Scalea Info Newsletter - Issue 2 - July and August 2008 - HTML version
Scalea Info Newsletter - Your window on the local area in English
In this issue...
- Events guide July - September
- Readers stories
- Letters
- Wedding in Scalea
- Property buyers stories
- Restaurant/Bar reviews
- Weather & Climate
- Tax advice
- Much more...
Summer has arrived
Ahh finally summer has arrived in Scalea with the assembling of beach lidos and the re-opening of sea-side shops along Corso Mediterreneo. As Easter came very early this year, we saw the first real bank holiday weekend on ‘Republic holiday’ during the opening week of June.
Work continues in Piazza Caloprese where the town council have now pedestrianised Via Michele Bianchi (the main street in Scalea), having taken 18 months to complete this project the work is drawing to a close.
July will see the ‘African Market’ which takes over the town centre for 3 days, you’ll be able to find many bargains there but be prepared to barter with the stall owners to get the very best price.
The first of the two major religious summer festivals also takes place during July. On 15th and 16th July commemorates the special protection granted by Our Lady to the city during the terrible epidemic of cholera that occurred around 1870. The mayor during the festival offers a candle to the Madonna and symbols of prosperity and abundance (ears of wheat and olive twigs). The festival is an opportunity for the faithful to demonstrate their endless devotion to the Virgin Mary and she is carried through the streets of the town in procession.
During the festival there is a magical atmosphere in the town, the streets are lit with festive lighting and there are stalls offering all kinds of merchandise. The culmination of the celebrations is a spectacular midnight firework display.
Then into August and the main holiday period for Scalea as thousands of Italians flock to the beaches. On the 15th August we celebrate ‘Ferrogosto’ a national holiday in Italy and the peak of the holiday period. By the end of August things are starting to get back to normal with most of the tourists heading back home. With more and more foreigners discovering Scalea and Calabria the tourist season is expected to grow and many foreigners prefer to holiday outside of August, taking advantage of the great climate that this part of Italy has to offer.
News and Events
Giro D’Italia bike race hits the area
The Giro D'Italia is well loved in Italy. The famous 2500km bike race has famously gruelling mountain sections and the route for 2008 was very exciting indeed. After the initial 3 stages in Sicily and stage 4 further south in Calabria the entourage were due to arrive in our area. Stage 5 (170km) was scheduled to leave Belvedere Marittimo at noon on the morning of 14th May 2008, going along the coast through Cirella, Diamante, Santa Maria Del Cedro, Scalea and heading on North into Basilicata.
Stage 4 had been won by Mark Cavendish, the first Giro win by a Brit since 1987! and we were at the side of the road waving him on as the huge cavalcade of support cars, police motorcycles and promotional vehicles set off along the Cedro Riviera.
In the fortnight or so before this date the amount of road resurfacing and tidying up was very noticeable indeed. We were astounded by the flurry of activity and watched with glee as the roads were smoothed and white lines were repainted along the SS18 between Belvedere and Praia a Mare.
But here's the reason why, when you drive through Santa Maria Del Cedro marina, the road still seems very bumpy and full of potholes....the Giro route turned off the SS18 at Cirella, headed for Centro Storico Santa Maria, passing through Marcellina and then rejoined the SS18 just South of Scalea. So the stretch of SS18 that goes through Santa Maria and Grisolia marina was never touched.
And spare a thought for the poor dog who was unfortunately run over just outside Scalea. The very efficient white-liners painted straight over the top of him ....
School meeting
Pupils from the Elementary school in Santa Domenica Talao invited the foreign residents of the village to join them for a discussion at the school. Pupils learning to speak English were keen to have communication with the foreign contingent hoping to help both groups with their language skills. The meeting went well and plans are being made to make this a regular event at the school. Representatives from the ‘English’ speakers included Derek and Monica Baker, Matt and Jo Whitty and Sharon Long all of whom we’re proud to say are learning Italian.
Upcoming wedding in Santa Domenica Talao
After a raft of celebrity weddings in Italy it is lovely to hear of the next local Calabrian wedding.
It will be taking place in Santa Domenica Talao at the beginning of July between Jennifer Maddams and Julian Smith. (Jennifer is Derek and Monica Baker's daughter).
