOP.2. Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, «промышленный» бальзамический уксус, в составе которого присутствует винный уксус, и который не требует долгого выдерживания.Все производители традиционного бальзамического уксуса из Модены объединены в консорциум Consorzio dei Produttori dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena; производимый консорциумом продукт имеет статус контролируемого по региону происхождения (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta).Facebook: Acetaia Giusti - Aceto Balsamico dal 1605 Aceto Balsamico del DucaИ вот, что мы узнали. В рукописях впервые бальзамический уксус упоминается в 1046 году, когда будущему королю Генриху II был подарен маленький бочонок уникального продукта. С этих пор была положена традиция преподносить королям такие «дорогие королевские подарки». Производство бальзамика в средние века было привилегией небольшого круга семейств среднего класса и аристократии, которые имели свои тонкости и секреты изготовления.

Традиционный бальзамический уксус DOP ценится во всем мире. Для его изготовления используется сусло сортов винограда, произрастающего в провинции Модены и Реджо-Эмилии, в основном это треббьяно, ламбруско, спергола, берцемино.Отжатый сок винограда уваривают в котлах на открытом огне до уменьшения первоначального объема на 30-50%. Некоторое время полученный густой сироп настаивается, затем начинается процесс естественной ферментации, после чего наступает фаза созревания продукта в деревянных бочках, в течение которой формируется характерный вкус и аромат бальзамического уксуса.Бочки устанавливают в чердачном помещении, где на созревание бальзамика влияют и сезонные погодные изменения. Раз в год бальзамический уксус переливают в следующую бочку из другого вида дерева. Для выдерживания уксуса используют бочки трех видов: самые маленькие — из ясеня и дуба, средние — из каштана и вишни, а большие — из тутового дерева. Каждый вид дерева придает бальзамику свой особый оттенок аромата: богатый тонином каштан придает бальзамику темный цвет, тутовое дерево способствует скорейшей концентрации продукта, вишня слегка подслащивает вкус бальзамика, а в дубовых бочках уже готовый бальзамик приобретает характерный аромат с оттенком ванили. Часть созревшего бальзамического уксуса из самой маленькой бочки (10-20 %) поступает на продажу, а освободившийся объём дополняют из второй по величине бочки, вторую доливают из третьей и т. д.Готовый продукт характеризуется темно-коричневым насыщенным цветом, сиропообразной густотой, устойчивым сложным букетом аромата. Его отличает особый кисло-сладкий вкус, интенсивный и хорошо сбалансированный. Существует два срока выдержки традиционного бальзамического уксуса DOP – рафинированный (аffinato) с минимальным сроком выдержки 12 лет и экстравыдержанный (еxtravecchio) со сроком созревания не менее 25 лет.Традиционный бальзамический уксус Модены запечатывают в бутылочках объемом 100 мл из толстого белого стекла, с квадратным основанием.Все продукты типа «бальзамический уксус» можно разделить на две большие категории:1. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP (ABTM) — традиционный бальзамический уксус из Модены, полученный долгим выдерживанием, и имеющий сертификат DOP.2. Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, «промышленный» бальзамический уксус, в составе которого присутствует винный уксус, и который не требует долгого выдерживания.Все производители традиционного бальзамического уксуса из Модены объединены в консорциум Consorzio dei Produttori dell’Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena; производимый консорциумом продукт имеет статус контролируемого по региону происхождения (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta).

Facebook: Acetaia Giusti - Aceto Balsamico dal 1605 Aceto Balsamico del Duca

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Umbria Eventi Novembre 2013

2013-11-01T04:51:00.000-07:00

Umbertide tel.075.9417099
E.mail: info@iat.citta-di-castello.pg.it
www.cittadicastello.regioneumbria.eu

1-2-3 Città di Castello "Il Tartufo bianco" 34° mostra - mercato nazionale
1-2-3 Montone Festa del Bosco - tartufi e prodotti del bosco
1 Città di Castello (Teatro Comunale) "Le più belle musiche da film" Filarmonica Puccini
fino al 10 Città di Castello (Il Torrione) "Solamente Arte & Tartufo" proposte culturali,
fino al 10 Città di Castello ( Collezione Burri) "Anselm Kiefer: presenza omaggio per Alberto Burri"
fino al 3 Città di Castello ( Pinacoteca) Mostra di Andy Wahrol "I never read I just look at pictures"
fino al 10 Città di Castello ( Palazzo Bufalini) Mostra di Pittura del M° Fausto Minestrini
fino al 3 Umbertide ( Rocca) "Arte dall'oriente cubano" mostra collettiva
fino al 10 Citerna ( Atelier Il Camino)) "La questio de Aqua et de Terra" Mostra fotografica
2 Città di Castello (Palazzo Bufalini) Fiera delle Utopie Concrete "Masterplan Città di Castello"
9 - 10 Città di Castello (loggiato Gildoni) "Per Bacco" esposizione cantine vitivinicole
10 Città di Castello (via d. Popolo) ore 17 "Donazione della Cera" Rievocazione storico-religiosa
10 Città di Castello (Cattedrale) "In Paradisum" Concerto in onore dei Santi Patroni
11 Trestina ( C.di Castello) dalle ore 21 Festa di San Martino - degustazione gratuita di vini
Evento collaterale mostra di artisti contemporanei presso il Torrione di Via Gramsci fino al 15 settembre
di Fabio Fornaciari - orari: da giovedì a domenica dalle ore 21.00 alle ore 19.00 - ingresso gratuito
Quadrilatero di Palazzo Bufalini orario 10 - 12.30 / 16 - 19 - ingresso libero, lunedì chiuso
Corale A.M. Abbatini - Direttore Alessandro Bianconi ore 16.45 - ingresso libero info: 328.0877978
Degustazioni vino e degustazioni guidate - gastronomia a base di prodotti tipici - musica Jazz e contemporanea i nfo:www.grouptevereservizi.it

SERVIZIO TURISTICO - IAT ALTA VALLE DEL TEVERE
Fusione del cero e sfilata storica delle Confraternite fino alla cattedrale
info: tel.075.8558149 -mail: or.ven.@alice.it
Città di Castello tel .075.8554922 - fax 075.8552100

MANIFESTAZIONI NOVEMBRE

Showcooking - Salone del Vino novello e dell'Olio - "I Sapori del tartufo"- "I Laboratori del gusto" di Slow food - Tartufo Masters Chef
"Sfide fra i Fornelli" fra piatti realizzate dalle Pro Loco e Assoc. ecc.
Info: 075.8529361 -075.8554922 www.iltartufobianco.it
Gastronomia, folklore, intrattenimento - info: Comune Montone tel.075.9307019 - www.comunemontone.it

Agli ex Seccatoi del tabacco sono esposti alcuni capolavori di A.Kiefer orari 9.30-12.30/14.30-18.30 chiuso lunedì
Orario di apertura: dal martedì alla domenica ore 10.30 - 12.30 / 16.30 - 18.30 - info: 075.9413691
artistiche, artigianali e gastronomiche. Visite guidate alla città
(Il torrione, via Gramsci 28 - info: 338.4666885)

Laboratorio: Innovazione e Produttività - incontro con Imprenditori, Amministratori, ecc. segreteria@utopieconcrete.it

novelli accompagnati da castagne arrosto - i nfo Pro loco Trestina tel.366.1898771
"Chiesedarte" alla scoperta di luoghi sacri dell'Alto Tevere www.museoduomocdc.it
con la partecipazione della Scuola di Danza "D. Renzini" ore 21.15 ( ingresso a offerta) info: filarmonica.puccini@dcdnet.net

