A different kind of property !

How often have you found, by chance, as we did, on the Adriatic Coast, last weekend, a really lovely looking hotel, well appointed, three star, wonderful views…………..the works in fact
However, although the hotel was all we imagined, the noise factor was something else. OK, so we changed the room for the next night.
And the quite rooms didn’t quite have the same outlook.
An Hotel which shall remain nameless
Noise
1. Kids kicking tin cans
2. Sing song in the bar
3. Cars, doors slamming and engines revving
4. Lambrettas, and you know what they sound like
5. Motors / Air Conditioning? / Refridgeration compressors?
6. And the disco down the street
7. Other peoples bathroom noises
8. Cliccktey, Klacckety footsteps
9. Guests talking, shouting, from balcony to balcony
10. Staff talking in the hallways
11. Floor cleaning machines
12. And the delivery vehicles, and the metal roller blinds on the shop fronts from 5am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Outlook From the quiet room,Blank walls, drainpipes and dead pigeons
La Preghiera has many of the walls some half a meter thick, all windows have chestnut internal shutters, most external doors are in double pairs thus with a small lobby. Thermal and acoustic insulation has been incorporated into the shell and fabric of the building.No kids, with or without tin cans, no sing songs, no vehicle noise, no motors / compressorsNo discos, master blasters roller blinds or delivery vehicles.
And if the sound of fresh coffee percolating annoys you, best stay away. Oh, I almost forgot, we’ve got a little gurgly stream, and broom plants, plantagenesta, which sometimes open with a pop, bird song and baking bread slowly rising. As for the noise of the stars twinkling, well, it’s almost insupportable.
And the outlook,……………. not a blank wall, a drainpipe or a passed-over pigeon in sight.When are you coming……………. to listen to the sound of quiet?
www.lapreghiera.com

New Village Hall in Calzolaro

Saturday 10th of February was a very special day for the village of Calzolaro where La Preghiera Country House Estate is located. The new Village Hall was inaugurated with a very lively party for all ages; the ribbon was cut by the Mayor of Città di Castello and television and journalists were also present.
The building was decorated with balloons and streamers, there was music and the local magician was in attendance, there was copious home-made food, including local Umbrian carnival delicacies, castagnole, sweet fried dough balls coated with masses of locally produced honey, and fiocchi, pastry bows coated with icing sugar and sprinkled with alchermes liqueur, which was introduced into this area by local people returning to visit their families during the 1950’s and 60’s, who had left to work in the then more prosperous areas of Nice or the Piemont.
Our new Village Hall took several years to build, as the work force was completely made up of local people giving their time for free, to include the planning of the project, all the building of the site and the finishing and equipping, and we are all very grateful for this.
Local government granted 250.000 Euro for this project, and a greater amount was obtained with the combined effort and fund raising done by the local people, the shop-keepers and the businesses in Calzolaro and their friends.
Proud and happy guides gave tours of the lovely spacious bright building, which consists of two large rooms on two levels, one of which can seat over 500 people, for celebration dinners or special occasions, huge kitchens with state of the art equipment, ample store-rooms and facilities.
A lovely surprise for everyone are the walls of the great hall adorned with pictures which have their own story….., please read on!
In the early 1980’s when Calzolaro was ony a small village, a yearly art exhibition and competition took place, and artists from the local towns and cities were invited to participate and present work depicting the village and its surrounding countryside. The winners were awarded a money prize, and in exchange, they left their paintings to the village. This event lasted four years, after which the pictures were put into storage.
On the occasion of the opening of the new Village Hall, the beautifully framed oils and water-colours were brought to light again and hung on its walls, treasure brought back to life for the older members of the community, many of whom had forgotten all about them, and unknown treasure discovered for everyone else, who are either too young to know about them, or newcomers to the village who learnt about the exhibition of years gone by.
We are all very priviledged to be able to share these prize winning works of art painted over 25 years ago, and now permanently on view, some of the authors of wich have now become renouned!
Liliana Tunstill – Feb. 2007

14.02.2007 - Saint Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine, Terni's first Bishop, died in 273 by order of the Roman Prefect Placidus Furius during the persecutions ordered by the Emperor Aurelius.
Saint Valentine Tradition
His life, given to the apostolate and enobled by his matyrdom, induced the citizens of Terni in 1644 to proclaim him the Patron Saint of the City and patron saint of lovers. But the fame of Saint Valentine all over the world is due to the legend which originated in the anglo-saxon countries; he used to give a flower from his garden as a present to his young visitors. Two of these young people fell in love; and this love risulted in such a happy union that many other couples followed his example of giving a flower, and the Saint was induced to dedicate one day of the year to a general benediction of matrimony.
The present Basilica of Terni was built in 1605 on the ruins of precedent temples, and contains interesting works of art, in particular in the crypt, and St Valentine is the patron saint of the city.
Valentine's Day
Every 14th of February feasting in honour of the Saint takes place around the Basilica, with a traditional Fair and prize-displays. The entire month of February is dedicated to festivities in honor of St Valentine. Among the various events is "Terni - St. Valentine: A Year of Loving". This event, first held in 1989, awards a yearly prize in recognition of a special act of love. Past awards include those given to Mr. and Mrs. Green, to the memory of the Premier Rabbi of Israel, and to the Italian association "Telefono Azzurro", a gren help line for children in distress. Other events include an exhibition of jewellery, a competition for the loveliest jewel created for Saint Valentine's Day and other exhibitions.