Guests are flying in from the UK and the USA for what promises to be a great day. The civil ceremony will be held at the Comune office followed by Prosecco and confetti (the edible kind!) at U'Trappitu (a dialect word meaning olive press).
After a short walk down the hill the reception follows at U'Scarrazzu Da Antonia with it's incredible terrace overlooking the coastline.
Our very best wishes to the happy couple for the first "stranieri" wedding to be held in
Santa Domenica Talao.
Jet-ski racing and beauty contest
The 1st Grand Prix of Watercraft was held on the weekend of 7-8 June with resounding success. At the picturesque setting of the rocks beneath Torre Tower there were demonstrations of the most amazing skill of the best water sport champions.
The weather conditions did nothing to dampen the spirits of the crowds who watched, with amazement, the demonstration of the freestyle acrobatics of the jet skis. This was carried out in the dark, late on the Saturday night, floodlit from the shore and with a backdrop of crashing waves.
Food and drinks were available from stalls and the crowd were also delighted with live music from two local young bands as well as the first Miss Grand Prix Moto D'Aqua competition which was won by Daniela Evoluzionista.
Our very own Tony Hackett (who was dressed the part in his Armani suit) was thrilled to be invited to be one of the panel of judges and his prime position next to the catwalk also gave him a very entertaining view of the Brazilian dancers who arrived wearing little more than their feather headpieces to give a demonstration of just how well they can move to the beat!
A very well organised inaugural event that is sure to grow and get even better in coming years.
What’s happening July - September
15 & 16 July
Festa Della Madonna Del Carmine - Scalea
Religious event of the patron saint of Scalea with procession, stalls & fireworks
15 - 20 July
Note Di Fuoco - Belvedere Marittimo
A firework spectacular complete with music on the seafront and out to sea.
For more info: www.notedifuoco.it
28 - 31 August
Festa Del Panuozzo - Scalea
Gastronomical event with entertainment.
The 10th anniversary of this festa of the Panuozzo.
For more info: http://www.festadelpanuozzo.it/
End of July to late August
Peperoncino Jazz Festival - Scalea & Cirella
Jazz Festival "between the two seas" with concerts across the province including at Scalea and in the amphitheatre at Cirella di Diamante.
http://www.peperoncinojazzfestival.com/
7 & 8 September
Festa della Madonna del Lauro - Scalea
Religious event with procession of the Madonna who is sent to sea in a boat.
Stalls and fireworks.
10 - 14 September
Festival del Peperoncino - Diamante
Festival celebrating the chilli pepper: Stalls, music & events including a pepper-eating competition.
Bar and Restaurant review
Bar Daniela
Piazza Garibaldi (close to the train station)
Viale 1 Maggio, Scalea
Bar Daniela has a wonderful selection of drinks, cakes and Ice creams making it a great place to indulge. There is a covered terrace area with patio heaters making this a great place to visit all year round. During the summer months there is a chance to try your hand at karaoke.
Da Antonia Restaurant/Agriturismo
Directions: From Scalea take the road to Santa Domenica Talao, just before entering the village there is a right turn signposted for the restaurant, the restaurant is approx 50m after the turn.
The setting of the restaurant is fantastic with views over the whole coastline and mountains in the pollino national park, the restaurant is located just 500m from the historic centre of Santa Domenica Talao.
The building itself is full of rustic charm but has every facility needed. The owner Massimo is very friendly and will make you feel right at home, all the other family members and staff are very friendly and attentive and English is spoken.
In this restaurant there is a menu, however due to the nature of the food and the fact that only the freshest in season produce is used the menu only serves as and indication. Therefore expect to be brought a vast array of different typical Calabrian starters such as Aubergine, Courgette, meats and cheese, olives, beans. Usually there is also typical fresh pasta on offer such as Fusilli Calabrese. For main course we had steak, sausage served with potatoes, rosemary and peppers. Pizza in all flavours and types are available all cooked in a traditional wood burning oven.
For bookings and information:
Restaurant Da Antonia
C.da Guarniero 2, Santa Domenica Talao. Tel: 3398265571
Legal news from Nick Metta - Studio Legale Metta, Bari
“Berlusconi scraps ICI for first homes”
The new Berlusconi government just approved a law decree which says that properties used as the primary residence are not subject to ICI (local property tax). The law decree is in force since 29 May 2008. The Italian parliament is expected to confirm the decree within 60 days; otherwise it will be cancelled. Until then, the decree applies. If you paid ICI in 2007, you have likely already received request for 2008 payment from your Municipality. If you are exempt from paying ICI as per the new law decree, just ignore the request of payment. If you have already paid ICI for 2008 and you are now exempt you are eligible for a refund.