Santi e donne nella toponomastica di Città di Castello"
Montone Chiesa di San Francesco ore 17: Concerto Polifonico Archè diretto da G. Cernichiaro
Pistrino - Sala polivalente ore 10: incontro di studio: "Bruno Bartoccini, scultore ed incisore" visite guidate al museo
Museo del Duomo ore 16.30 Presentazione libro "Movimento benedettino femminile di Città di Castello" d i Maria Masi Ruggero
"Luoghi da ascoltare: echi e parole nelle chiese altotiberine" Visita itinerante - Guida: Giovanni Cangi - Coro Valle dell'Afra
ore 15: Chiesa di S.Lorenzo di Cospaia - ore 15.30: Chiesa di Santa Onda a San Sepolcro - ore 16: Cattedrale di San Sepolcro
Museo del Duomo ore 17: Conferenza a cura degli studenti del polo tecnico "Franchetti" - " Vie e luoghi raccontano : figure di
Esposizione di 70 opere inedite tra cui pezzi unici, grafiche, multipli, oggetti e foto dell'artista; inoltre omaggio ad Alberto Burri e confronto con Beuys,
artista amico di Wahrol - apertura mostra 10 - 13 /14.30 - 18.30 lunedì chiuso ingresso €. 8,00 ridotto 5,00 combinato con Pinacoteca intero €.12 ridotto €.7
13 Città di Castello (Cattedrale ) Solennità di San Florido, protettore della città
15-16-17 Città di Castello Tradizionali Fiere di San Florido - artigianato e commercio
17 Città di Castello (centro storico) "Retrò" - mercato di cose vecchie ed antiche
info: 075.8529222
dal 17 al24 C.di Castello (Cerbara Centro Servizi) Mostra del Mobile
17 Città di Castello (teatro comunale) Stagione di Prosa "Fratto_x" con Antonio Rezza ore 21.15
24 Umbertide ( scuole Medie Pascoli e Mavarelli) 52° Mostra-mercato di materiale fotografico d'occasione
"Muro" di F. Niccolini, L.Montanari, F.Galati - regia di Ciro Masella - KanterStrasse Teatro
"Mi Arrendo" produzione a.s.d. [Matrice]n - regia e coreografia di Alessia Gatta - Compagnia "Ritmi Sotterranei"
Teatro Ragazzi "Il Sodatino e la Ballerina" Comp. Teatrale "IL Castellaccio" ore 17
Montone - Teatro San Fedele - ore 21 www.teatrosanfedele.com - biglietto €.10-ridotto €.8
La Mostra è una vetrina su di una produzione artigianale tipica del nostro territorio: il mobile in stile, che viene realizzato dalle sapienti mani
info: Comune di Umbertide Sig.Violini tel.075.9419239 - g.violini@comune.umbertide.it Sig.Gaggini tel.348.3304184
fotocamere 800/900-grande formato - panoramiche - daguerrotypi-fotografie XIX e XX sec.-microcamere
Centro Storico - Parco Ansa del Tevere - Via N.Sauro - info Comune di C.di Castello tel.075.8529346
Celebrazioni liturgiche con Pontificale
info: www.consorziosmai.it - info@consorziosmai.it tel.075.8518094 -orari dalle 9 alle 20
degli artigiani tiberini con legno massello di recupero o stagionato. La mostra si svolge presso lil Centro Servizi di Cerbara

MANIFESTAZIONI MAGGIO 2013

2013-05-20T00:43:00.001-07:00

fino al 19/6 CITTA DI CASTELLO Pinacoteca Comunale - Mostra Josef Albers - arte come esperienza: i metodi di insegnamento di un maestro del Bauhaus - mostra dipinti e opere "designe" del maestro e degli allievi - (orari pinacoteca)

fino al 9/6 CITERNA (centro storico) CiternaFotografia - Festival Fotografico dell'Alta Valle Tiberina 4 - 5 - 19 - 26 Mostre, Incontri e Laboratori info: www.citernafotografia.com - info@fciternafotografia.com

fino al 2/6 MONTONE (Museo S. Francesco) Mostra "Renzo Scopa, nel segno del sacro" - mostra itinerante orari: venerdì, sabato e domenica dalle 10.30 - 13.00 / 15.30 - 18.00 -info: tel. 075.9306535 montone@sistemamuseo.it

fino al 31 UMBERTIDE ( la Rocca ) Mostra di opere Donazione Ciangotti e Archivio Cagli dal martedì alla domenica dalle 10.30 alle 12.30 e dalle 16.30 alle 18.30 - Lunedì chiuso.

SAN GIUSTINO (Castello Bufalini) "Il maggio dei Libri" 11 Anticipazione di un romanzo cavalleresco e concerto d'arpa - ore 10.00-13.00 / 16.00-18.00 18 Incontro con l'autrice di fiabe Rita Pecorari e letture - ore 16.00 - 18.00 25 Presentazione del Libro "La Primavera a San Giustino" a cura delle scuole "Bufalini" e "Da Vinci" ore 16 -18.30

18 e 19 CITTA' DI CASTELLO (Teatro Comunale)"Forza Venite Gente" musical Comp. Quelli che Passa il Convento... sabato 18 ore 21.00 - domenica 19 ore 17 - info e prenotazioni: 389.8503593 biglietto intero €. 8,00 - ridotto €. 5,00

19 CITTA' DI CASTELLO (p.zza Matteotti) Retrò - Mercato di cose vecchie ed antiche dalle ore 9.00 alle 20.00 info: comune di Città di Castello tel.075.8529222 www.cdcnet.net

19 USERNA (Città di Castello) Festa di Santa Eurosia, patrona delle campagne - festa religiosa e popolare

dal 24 al 2/6 SAN SECONDO (C.di Castello)Festa della Madonna del Buon Consiglio - festa religiosa e popolare

24 - 25 - 26 LAMA (San Giustino) Sagra dei Fagioli - gastronomia, musica ed intrattenimenti vari

24 - 25 - 26 CITTA' DI CASTELLO (Zoccolanti) Festa religiosa e popolare di San Pasquale

26 CITTA' DI CASTELLO (loc.Galliano) "Fattoria aperta" degustazioni, giochi per bambini, laboratori organizzata da "G.A.S" in collaborazione con azienda "Il Lombrico Felice" - info: tel. 329.0815882

26 UMBERTIDE (scuola Media Mavarelli) "Fotografia in Umbria"- mostra mercato di materiale fotografico d'occasione - fotocamere 800/900 - grande formato - daguerrrotypi - pre-cinema - foto XIX-XX sec. - microcamere Info: F.Gaggini - Tel. 348.3304184 - Comune Umbertide Tel. 075.9419239 - violini@comune.umbertide.it

dal 30 al 2/6 CERBARA (Città di Castello) Sagra della Ciliegia - gastronomia, musica e sport

