Our Experience buying a house and learning a new life in Umbria, Italy
Casale Gelsomino, now renamed Casale Giulietta, has great structural bones but needs some updates, a few more critical than others.
This site is designed to share our experience across the home buying process, including taking ownership, renovations, and making friends.
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Featured on Smart Move Italy
I have have been a member of the Smart Move Italy family since the Fall of 2021 when I signed up for their Move to Italy Bootcamp. I didn’t need help in finding a…
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Presepi in Italia
Winter holiday time in Italy is quite magical. Everywhere you look, nativity scenes (Presepi) are present of all shapes and sizes. In my frazzione (Hamlet) of Santa Maria, they start building it at the…
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Bella & Baby
SOoooooo, not being a cat owner I experienced the wonders of a cat in heat this spring (2025). For at least a full week, there were more cats at my house than I could…
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Cats, Cats & More Cats
Italy is a country full of cats. If you are near the water, particularly a fishing village, the number of cats multiply exponentially. Seriously! The picture above is a snapshot of a portion of…
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Siena – Il Palio
The Tradition The Palio is the most important event in Siena, taking place on July 2 and August 16 every year. In the Palio, the various Sienese “contrade”, or what I would call districts…
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Garden Spaces – Part II
In 2024 Andrew had taken a few of the remaining pallets left behind by the workers and constructed a plant stand for me, which I then painted in the Fall. While I didn’t plant…
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Emma & Valerio – Tutto Torna Antiques
Tutto Torna Antiques is a great store in Montaione, owned by husband and wife team, Emma and Valerio. Valerio is masterful in his ability to transform old furniture into beautiful arts of work. They…
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Il Nuovo Tetto – 7+ months of Construction
Back in 2021, before we made an offer on the house, the Geometra spent a few days inspecting and evaluating, prior to doing research on documentation at the comune. While his findings determined that…
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Time to Finish the Garden
In the spring of 2023, the garden layout was in place, the electrical and irrigation had been laid and the two new terrace areas were complete. Prior to the grass being planted, we need…
Italian Adventures - We Bought a House in Italy! 