It is ICI time again! Don't forget to pay this local property tax to your Municipality by:
16 June 2008
All Italian property owners with few exceptions must pay ICI.
Did you just buy your property? You still must pay ICI for the months it was in your possession.
2008 ICI Tax Deadlines:
16 June and 16 December
The ICI tax is nominal, so don't miss the date and then have to pay penalties!
Your Tax Liabilities
Most residents and certain non residents must pay Italian income tax. This tax is called IRPEF which stands for Imposta sui Redditi delle Persone Fisiche. It is a national tax which is paid annually to the Italian State. Non residents are typically not aware that they may have tax obligations. As a non resident, if you make any income on your property -- from rentals for example -- these revenues should be declared and the relative taxes must be paid.
Even if you are not renting out your property that doesn't necessarily mean you are cleared from having to pay taxes on rental income. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. If the house is not being rented but it is not your primary residence either, you can be taxed on the cadastral virtual rental. This is typically nominal, but still an obligation.
IRPEF taxes are due 16 June.
Income tax return is due 31 July, or 30 September if online.
Under certain circumstances, the Italian property income is also subject to home country taxation on the difference between the home country tax rate and the Italian tax rate. If you sold your Italian property within five years of your purchase, you could be liable for the capital gains tax.
For full up to date guides and information written in plain English please see our website www.studiolegalemetta.it
Buyers Stories
Peter and Rita - Santa Maria del Cedro
After a year of dreams our new life in Italy has become a reality. We have moved to Santa Maria del Cedro in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The move took place on the 9th September 2007 a year after completing our purchase. During this period we had our stone house updated with new electrics, bathroom and kitchen. Since moving we have updated with natural gas, air conditioning and a good painting. The village we have moved to is famous for the cedro fruit, which is grown here and is part of the Jewish faith. The fruit is a mix of a lemon and a lime but over twice the size.
Our new home for myself and my wife Rita, is in an old property in an old village just across a small plain from the coast. The locals have gone out of their way to make us welcome, taking us into their homes and bringing us gifts of wine, fruit and vegetables. We are at present learning the language and Rita is finding the school in Scalea an excellent learning base and I am looking forward to starting in September. During our move to Italy we found the use of an English-based Italian lawyer of great help in our purchase and can recommend their use in the buying of property. Life is now very slow and rewarding, although visits to the bank, post office and the commune are like a day out. We obtained residency but after a lot of hard work and we recommend that any person planning on living here should get a full list of documents required, have them translated and stamped by a government office before starting out. During our first days here we saw the village festival, the festival of the Cedro. Since then we have had the wine and olive seasons and all that that entails.
We are after nearly a year here, glad that we made the decision to move and can only thank both the British and the Italians we have met for making the move easier.
Andy and Kath - Scalea
If I am totally honest, I had never heard of Scalea or even Calabria 14 months ago. Yet here I am today sitting on the balcony of my own ‘place in the sun’ writing a few words about our Italian adventure so far.
I guess we are like a lot of people, who having decided to buy a place abroad, start watching back episodes of a Place in the Sun etc and research areas via the internet. It was whilst doing the latter that, purely by chance I came across listings for property in Calabria. This lead me to a few hours research (over a couple of days) via sites such as Scalea.info.
Everything that I read told of the real Italy, of friendly people and beautiful scenery, untouched by the typical ‘Brits abroad’ crowd a La Spain. This together with the price of the properties seemed too good to be true. Eager to find out for ourselves we booked a viewing trip with Scalea Property Services. In short, we spent a couple of days viewing property with Tony of Scalea Property Services, found one we liked, made an offer and returned 2 months later to complete. I appreciate that this sounds very simple and uncomplicated, but that is exactly how it felt to us. Thanks in no small part to Tony, David and Melanie at Scalea Property Services who never applied any pressure, but simply showed us the area, answered any questions we had with honesty and integrity. Then when we decided to buy held our hands and guided us through the whole process.