THE CRISIS

2013-01-23T10:18:00.004-08:00

Well, while it, the slump or recession, continues, those in power proceed with their same lifestyle, wages, perks, benefits and bunce. Perhaps, like the Spanish with their Napoleonic admirals, we should shoot or hang one of them occasionally, just to encourage the others. Hundreds of apparently important people, and their staffs, fly, probably first class, to interesting, and often sunny, parts of the world in order to discuss other people’s difficulties. Their hunger, their lack of human rights, their poverty, their homelessness, their diseases, their wars, their torture and their destitution are really important subjects to discuss, but best, over gourmet meals at the finest hotels. They then fly home, in carbon emitting jets and wring their hands at their press calls and say, "We all", meaning really, YOU all, need to do something about global warming, ice caps, water shortage, war, revolution, crime, carbon emissions and all the rest. Then back into their limos, and off to their centrally heated, air conditioned, over-staffed and beautifully maintained offices. And now the good Lord Leveson, that very model of a modern major moderator, suggests press reform. We, the public, all agree. Two out of the three leading UK politicians also agree, as do their party members, but DC, says whoa! “Yes I know I set up the enquiry, yes I know I said I would implement Leveson’s findings, unless they were bonkers, but hang on, let’s think about it” . Our Dave obviously thinks that his brain is better and sharper than Leveson’s. Um? Whilst Leveson took several deliberate months to formulate his thoughts, David did it almost overnight. Clever chap. The good Lord, of whom I speak, actually trades as Lord Leveson, his real and full name, I learn, is Henry Dudley Gresham Leveson Gower. The other Lords, bearing very similar names generally traded as Gowers, rather than Levesons, however in the UK one can adopt any name one chooses, providing one doesn’t frighten the horses. We all know that Cameron had very close dealings with the press and its Barons, we all know that some of these contacts, if repeated in the future, would be subject to very close scrutiny by virtue of the exposures highlighted in the Leveson Report, and subsequent recommendations. We know that several of these contacts have lost their jobs, resigned, retired, have been arrested, and several of them face criminal proceedings. Also we know that poor Cameron is in an extremely difficult position, with an election looming, and of course the prime consideration of any parliamentarian is how to win the next election, not how to relieve the distress and suffering of his people, let alone the difficulties of other people’s people. So The Right Honourable David Cameron MP needs to prepare for the next election, and needs a supportive press in order to at least stand a chance of victory. But, if he implements the full Leveson, the press will turn against him, and he’s doomed. Large stones and unyielding surfaces come to mind. But currently ,how truthful, free and independent is our media, bearing in mind not only the closure of the News of the World, the outpourings at the Leveson Inquiry, but also the serious wobbling of the Beeb. It seems that the old trick of blaming someone else for all the national difficulties in times of crisis is still part of the propaganda perpetrated by Britain’s distributors of information. Moslems blame the Catholics, Hindus blame the Sikhs, Argentina blamed the British, Hitler blamed the Jews, Britain blames Europe. Hardly a day goes by without reference in the British media to Europe’s difficulties, but the fact that the British pound is continuing to fall, having lost some 30% in relation to the Euro in the last dozen years, the US dollar, similarly, over the same period has also lost some 15% of its buying power in comparison with the Euro, and that Britain is still in, or is it out of, a double dip recession, and the fact that England has Europe’s worst figures for child poverty (Daily Mail 16th march 2011) must say something about Britain’s economy. The BBC provided figures for pensioner poverty, and the UK is the fourth worst in Europe, and now we find that to bolster Britain’s ever flagging economy, apart from printing more and more money; remember the Weimar Republic, Argentina, Israel, Hungary, Zimbabwe and many others; that the quantitative easing or inflation is being exacerbated by the British government buying its own bonds. Quantitative easing, according to Wikipedia is “ an unconventional way of financing an economy when normal methods fail”. Bit like a Ponzi scheme, and look what happened to him, and Bernie Madoff, Parmalat, Marconi, Enron, AIG, Fanny and Freddie et al. So, the next crisis, and it will be big, is when the UK and US bubbles, like all the others before them, burst. Remember the South Sea, the Property, the dot.com,etc? Don’t look them up on the internet, you’ll be there for hours. Both US and UK government bonds are heading for a bursting of the current bubble, another crash, but so far the European banks have resisted the temptation of in-house trading, hence the currently more valuable Euro. Similarly the Common Market, European Economic Community, or whatever, has as many, or possibly slightly more people than the United States, and unlike the States who have had a fairly high standard of living for the last eighty years, much of the emerging EEC population still crave the goods that Europe can produce, another reason to invest. Just imagine if I was to buy; with pieces of paper, promissory notes or Tunstill Bonds; all the properties which appear on my site, and then use those pieces of paper to finance my imagined life-style. Whoopee!!! But then, when I’ve spent, or wasted , all the money, the poor Bond holders have nothing. So, tough, as long as you let me do it again by re-electing me, or trusting me again! Just don’t let it happen to your few remaining pounds or dollars. Think seriously about buying into an economy which is thought to be more secure by the international money markets, and remember, even your old granny told you that bricks and mortar were, in the long run, the safest bet. Hope to see you soon in Umbria, either for tin soldiers, film locations, weddings, properties…….or just afternoon tea, next time you’re just motoring through our province of Perugia, land of saints, artists and poets. Best wishes, John Tunstill PS. Osborne now tells us that he, apparently, got his sums wrong, and that we, you, are going to be in schtuk for another FIVE years! Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights!

Montone November 2012 Festival

2012-10-25T02:29:00.001-07:00

Montone (PG) from 1st to 4th November 2012 Holding the 26th edition of the annual Woodland Festival All kinds of woodland produce, chestnuts, cured meats, cheeses, typical seasonal cakes and regional specialities also from other areas of Italy, Sicily & Campania.

Info: Montone  Piazza Fortebraccio CAP 06014 MONTONE PG Comune: tel. 075/9306427 fax 075/9307121 www.comunemontone.it  info@comunemontone.it  segreteria@montone.org.

For accomodation please contact info@lapreghiera.com Tel: +39075 930 24 28 www.lapreghiera.com

Eurochocolate Perugia 2012

2012-10-25T02:06:00.001-07:00

The Eurochocolate festival of Perugia is the biggest chocolate celebration in Europe. www.eurochocolate.com

From 18th to 28th October 2012 Perugia - This year's edition of the popular Eurochocolate event will run in Perugia from October 18th to 28th, with an innovative thematic take on the established programme that will concentrate on social networking and smartphone app technology. Info: info@eurochocolate.com.

www.umbriaonline.com

Pasqua in Umbria

2012-03-28T02:56:00.001-07:00

Siamo tutti in attesa delle festività pasquali in Alta Valle del Tevere, in Umbria Italia
e nella nostra lussuosa e accogliente “Gues house” con 9 camere da letto,
Residenza d'Epoca La Preghiera, un monastero del XII, un complesso recentemente ristrutturato, circondato di un splendido giardino,
dove abbiamo felicita e onore d’offrire un soggiorno di due o tre giorni ad un prezzo speciale per l’apertura della stagione di 75 Euro a persona a notte, colazione inclusa. L'offerta è per due camere lussuose e confortevoli con il bagno, per due notti, o una camera per 3 notti.
Vi chiediamo di consultare il nostro website www.lapreghiera.com
e contattare via e-mail per una richiesta di prenotazione al info@lapreghiera.com

Ogni città e villaggio sta preparando manifestazioni gastronomiche, culturali e religiose, tra cui sfilate serali drammatiche & religiose in costumi medievali a Cortona, Mercatale, Gubbio, Perugia, Umbertide, Montone, Città di Castello e Assisi il Venerdì 6 aprile.

Concerti di musica classica e cori si esibiranno in moltissime chiese il Sabato e Domenica 7 e 8 aprile, con l’ingresso libero.

