Venice carrier to launch operations in April

New Venice-based carrier Volotea will launch operations April 5 with an initial 14 destinations from Marco Polo Airport, with plans to grow to 24 routes in the summer.

It will begin service with five domestic destinations, comprising Brindisi, Cagliari, Olbia, Palermo and Reggio Calabria; and nine international destinations—Alicante, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Budapest, Krakow, Malaga, Porto, Thessaloniki and Santiago de Compostela. “Volotea focuses on point-to-point services between Europe’s small- and mid-sized cities, which are either subject to high fares or do not have direct flights between them,” the carrier said. It will begin operations with funding from three private equity funds, CCMP Capital Advisors, FESpyme, Fondo de Capital Riesgo and Sinaer Inversiones. The equity funds, “have committed substantial and adequate funding for the launch of Volotea,” the carrier said.

A Place in the Sun: Home or Away? Berkshire or Calabria,Italy

Jonnie and Jasmine take on the challenge presented by new parents Neil and Natalie Sweeney. Do they move out of their flat and buy a house in Berkshire or do they stick with the flat for a bit and invest in a holiday bolt hole in Calabria, Italy?

Click oin the link below to view the video,

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aplaceinthesun.com%2Ftvshow%2Faplaceinthesunhomeoraway%2Fseries4%2Fepisode27.aspx&h=uAQFd4ReFAQHbN6rjEaARCOila6QIuO_YpDJFPF99YamcYw

Property market in Italy will ‘remain buoyant’

Property in Italy  will continue to hold its popularity in 2012 – according to one property expert.
 
Linda Travella, who has been involved in the country’s property sector for more than 20 years, predicted the high levels of interest experienced in the final three months of 2011 will carry over into next year.
 
“The last quarter of 2011 is the busiest it has been for four years, with a surprising amount of enquiries and sales ofproperty in Italy ,” she stated.

Ms Travella added interest is coming from a variety of sources, with buyers from the UK, Russia, Canada, Norway and Switzerland all keen to own a home in Italy.
 
She also stated that those keen to make a return on their investment should hold on to their property for at least three years before selling, although keeping the home for five years or more would be more beneficial when it comes to taxation. 
 
Earlier in December, the Italian cabinet decided to reintroduce a property tax on first (or primary) homes that was abolished by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. This may also be something that investors will need to consider before they commit to making a purchase.

Information compliments of ‘A Place in the Sun’

 

Reggio Calabria added to the world windsurfing tour – Great News!

 

Italy will be hosting a new stage of the Professional Windsurfers Association World Tour stage, for the first time in 10 years.

 

The 2012 Reggio Calabria PWA Slalom World Cup has been added to the calendar of competition and windsurfers will have the opportunity to taste the warm weather of one of the oldest cities in Italy.

 

The windsurfing contest will be played between 19th-24th April on the “toe” of the Italian peninsula. Men and women divisions are planned and everyone should expect thermal winds.

 

Reggio Calabria is well known as one of Southern Italy’s premier windsurfing locations. The architecture and classical atmosphere of this cosmopolitan city, set a beautiful contrast to the hi-tech, adrenaline charged action that will take place on the water.

 

The 2012 PWA World Tour calendar is not yet closed. The organization is trying to confirm or not the Cabo Verde stage in the world windsurfing tour list of events.

 

The 2012 PWA World Tour schedule:

 

Italy (Slalom): 19th – 24th April
Austria (Freestyle, Men only): 27th April – 1st May
Korea (Slalom): 5th – 11th May
Aruba (Freestyle + Slalom): 26th May – 2nd June
Bonaire (Freestyle): 4th – 8th June
Costa Brava (Slalom): 12th – 17th June
Marseille (Slalom, Men only): 20th – 24th June
Lanzarote (Freestyle): 26th – 30th June
Gran Canaria (Wave): July (dates TBC)
Tenerife (Wave): July (dates TBC)
Fuerteventura (Freestyle + Slalom): 20th – 30th July
Turkey (Slalom): 6th – 11th August
Denmark (Wave, Men only): 17th – 23rd September
Germany (Wave + Freestyle + Slalom): 28th Sept – 7th Oct
Vietnam (Freestyle + Slalom): 30th Nov – 8th Dec

Santa Venere / La Marinate – Vibo Marina

Great to hear the recent good news about the 2 MRI developments, Santa Venere and La Marinate.

Both developments were sold by MRI to many English and Irish property buyers over the past few years, but the developments were stopped from any further devlopement almost 3 years ago, the main reason being incorrect due diligence.

Now we have heard that both these developments are set to begin construcntion again in the coming months.

We will update our blog regularly with progress photos of both developments.

We live in Vibo Marina and we can literally see Santa Venere from our balcony window, so we will keep you posted on future updates.

Pizzo Beach Club – Swimming Pool to open April 1st

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We have been pushing to get the swimming pool and restaurant to open for April 1st in time for the Easter holidays, normally it opens April 15th.

It was recommended that all owners at Pizzo Beach Club email the administrator and request that they would like one of the pools and restaurant to open for April 1st, please email pizzobeachclub@tiscali.it and send your requests asap.

NB: We were told that your condominium fees only cover the pool opening from April 15th until October 15th, if owners wish to open the pool earlier, then any charges involved in doing so will have to be added to next year’s condominium charges i.e. lifeguards wages.

Cruise liner runs aground in Italy

A luxury cruise liner, the Costa Concordia, has run aground off the coast of Tuscany, killing at least three people and forcing some 4,200 people on board to evacuate.

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New 2 bed / 1 Bath apartment at Borgonovo

New 2 Bed / 1 Bath apartment in Pizzo, Calabria (Borgonovo Resort)

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year