I feel I should also mention Anna and Luigi who also made the task of getting a tax code (codice fiscale) and opening a bank account almost seem like ‘part of the fun’.
On their website, Scalea Property Services boast of continuing to help and assist people long after the buying process is complete and consider many ‘clients’ to have become good friends. I hope that they consider that my wife and I fall into this category as we have certainly been made to feel as such.
Indeed we have been lucky over the few short months since buying our apartment to have met many friendly and welcoming people, who share our love affair with Calabria.
Readers Letters
Dear Brian,
I was wondering if you could recommend a restaurant to me in the Scalea area. I'm looking for something which would be nice and relaxing, as I lead a very exciting and stressful lifestyle and I'm sure you will be able to help. Yours Lesley (Belvedere)
Dear Lesley,
Try Villa Brazzano I find this probably the most relaxing place, in fact one evening I found the mood particularly relaxing and fell asleep at the table. This should help you de-stress from the chores of living in the hustle and bustle of Belvedere.
Dear Brian,
I would like your opinion on a gift I’ve been blessed with. Passing many hours, as you do, at a bar in downtown Scalea I had the good fortune to be in the company of one of the local beauties. Having now mastered enough of the lingo to give me the confidence to engage in a deep and meaningful conversation I spent the next couple of hours chatting to the said lovely and hey-ho there it was my new found talent …. “a cure for INSOMNIA”. This Italian temptress had only fallen asleep listening to my dulcet tones! Whaddya think?
Yours
Peter “talks em to sleep” Flynn
Dear Peter,
ZZZZZZZZ…
Dear Brian,
Do you have any tips on fishing? We bought a mackerel as bait and on cutting the fish open came across three smaller fish which had obviously been the mackerel’s last supper. Thing is the dead fish caught more than we did all day! Any suggestions?
Thomas, Christian and Desperate Dan.
Dear friends,
Take up another sport if a dead fish can catch more than you I fear fishing is not your thing.
Dear Brian,
I recently went to India and has luck would have it contracted ‘Dehli Belly’. The upside was I lost 6 kilos of weight. Any ideas for the next ‘10’?
Ci vediamo Luglio, Vincent… Dublino
Dear Vincent,
There’s now’t down for you, 6 weeks in Scalea and your going back to Dublin with those 6 kilo’s you lost in India.
Wedding Special
Irish invade Scalea to celebrate wedding
On Friday 9th May at 12 noon (Italian time?!) Peter and Jackie Synnott (nee Griffin) married at La Chiesa di San Nicola di Platea in Scalea. A ceremony attended by over 100 family and friends who came from all over the world to share in a glorious day.
A typical Calabria May day with clear, blue skies and temperatures reaching 28 °C, Peter and Jackie couldn't have wished for a better start to their big day. With the picturesque setting of Centro Storico the happy couple's hard work had started to come together, the guests and Peter (of course) anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bride.
The customary wait for the groom was broken when Jackie made her entrance to the strains of 'Here Comes The Bride'. The ceremony was conducted mainly in Italian, with interjections of English, by Don Giacomo Benvenuto of Scalea. Jackie appeared calm, cool and collected whilst Peter shuffled nervously during the service.
Daniele Ariete and his photographers worked feverishly to ensure all the important moments were captured. Following the hour long service, and more photos, there was a short walk to the reception. Hosted by Giovanni and his team at Ristorante Antica Osteria the festivities began with the usual Italian banquet and the flowing wine was enjoyed by the newlyweds and their guests.
The entourage then moved onto the evening reception at Hotel Talao, Scalea. This had been base camp for most of Peter and Jackie's family and friends during their week long stay. Again the effort made by Aleda and her staff at the hotel was second to none. The party fizzled out in the early hours of the following morning with the bride still on a high and the groom a little the worse for wear (nothing unusual there then)
A big thank you to the people of Scalea and particularly:
Wedding photographer: Daniele Ariete, Corso Medditerraneo, Scalea, +39 0985 20569
Wedding reception: Antica Osteria, via Napoleone, Scalea, +39 0985 272070
Evening reception: Hotel Talao, Corso Mediterraneo, Scalea, +39 0985 20444
"Tanti Auguri" to Peter and Jackie
For more information or if you wish to participate please do not hesitate to contact us...