Il weekend si concluderà con i festeggiamenti pasquali e cibi tradizionali di Pasquetta .

I dettagli degli eventi si possono trovare sugli website d’ ogni città.

Per chi desiderasse prolungare il soggiorno sino a una settimana offriamo uno splendido cottage Self Catering www.villamoscatelli.com da 900 Euro a settimana per un bellissimo cottage complessivo di una cucina , soggiorno e l’uso di una splendida camera matrimoniale, 1500 Euro a settimana per stessa villa ma con uso di 3 camere da letto, con possibilità di ospitare da 6 a 8 persone.

Il complesso si trova sulla strada privata e tranquilla ma asfaltata, con facile accesso, a 400 metri dal villaggio Calzolaro e cinque minuti dall'uscita Promano della E45
Siamo a meta strada tra Roma e Firenze, vicini a Perugia, Gubbio, Cortona, Assisi, Montone, Città di Castello e Umbertide

La Preghiera è disponibile anche per i matrimoni nella cappella privata situata nel giardino, seguita dalla reception . Per i dettagli www.weddingsumbria.com

Ci sono splendide passeggiate in campagna, e ottimi ristoranti a gestione familiare, sia in città che in campagna, distanti cinque minuti in auto o a piedi.

I borghi medioevali finalmente stanno prendendo la vita con i fiori che sbocciano, dopo un lungo freddo e pieno di neve inverno.

Venite numerosi a partecipare alla rinascita e caricare le pile con l’energia del sole caldo il cielo azzurro, dove l'unico rumore che troverete è il canto degli uccelli!

Liliana Tunstill

La Preghiera

Calzolaro, PG

Easter in Umbria

2012-03-27T07:42:00.005-07:00

We are looking forward now to the Easter festivities in the Upper Tiber Valley, in Umbria, Italy and at our luxury 9 bedroom guest house, Residenza d’Epoca La Preghiera, a XII century small monastery elegantly restored and set in beautiful grounds, we are offering a two or three day stay at a special start of season price of 75 Euro per person per night, including breakfast. The offer is for two en-suite sunny rooms for two nights, or one room for 3 nights, any day during the month of April, subject to availability. Please see our website www.lapreghiera.com and email us for a booking enquiry. Longer stays also available.

Each town and village is preparing gastronomic, cultural and religious events, which include impressive and dramatic evening religious parades in medieval costume with huge bonfires en-route in Cortona, Mercatale, Gubbio, Perugia, Umbertide, Montone, Citta di Castello and Assisi on Friday 6th April.

Classic concerts and choirs will be performing in many of the churches on Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th April, with free entry.

The weekend will culminate with Easter festivities and traditional food on Easter Monday.

Specific details of the events can be found on the websites of each town.

If you would like to extend your stay, or can’t make it to Umbria for the Easter weekend, you will receive a warm welcome at La Preghiera at any other time, for your early B/B Spring holiday, or for a week’s stay at the luxury cottage in the same grounds, see Villa Moscatelli on www.villamoscatelli.com from 900 Euro per week (1 bedroom) to 1500 Euro per week (3 bedrooms).

We are situated on a quiet private road with easy access, 400 metres from the village and five minutes drive from the Promano exit on the E45 north-south route half way between Florence and Rome.

La Preghiera is also available for weddings in the chapel situated in the garden, followed by the reception afterwards. Extra accommodation for guests available. www.weddingsumbria.com

There are wonderful country walks, and very good family run restaurants in the towns or the countryside, within a five minute drive or walking distance.

The medieval hilltop villages are coming alive with flowers and bustle after a long snowy winter.

Come and join in the re-birth and energize in the warm sun and clear blue skies, where the only noise is the bird song !

Liliana Tunstill

La Preghiera

Calzolaro, PG

LUXURY ACCOMODATION, UMBRIA, ITALY

2012-03-07T02:34:00.000-08:00

In the midst of all the doom, gloom, wars, revolutions and general despair isn't it time you, for once, treated yourself and your family to a really stupendous and luxurious holiday?
No bling, no flashing disco lights, no all-night bars, just the benefits of an English country house set in a medieval Italian monastery, with Roman and perhaps Etruscan foundations, set in the midst of the gentle Umbrian countryside.
Accepted as the highest grade of accommodation by the Italian Tourist Authorities, this property has been classified as one of the most beautiful and well equipped residences in Umbria,
Antique furniture, beautiful gardens, amazing breakfast buffet, timber beams, terra cotta, old stone, marble-clad bathrooms, soft sheets, and in the spring and autumn, open fires with the wonderful smell of wood smoke, comfortable family atmosphere and resident owners.
A sedate country house set amongst open fields and tree covered gentle hills, ideal for relaxing, walking, cycling and horse-riding. Just three hundred meters from the village of Calzolaro, four kilometers from Trestina, with half a dozen bars and restaurants, and only a ten minute drive to Citta' di Castello, and Umbertide, which have several hundred shops.
Restaurants begin just 200 meters away, an amazing family-run pizzeria, and their wine, selected by Giorgio, the guv'nor, is produced locally in very small quantities, and, because there are no middle men, outlets, advertising or supermarkets involved, is of amazing quality, at a very affordable price.
For holidays, family occasions, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and family gatherings La Preghiera is ideal, and to further entertain your guests it is situated within forty minutes of ten medieval towns and cities, including Sansepulcro, Citta' di Castello, Montone, Gubbio, Umbertide, Perugia, Asissi, Magione, Passignano and Cortona.
Early bookings are always rewarded with discounted offers, so think seriously about a once in a lifetime treat and savour the delights of La Preghiera.

2012 International Wine Tourism Conference & Workshop in Perugia, Umbria

2012-01-28T12:04:00.001-08:00

The 4th Annual International Wine Tourism Conference & Workshop will be held in the city of Perugia in the rustic central Italian region of Umbria on Jan 30 – Feb 2, 2012.

Three days with over 40 talks, presentations, panel discussions and workshops combined with opportunities to taste world class wines makes this an experience not to be missed.

IWINETC is the leading international event for the Wine tourism industry taking place from Monday 30th January to Wednesday 1st February 2012 in the stunning city of Perugia, Umbria, Italy.

For more info visit: www.iwinetc.com
http://www.italialiving.com/articles/food-wine/2012-international-wine-tourism-conference-workshop-in-perugia-umbria/

SHORT ECONOMICAL END OF SEASON BREAK

2011-09-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Il stupefacente successo del "Let' Bonus" che ha postato super offerta sulle camere di La Preghiera Residenza D'Epoca convince noi di continuare con questa splendida idea e offrire dal 22 al 27 Settembre e dal 14 al 17 e 21 al 24 ottobre le camere rimanenti ad un costo eccezionale di € 98 per camera per due persone per una notte, per il soggiorno di due o tre notti il prezzo e ancora più vantaggioso. Contattateci al più presto per ricevere questa offerta meravigliosa.
Tutti i pernottamenti includono colazione a buffet
Offerte di Let's Bonus sono cosi vantaggiosi grazie ad un marketing ben pensato. Prendete il massimo vantaggio del offerta per le ultime camere disponibili rimaste
Tel: 075 930 2428 email info@lapreghiera.com. Vacanze, La Preghiera o Villa Moscatelli anche per matrimoni www.weddingsumbria.com

The amazing success of the Let’s Bonus offer for discounted rooms at La Preghiera prompts us to offer the remaining spaces on the 22nd until 27th Sept, and 14 until 17 Oct and 21 to 24 Oct, the letsbonus days, at the astonishing rate of only € 98 per room for two people for one night and even less for two or three nights. Phone or email for the best possible offer.
All bookings include buffet breakfast. Only these dates are available.
LetsBonus spaces are discounted because of block bookings. Take full advantage while the offer is in force and the last few rooms are still unbooked. Phone 0039 075 930 2428. email info@lapreghiera.com.
The kids are back at school so Ryanair flights to Perugia/Asissi ( 20 mins) are very sensibly priced.
Short break Villa Moscatelli or La Preghiera and maybe a wedding trial visit. www.weddingsumbria.com

What would you do with a million if you won the lottery?

