Tuscany Villas | PlanningaTour.com

Buying house in Italy

Yes, the financial world is still wobbly, but maybe now is not such a silly time to be thinking about buying property in Italy, precisely in Lucca aerea (Tuscany). We spoke to estate agent Roy Santi, who for over a decade has been selling property throughout the area.

So, is this a good time to buy?
Obviously a lot depends on where you have access to money and of course exchange rates. But yes, there are definitely bargains to be found. For example, from sellers who bought several years ago and are now moving on. There will always be people who need to sell and there are always people who have the money to take advantage.

So what should I be asking myself?
In that sense, it’s no different from buying a house anywhere else. Town, country, seaside, rural seclusion or would you like to be less dependent on a car? What about access to airports, train stations and motorways? Olive grove or terrace? Are you up for a restoration, or perhaps something already restored is more your style? You should have a clear idea as to your brief but also be prepared to compromise. Once you are clear about you wants and dislikes anly then can an agent help realise your abjectives and guide you through a sea of bureaucracy, It maust be said that people instinctively know when a property is right for them.

But an agent will be acting for the seller?
No, in Italy the agent is essentially a broker tasked with bringing the buyer and seller together in a mutually satisfactory deal and their fee is shared between the parties. The only time an agent can be biased is when a buyer invites him to act on his or her behalf in approaching a second agent.

So how do I find a good agent?
Agents must be registred on the professional register held at the local Chamber of Commerce so check there. Do they have an office? While obviously a lot can now be done by internet, a physical base suggests they are not a “fly by night” business and have a local reputation to protect. Ask around, a recommendation is often positive. It helps to have an agent who speaks English, as with many foreign buyers and sellers in Tuscany, English is now often the lingua franca in transactions. But remember if a person does not understand Italian, the deeds can be written in a two language format, failing which a special power of attorney can be given to a bilingual person.

So what does an agent do?
The agent’s role is primarily to understand the needs of a client and assist them in realising their objectives. Once we have found the right property it’s my job to get both the buyer and vendor to the altar! The initial contract between the buyer and the vendor, the “compromesso”, is like an engagement, it outlines the deal. And both parties have to be aware of the financial penalties for pulling out later. Then obviously a time frame is agreed to, by which time the deal must be completed. The seller is obliged to produce evidence of sound title, e.g. deeds, building permits, and the buyer may have to arrange financing and perhaps have a geometra or engineer inspect to property, particulary if it is an older house. When it comes to the “rogito” or final contract, this is where the deal is formally completed, in front of a “notaio” who although paid for by the buyer. is really like the parish priest officiating at the ceremony, making sure everything complies with the rules, collecting the taxes for the State, and then registering the transfer of ownership.

And how much does an agent cost?
A commission of 3% of the selling price is normal, although negotiable on high value properties. The agents are paid at the “compromesso” stage but tend to be present until the final signing and sometimes beyond. Of course it’s not unheard of for people to find their own property to buy, but in these cases I would strongly suggest that they find an agent to step in as their technicial assistant.

So just what should I be budgeting for?
Your agent should be able to advise, but essentially as a buyer you should allow for:
1) the price
2) tax which isa a one off payment, and varies from case to case. It is a percentage of the “valore catastale” and depends on whether it is a primary residence or second home
3) the “notaio’s” fees for countersigning the deal
4) “bolli” one off stamp duty
5) techinical reports from a “geometra” or engineer
6) your share of the agent’s commission.

Find Roy Santi at www.housesintuscany.com
Via Marconi, Barga – Lucca – Tel +39 348 8607786

Villa Mansi

Dating back to the third quarter of the 16th century, the villa of the Parensi family is a compact, quadrangular block. The almost flat front of the building includes a portico and a loggia above with three arches on Tuscan columns; both are covered by a vaulted roof. By comparing the current building with a fine 17th century drawing by Domenico Checchi, its is possible to see the changes that ahve been made and how the villa stood at the centre of a vast agricultural estate.

Outside the enclosure walls, the public oratory has maintained the 17th century form as drawn by Checchi, with square pilasters supporting the entablature and the gable, and with curved stone cornices that enanche the openings in the facade.
The garden below it is borderted by the lemon houses and the olive mill.
The villa passed from the Mansi family in 1791, when Camilla Parensi, the last descendent of the family, married Raffaele di Luigi Mansi.

Itineraries Italy

Villa Grabau

Villa Grabau at San Pancrazio
Villa Grabau is one of the first forms of villa settlement in the hills north of Lucca. Recent research has shown how the villa owes its origins to the unification of severl properties carried out by the Diodati family from the 15th century. The information confirms that from this period the hills of Lucca were the subject of a series of land rearrangement operations, the use of the land, building work, expressions of new architectural layouts and new agricultural arrangements.

