UMBRIA, ITALY - HEALTH

My wife and I are both English and have been living in Umbria, Central Italy for almost 30 years. During that time various friends, clients and relatives have suffered from broken, shoulders, legs and ankles, have had heart attacks and nervous breakdowns, have torn their hands, cut their fingers and had things in their eyes, have suffered from perforated ulcers and internal haemorrhaging, but apart from that, have been pretty healthy! The local Italian, or Umbrian health service is outstanding.

So, our area of the Upper Tiber Valley is served by three excellent hospitals, Perugia, Umbertide and Citta’ di Castello. No-one, as far as I know has ever received a bill for more than €30 – 40 despite the cost of their treatment, ambulance transfers and after care. Excellent Umbrian Health care.

My visits to all these hospitals has found them to be clean, well equipped and caring. No-one waiting, or dying, in the casualty or emergency reception. No-one parked to live, or die, on trollys in corridors, no-one ever turned away because they hadn’t paid their medical insurance, and no-one being turned away uncured. unhelped or uncared for.

I can't rate the local health services more highly.

We run a country house, hotel, B&B, guest house called La Preghiera, rent a villa for holidays and vacations called Moscatelli, and build and restore ancient farmhouses, country houses or real estate and, depending on where our guests, friends and clients have come from, our local health service seems to be, like our home and properties, four star.

John Tunstill, Umbria, Italy.

HOUSE PRICE REDUCTION in UMBRIA ITALY

Several excellent country properties in Umbria's Upper Tiber Valley have had their prices slashed because the usual customers have lost real value in their pounds and dollars, and also lost heavily on the stock market, which has affected many pensioners plans.


These beautiful houses will be discounted until a property, or real estate, sale takes place, which will provide the turnover required to continue to employ the highly experienced craftsmen that continue to work on these sought-after buildings. All are situated between Umbertide, Montone, Cortona and Citta' di Castello in the Green Heart of Italy, Umbria's Upper Tiber Valley.

May's Programme of Events

May truly sees the start of the festa season, with the Umbrian town of Gubbio staging two of the big events of the year. Both the Festa dei Ceri (the candle race) and Palio della Balestra (crossbow competition) are unmisable occassions in the Upper Tiber Valley calendar.


Until 7th Citta di Castello, Piazza Vitelli, Exhibition covering a range of furniture, arts and crafts
1st - 3rd Citerna “Citerna Fotografia” exhibition of photos by Vasco Ascolini
1st – 3rd Pistrino 19th annual “festa dei fiori” agricultural and flower show.
4th – 13th Cdi C Stadio Bernicchi holds the “Trofeo Cartoedit” junior football tournament.
6th – 8th Cdi C Cathedral, 11th E. Zangarelli musical competition for school children.
7th – 9th Assisi Medieval festival in period costume, archery, processions, flag waving and jousting.
10th S. Giustino Antiques market.
10th Lisciano Niccone “Lo Scambivendolo, agricultural, biological and antiques market.
14th – 17th Cdi C Zoccolanti, the popular religious festival for St Pasquale.
15th Gubbio Festa dei Ceri, the ancient race through the streets of Gubbio
17th Cdi C Piazza Metteotti, Antiques market.
17th Montone 6th Umbertide Endurance motorbike race.
24th Gubbio Replica of the Ceri race in miniture
24th – 2nd Cerbara 24th annual Countryside Cherry festival.
24th Monte S. M Tiberina Ascension Day, featuring a historical procession.
30th -2nd Cdi C Piazza Matteotti, Moto in an open air concert.
30th – 31st Cdi C Communal Pool, 22nd International Swimming competition.
31st Umbertide,Scula Media Mavarelli, 44th annual “Fotografia Umbria” exhibition of photographic equipment.
31st Gubbio The famous medieval Crossbow competition.
31st Cdi C Stadio Comunale, “Matty & Co” football tournament.

Novel Ideas for Selling Houses

With the ever deepening credit crunch biting more and more into our pockets, a house is the most expensive purchase we ever make. So during this difficult time, people are finding it ever more difficult to sell their properties and turning to novel methods of selling and marketing their houses.

While some of these appear ridiculous and others bound to fail, the need for perhaps a different approach is important and the need to make your sale stand out from the many other unsold properties in the Estate Agents window.

There are many quirky attempts people have come up with to entice potential buyers. At present a homeowner trying to sell her converted country farmhouse is offering interested parties the chance to stay the night, visit the local pub and investigate the house. There was the instance of a man including his £150,000 Lamborghini to anyone who bought his £1.1m mansion and a lady who gave away a free two bedroom terrace house when you purchased her parrot for £120,000.

Even on the continent unusual offers have been appearing to whet the appetite. A Spanish developer has been offering to throw in a one bedroom apartment worth £90,000 when you completed on one of his £1m villas.


Other strange sales techniques have included selling by lottery, for a £25 ticket you get the change to own a £150,000 house but you have to make sure you do not fall foul of the gaming laws here. Ebay and Craig’s list websites have also had their share of houses auctioned on them, again you have to be careful. One individual along with his house tried to his Bentley, a lordship title as part of the deal but pulled out when bids reached £3m believing people didn’t have the inclination or funds to meet their offers.

While “open houses” are a popular concept in both USA and Australia , they are still treated with circumspection by the conservative British buyer. Even celebrities have resorted to this method and in 2005 the Osbournes, Sharon and Ozzy opened their now famous Los Angeles mansion for viewing.

For the religiously inclined you could employ the assistance of Saint Joseph , who apart from his many other roles is the patron saint of Real Estate and carpentry. A company called Luckymojo offer for $2.99 a small plastic statue of St Joseph, with instructions for you to bury him in your back garden to ensure a quick and profitable sale.

Who knows maybe during the current recession this may just be the trick you need to make that move.