2011-07-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

So, they asked, “What would you do with a million if you won the lottery”?

What indeed? Keep it under the bed? In a tin box in the garden shed? In pounds, dollars or euro? Buy gold? Silver? Rare earths? Invest in shares?

It really is a bit of a problem.

Gold is now higher than it ever was, when priced in dollars, but, as the dollar has lost some 50% of its buying power in the last 5 years, where does that leave the true value of gold. Look back over the last 20 years, to the last price spike and you will see that the return on investment over that period is only some 3.5%. Big deal! Silver seems a better bet, but the price is controlled by a very efficient cartel, a silver Mafia, so what chance do you stand? Rare earths, what do you know about them, can you buy it by the bagful, or do you need to invest in shares through a broker? Perhaps Bernie Madoff could advise you, or Goldman Sachs who are currently under investigation by the Securities Exchange Commission for all sorts of shenanigans. And what about all those tungsten bars that may well be in the middle of the world’s gold reserves.

Dollars values are falling almost as quickly as they can print them, with the Asians getting rid of suitcases-full in European property purchases, See Richard Ellis’ and Savilles’ reports. Pounds too are falling fast and are now approaching parity with the Euro. The Euro, even with the Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Irish and Spanish problems remains strong, and the prospects of more Mediterranean countries joining the EEC shortly will only increase the market for home grown goods. The really fantastic news that Russia and Europe will take down border controls and abolish visas within the next five years will add several tens of millions of prospective consumers to Europe. But, yes, money ain’t what it used to be. And in five years time the value of a Euro will be less than it is today, and that’s called inflation.

The Americans and British are spending squillions on wars in foreign countries, and are killing lots of people, when their own poor are poorer, when their hospitals and schools need more funding and their politicians become more and more inept, corrupt and self seeking.

Throughout modern history, since the Industrial Revolution, money has been generated by the land owners, who branched into property, then manufacturing, and later, retail trading. High Street retail is being hit by on-line buying, and manufacturing undercut by the Asians, but property still seems to be king. Again, see Ellis’ and Savilles’ reports of Asian investment in prime city centre commercial properties. Rents can be adjusted to allow for the depreciations of inflation, fiat, or paper promises, but dollars, pounds and euro cannot be re-valued, upgraded or inflated.

So, OK, a million is what you asked about investing, so city centre prime commercial properties are not for you, so what then? USA…………mmmmm, no! UK………..mmmm, no! Europe…….mmmm, mebbee. But which part? Spain and Portugal, sure if you want wall to wall drunken holidaymakers, but then for that you could go to Cancun, or many of the Mediterranean islands. In France and Germany, the climate isn’t too good, and in newly joined EEC countries, the language, the law, the culture, mmmmm? So really it comes down to Italy.

The area south of Roma is too difficult to cope with, n’Draga, Camorra and Mafia do exist, they are not just on the films or in Chicago. The sea-sides are every bit as crowded as anywhere else with Germans, Brits, Dutch, Scandinavians, Russians and Ukranians slowly cooking with a thin layer of basting. The north of Italy is surprisingly wet with the average rainfall in Milan being slightly higher than Manchester. Which leaves the middle, the old Holy Roman Empire, Lazio, which is full of Romans, Tuscany which is full of Brits; so much so that it is often referred to as Chiantieshire; and the Marche, full of mountains, ravines and sea-side strips which are rapidly being over developed, like Spain and Portugal. Which really only leaves Umbria, which with hills or mountains on all sides, no seaboard, no navigable rivers, no real railways, and, until recently no highways, motorways or airports. Undiscovered by the masses, and still full of traditional charm and courtesy, with its own culture of respect, hospitality and cuisine. The birthplace of western art, and Giotto, Rafaello, Michaelangelo, Luca Signorelli, Piero della Francesca all lived, worked and painted in Umbria. And if it wasn’t for that little scrap of a man, Saint Francis, the Christian religion, with the cruel, vindictive, overpowering and corrupt church fathers, would have gone down the tubes long ago.

Why Italy generally, well all musical terms, many musical instruments and a huge amount of composers came from this country, Marco Polo and Columbus, started here, the word opera, which means work, is adopted world wide. Design, food and motor cars all helped to create Italy as a cultural centre.

In Umbria, and our Upper Tiber Valley, no new building permits in the countryside are issued, have been issued in the last twenty five years and won’t be issued in the future, If one has an existing building, a plot, or a ruin, one can rebuild, and enlarge if required and as they ain’t making any more medieval ruins, and lots of people would like one, the pressure is on the existing stock, and rarity multiplied by desirability is what causes prices to increase.

Or you could put your money into stocks, shares or bonds………..or back a horse……or, a couple of weeks ago, invested in Murdoch.

But better still, invest in Umbria.

See also the April blog on www.propertiesumbria.com

Events

2011-07-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

Well it seems you missed the Umbria Jazz Festival, held in Perugia last week, Prince, BB King, Sergio Mendes and Liza Minelli headed the cast, and dozens of other groups appeared, played and performed in concerts, in the open air, on street corners and in the piazzas.

You also missed the Bonsciano Fly-In. Light aircraft and enthusiasts converged on Umbria a couple of weeks ago for a three day festival. Great stuff if you like small planes.

The Perugia International Chocolate Festival is coming up in the Autumn, so try not to miss that as well.

16 Luglio Concerto - Valdichiana

2011-07-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

6a edizione del Festivaldichiana al Valdichiana Outlet Village (presso Foiano della Chiana, in provincia di Arezzo).
Grande notte di musica, spettacolo e divertimento. Radio Cuore è la radio ufficiale e la produzione ha scelto anche per quest´anno di puntare su artisti amati dal pubblico giovane, tra cui FRANCESCO RENGA, MATIA BAZAR, ANNA TATANGELO, GEMELLI DIVERSI, AIRWAYS, BTWINS.
Condotto da Marco Maffei ed Alessia Ventura.
Ingresso gratuito

Valdichiana Outlet Village
Via Enzo Ferrari, 5
Foiano della Chiana (AR)

WHY DO YOU DO IT?

2011-06-20T03:52:00.001-07:00

This was a question asked yesterday at breakfast at La Preghiera, Umbria, Italy, where we live, the lady who posed the question was actually staying in Villa Moscatelli, our adjacent but smaller house, and she was one of the last guests left over from the wedding we had just organised in our grounds and chapel.

We were discussing the local historical attractions of Assisi and Saint Francis, Perugia and Perugino (and not just the Baci chocolates), Montone and the strong-arm Fortebraccio, Caprese and Michaelangelo, Cortona and Under the Tuscan Sun, Lake Trasimeno and Hannibal and a few other local worthies. During the conversation vintage postcards, lead soldiers, local house sales and renovations, and film locations, were gently promoted.

