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A message from the Queen

Anyone who reaches the ripe old age of 100 years in the UK is rewarded with a birthday card from Her Royal Highness in person, and for every birthday after that.

Author: Mike Greaves

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Italy has one of the highest life-expectancy rates in the world, according to statistics published earlier this month by ISTAT, the Italian National Institute for Statistics. Big question: Why, we ask ourselves? I think I’d put it down to diet, climate and temperament. Yes, Italy has more than its fair share of sunshine, and combine that with the variation of seaside, mountain and countryside, then you have a great place to live.

Italians may be fiery and energetic, but the welcome you get as a visitor must mean that the tendency is to share and enjoy, to exteriorise and be happy.

But it’s mostly the diet. The “Mediterranean diet” has been much spoken of over the last few years, and it’s been spread all over the world by expatriates. Low animal fats, high fruit and vegetable content, the use of local, quality ingredients and just the odd glass of red wine. It presses all the right buttons, and you can access some delicious healthy recipes from the “Our favourite recipes” section of this blog – try our new cheese cake recipe for example.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your slice of the Dolce Vita and book a holiday villa – it’ll make you live longer! The 2012 calendar is on the web site, and bookings are already happening for the best places for next year. As ever, Sardinia, Tuscany and Umbria are expected to be the favourites, so don’t wait around.

Rome, Florence, now it’s Venice’s turn:

Venice has joined Rome and Florence in imposing a tourist tax on visitors to Italy’s most popular cities. It was in 2006 that the Italian government first allowed local governments to impose a tax on those using tourist facilities, but the first to break ranks was Rome at the beginning of 2011, with a maximum tax of €3 for those staying at the very best establishments per night for a maximum of 5 nights. The authorities expect the tax to raise €80m, which thankfully will be spent exclusively on the much-needed upkeep of the city’s wonderful monuments. Good to know that those few euros it costs you will be going to help maintain for example the currently free-of-charge Roman Forum.

Florence started on 1 July this year with a bit more painful €5 per night, but at least those staying at the resting place of choice in my youth, the Michaelangelo camp site, only have to pay €1 to enjoy as near as it gets to city centre camping.

Although Venice joined the party late, only 24 August (too late for the main season, methinks), it must be the city of canals and gondolas that is the longest-running candidate for the tax. Venice has a particular problem over and above other Italian and indeed world cities – it’s sinking into the sea. I remember the Venice in Peril appeal of the 1970s when the idea of a tax was much discussed, but I can only think that people then were so generous in their giving – we even had lessons on it at school – that the idea was not then acted upon then. We live in more austere times now.

I’m sure this will not be enough to deter most from visiting Rome and Florence using our Rome Apartments and Florence Apartments. Rumour has it that there are some more villas coming on stream in Northern Italy later this year.

About Author

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has traveled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel and academics experiences including reviews of assignment help, statistics homework help and high school homework help.

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A message from the Queen