It is not yet known when the villa was transformed in the Reinaissnce style which is characterised by the portico in the facade, now closed in with glass. Important from the point of view of the landscape is the view which starts at the old Lucca road (now a country lane), follows the avenue leading to the park, crosses the villa and ends in the exedra of the garden behiand the villa. The transformation in neoclassical style, which took place at different times, is modelled on the nearby villa Principessa at Marlia.

The portico was closed in with large windows and dcorated internally with trompe l’oeil curtains. The park which is probably the same age as the villa, consists of several gardens. Its current form dates back to 1836 and the time when it was owned by the Cittadella family.
The botanical gardens extended along two sides of the central lawn and boasts a collection of plants from all parts of the world. Because of its rare exotic vegetation, the most extraordinary ection is the “English Garden”, dating back to the 19th century, where some majestic species can be admired. At the beginning of the 20th century some additions were carried out in the “Art Noveau” style which was popular at that time.

Along the west side of the villa, near the kitchens and stables, there is a small “Teatro di Verzura“, probably, inspired by the theatre at the nearby Villa Reale in Marlia; it was created during the 19th century with box hedges forming the wings of the stage; a spherical niche hides the prompt box. The entrance is guarded by two Renaissance lions in marble.
The garden behiand the villa, with the beautiful scenery of the hills in the background is a wide, semi-elliptical parterre, edged with tall hedges to form a green exedra with statues of Ceres, venus, Pomona and others.

The mosaics, made form rock crystals, quartz and tufa, cover the Matraia stone and white marble balustrade which separates the two levels. Shady paths connect the various areas of the park. Of particular interest is the large 17th-18th century lemon house, one of the most important and beautiful in the Lucchesia, which is still used to house the citrus plants during the winter.

Italian gardens

teatro-verzura — Teatro di Verzura - Villa Reale - Lucca

The Teatro di Verzura at Villa Reale
What better month than Mayfor a visit to the sumptuous grounds of the Villa Reale at Marlia?
Here will find one of the best preserved historic gardens in Italy. The Villa itself was known to have been in the hands of the Buonvisi family as far back as the early 1500s, but it was only in 1652 when it was acquired by the Orsetti family that the gardens were first laid out and planted with various species designed to create a baroque style landscape.
The so called “Teatro di Verzura” dates from this period, going back to around 1680, from which time it has remained unchanged.
But what is a Teatro di Verzura? It is an open hair theatre, in which natural forms such as artfully placed and trimmed trees, hedges and shrubs make up the backdrop, the wings and the stage, creating the architectural structure with the decorative elements then supplied by statues, seats and columns.
The origins of these natural theatres are not clear; they are thought to have been used for simple or povere performances, poetry readings, songa and open air concerts. By the early 17th century, the art of topiary was already well developed, especially by Roman gardeners, seeking to “sculpt” trees by pruning them in reconisable forms. The box tree, they yew and the laurel lent themselves especially well to being shaped in the form of human figures, hunting scenes and animals. From these origins arose the strange architectural phenomenon of the late 1600s that we know know as the Teatro di Verzura.
The theatre at Marlia, while not unique, is certainly a rare and brilliant example of topiary, preserving the original 17th century greenery. It is more elaborate and better preserved, for example, than the one at Villa Garzoni at Collodi, or those at the Villa Gori and Villa Sergardi at Siena.
It cnsists of a stage, wings and backdrop of evergreen cypress trees, a prompt box in appropriately enough, box wood, a rostrum for the conductor, stalls for the audience with box hedges setting out the rows of seats, and series of bow-fronted opera boxes, entirely constructed from greenery.
A row of little semicircles of boxwood runs along the proscenuim arch to hide the lights used for evening performances.

Tuscan style kitchen

Traditional and luxury guest accomodation, the Casale Sodini, a Tuscan retreat of great charme available for exclusive private rental.

Villa Casale Sodini is available for rent all year round! www.casalesodini.com

Ground Floor

* dining room
* family dining room and TV room
* office
* kitchen
* laundry

First Floor

* 3 double bedrooms with bathrooms en suite
* 1 master double bedroom with bathroom en suite
* 1 suite double bedroom with bathroom en suite

Facilities

* daily breakfast
* air conditioning
* central heating
* computer & internet
* telephone & fax
* computerised telephone billing
* stereo CD player with central rediffusion
* satellite TV
* alarm

Staff

* 1 cook on request
* 1 maid (6 days a week)
* gardener

Exclusions

* food
* beverages
* telephone and fax billing
* gratuities
* laundry
* transfers
* lunch and dinner