Why do you do it, was the question directed at me by a lady of mature years with whom I had briefly discussed the merits of Reel Streets. We both agreed on the nostalgic aspect for the old stars and their films, but the lady had never considered the then and now association of the locations used in the films, the changes in the buildings, the shops, the vehicles, the clothes, the behaviour, the culture, the very way we now live and react to the world and the people around us, that has changed, and is continuing to change, during our lifetimes

Imagine, the Western cultures coming to the aid of the Arab nations. Sixty years ago they were peoples in the way of the pursuit of the Italian and German forces, and if a few hundred, or a few thousand got killed and all their houses destroyed, tough. And what if Mussolini’s troops invaded, massacred and gassed a few thousand Ethiopians, Somalis and Eritreans, not really any of our business, or that of the League of Nations.
Sixty years before that, we, the northern Europeans, were actively attempting to destroy or enslave the African peoples. Us, the Brits in Egypt and the Sudan, the French and Spanish in Morocco, and a bit further south the Belgians in the Congo, the Germans in West Africa, and us, actually fighting our own kind, northern Europeans, the God-fearing and Christian Dutch in South Africa.

Today, happily, many of us lean over backwards to assist those in need, we are more ready to accept into our homes and families those persons of a different cultural background, of a different religion and of a different skin colour.

But the question was, “Why do you do it”? These old films, what is the attraction of these old sites, these locations? I turned the question around and asked the lady why she was going to visit Assisi in the morning and, with her husband, the site of the Roman battle at Trasimeno, tomorrow. “Ah, because I have a deep interest in Saint Francis, and my husband just loves military history”.

“So, walking in the footsteps of the famous. This is historically induced tourism”, I suggested. “Just so”, she readily agreed. Had the lady ever been to Haworth , Bronte’ countryside? “Oh yes, and we loved it”. But the Bronte’ area is based on the sisters’ success as novelists, which was fiction, not fact, I pointed out. “Oh yes, but it was lovely to walk among the lanes and imagine it all” said the lady. Tourism induced by fiction I suggested. “Yes”, the lady sighed, “but so romantic”.

So, I said, the reason why we do it is a combination of romance, fiction, nostalgia, history and interest, can I offer you the DVD of “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” for you to view before you go to Assisi, and even “Romeo and Juliet”, Zefferelli’s masterpiece, before you go off to Bologna? Oh, We’ve seen that, that’s why we want to go there.

Exactly, I said, film induced tourism. Fiction by Shakespeare, interpreted by Zefferelli, made into “fact” by the studio publicity men, and underpinned by the tourist office of Bologna. “Oh yes, said she, so romantic, so sad”.

And that, said I, is why, in part, we do it.
www.reelstreets.com
www.lapreghiera.com
www.villamoscatelli.com
www.weddingsumbria.com

VALUES

2011-06-20T03:20:00.001-07:00

Gold, cash, money, silver, property.

There are various interpretations of the word value. There is the value of human relationships, family values, religious values and moral values, all of which, I’m informed, are gradually crumbling away.
Then there is the value of the freedom of speech, maybe this is a moral value, but it is a value that many people do not have, but with the coming of computers and the internet, mobile phones and digital cameras, this freedom is seriously impinging the power of the dictators. Mubarak, Egypt; Bashar, Syria; Gaddafi, Libya; Thein Sein, Burma; Mugabe, Zimbabwe; Salih, Yemen; and all the rest, and even in Italy the press is not completely free, and is mainly controlled by the premier “Bunga Bunga” Berlusconi.
This later value is fine for the philosophers, politicians and newscasters, but doesn’t relate to the value that is of the greatest worldwide interest, the value of money. Call it specie, fiat, bullion, stock, shares or bonds, this aspect of money has more daily column inches in the press than any of the other values combined, ergo greatest world-wide interest..
But, what is the real value of these flimsy and ephemeral articles on which we base our belief for our future, our children’s future, and that of generations as yet not considered. Bullion, generally regarded as the greatest hedge, and the safest investment, suddenly, in mid-May lost some 17% of its value. Safe? Whoops!
We are running out of fuels, sea levels are rising, food prices are becoming beyond the reach of the poor, and the big financial houses, when interest rates are so low, still have the power to charge 30% or more interest on debts incurred with credit cards. These same banks, which include Barclays, UBS, Citigroup and Bank of America, are all under serious investigation, for insider communications, by the various financial regulatory bodies. The Santander bank; remember the old Abbey National; is in such difficulties that in many parts of South America, if you apply for one of their credit cards you can obtain discounts on goods subsequently purchased, of up to 50%. This discount isn’t given by the shopkeeper, but it is a desperate attempt on behalf of the bank to keep bringing in cash and increasing their customer base.
The MBNA bank, and others, by skilful manipulation of the terms and conditions which none of us ever bother to read, now have a scheme in which your minimum monthly payment no longer covers the interest charged, which means you will pay forever if you can’t break the cycle.
So, apart from taking to the streets, attacking financial institutions, declaring bankruptcy or creating some form of mayhem, which doesn’t help the situation, but for a while is a great way to let off steam, what can one do? The poor, unhappily, can do nothing except gradually become overwhelmed by a mountain of debt and monthly repayments, which will probably follow them to the grave.
The value of British money verses the Euro; remember a few years ago when the Brits used to scoff at Euroland, and the Yanks would ask “ How much is that in real money”; has fallen by almost 50% in the past half dozen years. The US money is even worse off. Ah, you say, what about Greece and Portugal? What about them? Have you seen the figures for children living, or existing, below the poverty line? The once great, I use the diminutive, Britain, is amongst the worst of the European nations. Charity should begin at home.
The pound and the dollar are still falling, despite all the dire predictions about the break-up, or breakdown, of Europe and its monetary system. And, what is more, the buying power of the Euro ain’t what it used to be either, food, fuel and the general cost of living continue to rise.
So, lets take gold or silver, no, you take them, look at the 30 year track record and you’ll see what rotten investments they really are, yes, they’re at an all time high, when based on dollars, which are at an all time low. Imagine the paper profit you could have made if your gold was priced in Zimbabwean money. You’d be a squillionaire! But of course, as I mentioned, these commodities fell back by seventeen and a half percent in early May. Did you buy on the way up or sell on the way down?
Maybe you’d be better off backing a horse, or buying shares in Parmalat or Enron, or bonds from Bernie Madoff.
Seriously though, bricks and mortar are still really your best bet, but bricks and mortar, not plasterboard on pinewood frames stapled together and covered with tar-paper. But where to buy? Florida has ten years supply of houses waiting to be sold, in dollars, so prices will probably remain low for years to come. They also have tornados. Spain has more houses, with or without planning permission, or gas, or water, or electricity, or drainage, than they know what to do with. North Africa and the Middle East, including Turkey have language, law and culture so very different to Western Europe that it is not easy to communicate, or to understand, notwithstanding their revolutions.
So, we’re left with France and Italy. If you’re happy with the superior French attitude, then fine, but of course all the really desirable parts were snapped up years ago, long before “A Year in Provence” became so popular among the straw-hated, rugby-shirted, crimplene-clad English. Which leaves Italy. The north is either wet or sticky, Milan has more rain than Manchester. Calabria and the south are booming, Jerry and his builders are slapping up houses on every available plot, with, or in some cases, possibly without, the required and necessary documentation. Tuscany suffers from a glut of Brits, Germans and Americans, which is fine if you want to start your own small ghetto of like-minded nationals, but has suffered so much from the publicity attracted by “Under the Tuscan Sun”, that a riposte has been written by a local native Italian called “Under Too Much Tuscan Sun”.
So where then? Umbria, that’s where. Still for the most part old fashioned, low key, traditional and honest, with many of the values that some of you are looking for. Still undiscovered by the mass of tourists. The birthplace of Western art and responsible for the re-birth, the renaissance, of Western religion. Mass developments for tourists don’t exist, only pre-existing properties can be restored, no green-field sites are available for speculators and therefore the existing property values remain constant.
Most properties for sale in the countryside are owned by local farmers, who generally inherited them from their families twenty, thirty or more years ago, and if the price they want isn’t currently available, then they’ll wait until it is. After all they’ve waited half a lifetime so far, and another few years won’t make any difference. The prices therefore remain steady and the old equation of desirability / availability remains in force. As long as more people want an item than there are items available then the price / value remains. There are untold amounts of paper money in the world which the people in charge really do not want, so it falls in value, the reverse is true of property in the green heart of Italy. ”Showcased”, to use an unfortunate phrase in popular usage, on the site www.propertiesumbria.com.
And, if it all goes really wrong, at least you can shelter from the storm in a stone-built late medieval house, rather than wrapping yourself in paper money, or burning it to keep warm, or even using a gold brick for a pillow.

John Tunstill 2011

The cost of property

2011-05-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

The cost of property in our area, North Umbria is, after a two year slump, recovering. Easter saw a steady trickle of prospective house buyers anxious to secure bargains before the prices took off again. How about booking a property weekend based at La Preghiera, discussions, site visits, questions and answers.

Maybe property isn’t for you, but perhaps religion and history is. St Francis, lived and worked just down the road in Asissi, and passed up and down the Tiber Valley between his workplace and the isolated monastery of La Verna. We have many churches and religious buildings in the area and the church of La Preghiera, built on Roman, if not Etruscan, temple foundations is often used for the most wonderful and romantic weddings. The site www.weddingsumbria.com gives full details and suggestions whilst accommodation in La Preghiera or Villa Moscatelli will provide rooms to satisfy the most discerning traveller.

Not too far from La Verna is Caprese Michaelangelo where the great man was born. He learned his trade from a small man in Perugia, Perugino. Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Rafaello and Lucca Signorelli all lived and laboured in our area and may well have banged on the door of La Preghiera looking for work. They were only, then, journeyman painters after all, and would undertake commissions for bed and board. Art treasures from the time of the Etruscans up until today are scattered throughout Umbria in galleries and churches. An artistic weekend could just be the boost you need to continue the year.
If not religion, or even art, then maybe architecture. The evidence remains within twenty kilometres between Sansepulcro, Citta’ di Castello, Gubbio, Umbertide, Perugia and Cortona. Etruscan, Roman, medieval, renaissance, empire, fascist and modern, both secular and ecclesiastical architecture, local churches and monasteries, castles and keeps.

George Clooney, they tell me: if he escapes the falling pianos; lives up the road, in Venice, and will soon start on a mass murder film about the serial killer of Florence. The Monster of Firenze, but I don’t know if Georgie is a goody, or a baddy. Maybe we’ll see some comparative location shots on www.reelstreets.com one day where they already have some 500 films examined with about 14,000 stills.

Something for everyone in fact, and La Preghiera itself was started before records commenced and was finished a few years before Columbus set sail to find the Americas which the Chinese had discovered seventy years before, probably in 1421. Have you read the book?

British Pound leapt up 5 cent against the Euro this Week

2011-05-23T03:56:00.001-07:00

The Pound has jumped back up from a 13 month low of 1.10 up to 1.15, benefiting from higher levels of UK inflation (leading investors to increase their expectation of a currency boosting interest rate hike from the Bank of England) as well as Euro weakness, as the Greek debt crisis hits the headlines with renewed vigour. This difference enables us, through our currency partners, to obtain an extra €10,700 (12/5/11) for a client looking to transfer £200,000 to buy a house in Europe, or for any other reason. Email us for details.

Or, you could go to the High Street banks, and get the worst rate possible, and then a further undisclosed charge when the back office processes the transaction. Better by far are the British Post Office, clear clean rates, no hidden charges, cash in your hand, and a saving of over £800.00 on a € 10,000 exchange!

Aussie Dollars at all time high against the Euro.

Considerable savings to be made by trading your Dollars now if you are planning a holiday in Umbria or anywhere else in Europe. Highest rates now being achieved by our banking friends. Contact us for money saving details. You don’t need to book a holiday with us at lapreghiera.com or villa moscatelli.com or even buy a house from us at propertiesumbria.com or get married through weddingsumbria.com in order to benefit from safe and regulated currency transactions, not handled by the High Street banks, and not through high-rental City of London firms.

The cost of property in Umbria

2011-05-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

The cost of property in our area, North Umbria is, after a two year slump, recovering. Easter saw a steady trickle of prospective house buyers anxious to secure bargains before the prices took off again. How about booking a property weekend based at La Preghiera, discussions, site visits, questions and answers.

Maybe property isn’t for you, but perhaps religion and history is. St Francis, lived and worked just down the road in Asissi, and passed up and down the Tiber Valley between his workplace and the isolated monastery of La Verna. We have many churches and religious buildings in the area and the church of La Preghiera, built on Roman, if not Etruscan, temple foundations is often used for weddings. The site www.weddingsumbria.com gives full details and suggestions whilst accommodation in La Preghiera or Villa Moscatelli will provide rooms to satisfy the most discerning traveller.

Not too far from La Verna is Caprese Michaelangelo where the great man was born. He learned his trade from a small man in Perugia, Perugino. Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Rafaello and Lucca Signorelli all lived and laboured in our area and may well have banged on the door of La Preghiera looking for work. They were only, then, journeyman painters after all, and would undertake commissions for bed and board. Art treasures from the time of the Etruscans up until today are scattered throughout Umbria in galleries and churches. An artistic weekend could just be the boost you need to continue the year.

If not religion, or even art, then maybe architecture. The evidence remains within twenty kilometres between Sansepulcro, Citta’ di Castello, Gubbio, Umbertide, Perugia and Cortona. Etruscan, Roman, medieval, renaissance, empire, fascist and modern, both secular and ecclesiastical architecture, local churches and monasteries, castles and keeps.

George Clooney, they tell me: if he escapes the falling pianos; lives up the road, in Venice, and will soon start on a mass murder film about the serial killer of Florence. The Monster of Firenze, but I don’t know if Georgie is a goody, or a baddy. Maybe we’ll see some comparative location shots on www.reelstreets.com one day where they already have some 500 films examined with about 14,000 stills.

What are other tourist/tourism sites saying/doing/writing ……latest tourist news

FESTA DEI CERI

2011-04-28T07:13:00.001-07:00

The legendary FESTA DEI CERI takes place in Gubbio on May 15 of each year. Tradition has it that it is a party in honor of St. Ubaldo, bishop and patron saint of Gubbio, who died in 1160, and would be the result of the transformation of an original offer of wax that medieval egubine guilds donated to the patron. For other scholars, however, this festival may originate from pre-Christian pagan festivals, perhaps at a party in honor of the goddess Ash, linked to the awakening of spring …

Your own pagan, or Christian, festival could be celebrated in La Preghiera, thewre is room for about three dozen friends and family.

For more information visit the official website: www.festadeiceri.it

Bookings are now being taken for this weekend.

Incredible DINOSAUR SHOW in UMBRIA

2011-04-19T01:54:00.000-07:00

For the 1st time outside the U.S., the American Museum of Natural History in New York has prepared an exhibition on dinosaurs. And we recently found the remains of one in Montevideo, Uruguay, a stomachoschus, a huge old-fashioned type of crocodile.

And all this in the adjacent city of Gubbio at the Palazzo dei Consoli, not far from the Throat of Bottaccione a unique geological site for dinosaur extinction theories, which happened 65 million years ago due to the impact of an asteroid with the land.

There are, as well as fossils and reconstructions of skeletons, many prehistoric ecosystems in which dinosaurs lived. Among the most spectacular is that of Liaoning, in northeast China, reconstructed with large dioramas showing how the planet has been transformed and how these changes have affected the existence of the “terrible lizards. ”

The event is part of “The changing planet“, set in three exhibitions in Italy:

1) Climate (Perugia, Palazzo Baldeschi, until June 5, 2011)

2) Water (Assisi, Bonacquisti Palace, until 15 May 2011)

3) Dinosaurs (Palazzo dei Consoli Gubbio until April 25, 2011).

All in our local area, book now, and hopefully meet up with other interested and interesting people

For more information please visit: www.ilpianetachecambia.it/dinosauri.html

Bookings are now being taken for these dates.

Easter parades on Good Friday

2011-04-11T01:15:00.001-07:00

Easter parades on Good Friday are prevalent in all the towns and cities in Umbria, starting in the evening, at about 9 o'clock.

In Gubbio large bonfires are lighted along the route of the procession, and impressivly-hooded monks with loud rattles accompany the religious icons and the shrouded Christ.

The solemnity and large numbers of participants, the medieval streets and candles in the darkened windows instill a feeling of awe in the spectators, and it is well worth a visit to absorb the true atmosphere of this celebration.

Bookings are now being taken for the Easter weekend.

Easter parades on Good Friday

2011-03-31T06:28:00.000-07:00

Easter parades on Good Friday are prevalent in all the towns and cities in Umbria, starting in the evening, at about 9 o'clock.
Large bonfires are lighted along the route or the procession, and impressive hooded monks with loud rattles accompany the religious icons and the shrouded Christ.
The solemnity and large numbers of participants, the medieval streets and candles on the windows all instill a feeling of awe to the spectators, and it is well worth a visit to absorb the true atmosphere of this celebration.

Недвижимость в Италии, Тоскане и Умбрии

2011-03-21T04:10:00.001-07:00

Bыбирая недвижимость в Италии, прежде всего нужно определиться с регионом.

Объекты недвижимости и образ жизни в регионах принципиально различаются.

Как утверждают эксперты, итальянский рынок недвижимости от кризиса пострадал незначительно, благодаря консервативности экономики страны.

Очень привлекательными регионами для инвестиций в недвижимость Италии считаются Тоскана и Умбрия.
В Умбрии стоимость квартир начинается от € 800 за квадратый метр, где на россиян приходится 13% общего числа покупателей недвижимости (третье место после представителей Великобритании и Италии).

До 2008 года цены в Тоскане и Умбрии уверенно росли на протяжении двух десятилетий, однако кризис внес свои коррективы, и сейчас цены в регионе на 20% ниже своих пиковых значений.

По мнению экспертов, Италия интересна тем, что практически все регионы являются ликвидными с различной степенью интенсивности.

Инвестиция в квадратные метры Италии может быть сейчас выгодна еще и потому, что курс евро по отношению к доллару и рублю снижается. "В 2010 году мы не ожидаем роста цен на недвижимость в Италии - в первую очередь это связано с проблемами в Евросоюзе. Сейчас из-за падения курса евро цены уже снизились как минимум на 10%. Поэтому те покупатели, которые хранили деньги в долларах или рублях, на запланированную сумму могут купить объект побольше, чем если бы они покупали четыре месяца назад",- считает президент международного агентства недвижимости Gordon Rock Станислав Зингель.

Недвижимость в Италии можно купить и в кредит. По данным международного ипотечного брокера Lowell Finance, ипотечный кредит в Италии иностранцам можно оформить сроком на 5-30 лет, получив максимум 60% оценочной стоимости недвижимости. При этом плавающие процентные ставки составят 3,5-4,2%, фиксированные - 4,75-5,5%.

Cоотношение ежемесячного платежа по ипотеке и ежемесячного дохода должно составлять не более 35%. Оформить кредит можно только после получения прав собственности на объект.

К списку обязательных документов относятся идентификационные документы: загранпаспорт, свидетельство о рождении, браке и т. д. Для подтверждения дохода необходимо представить трудовую книжку, справку в свободной форме с места работы с указанием занимаемой должности и оклада, справку 2-НДФЛ за два года, подтверждение других видов дохода, если такие есть. Для владельца бизнеса или руководителя компании необходимо представить учредительные документы и отчеты о деятельности компании за последние два года. "Если заемщиком выступает руководитель компании или владелец бизнеса, то обязательным требованием является юридическое заключение о подлинности представленных сведений. Если есть аудиторская отчетность о деятельности компании, то нужно еще заключение аудиторской компании о ее подлинности. Если такое невозможно (например, для общества с ограниченной ответственностью), то необходимо обратиться в независимую юридическую компанию для получения подобного заключения",- рассказывает Кирилл Долгинский.

Также нужно представить выписку с банковских счетов, рекомендательное письмо от банка (лучше от двух) и информацию о текущих кредитных обязательствах - для этого в обязательном порядке требуется представить выписку из бюро кредитных историй. В банке нужно предъявить оригиналы документов и их переводы на английский и итальянский языки официальным переводчиком. Заемщику потребуется открыть счет в итальянском банке, в котором оформляется кредит, при этом на счете должна быть размещена сумма в размере около двух ежемесячных платежей. К дополнительным расходам при оформлении кредита относятся оплата административного сбора банка (1-1,5% суммы кредита), оценка объекта (как правило, в диапазоне €40-800) и страхование недвижимости (до 0,4% суммы кредита).

Помимо расходов на оформление кредита заемщику нужно быть готовым и к другим тратам:
регистрационный налог (до 7% стоимости объекта)
кадастровый и ипотечный налоги (до 3% стоимости)

www.propertiesumbria.com
www.lapreghiera.com
www.villamoscatelli.com

Clooney Brings Italian Murder Mystery to Theaters

2011-03-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

With a villa on Lake Como and a former Italian showgirl as a girlfriend, it can be safely assumed that George Clooney has a soft spot for Italy. Now, with a new movie deal on the table, he’ll get to spend more time in the country, filming The Monster of Florence on location.

Clooney has signed on to bring a famous Italian murder mystery to the big screen. The Monster of Florence is based on a book that recounts the true story of 8 couples who were found murdered around Florence between 1968 and 1985.

Clooney will play Douglas Preston, author of the 2008 book about the mysterious killings. Preston moves to Italy to investigate the murders and teams up with Mario Spezi, an Italian crime journalist. While Preston and Spezi are trying to find the real "Il Mostro," they find themselves accused of crimes by Florence police.

The screenplay is still being adapted, which means Clooney has downtime to spend with Elisabetta Canalis before he has to report to Florence for filming this fall.

http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/george-clooney/clooney-brings-italian-murder-mystery-theaters