YOUR LETTERS

LETTERS TO ITALIA!

We’ve been astounded by just how helpful Italia!’s readers are this month, with a postbag full of tips on buying property in Le Marche inspired by a fellow reader. There’s also feedback on Ferraris, flights and Catania...

LETTER OF THE MONTH

LETTER OFTHEMONTHMAR 2007

I have been a subscriber to Italia! magazine for some months now. Each time an issue has arrived I have been meaning to contact you about the Flight Guide, towards the back of your magazine. It shows that flights are available from London Heathrow to Milan with bmibaby. This has not been the case – more’s the pity – for over a year now. I have made good use of these flights in the past and they always seemed popular, so I was surprised and disappointed when they were withdrawn. In the hope that your magazine had new information, I phoned bmibaby. It confirmed that it does not fly from Heathrow to Milan any longer. Perhaps you could update your information or, even better, persuade them to reinstate the service! There is also some correct, but misleading, information in your article on ski resorts. As a regular visitor and huge fan of Bormio, I would like to point out that although the resort stands at 1225m the main ski area is between 2000m and 3000m, which makes quite a difference to its snow conditions. Gina Hale, via email

You’ll be pleased to hear that we’ve now removed this from our Flight Guide. Sorry to any readers who were misled by this. As to Bormio, you’re quite right that the slopes are much higher than the resort. For you diligence you deserve to receive our Letter of the Month prize – enjoy the wine!

Though the resort itself stands at 1225m, the slopes are higher.

FERRARI FACTS In the news story about the Ferrari Enzo on page 20 of the December 2006 issue, you write that the Enzo is one of only 349 ever made, but that is incorrect. In fact, 400 models have been made – 399 for the public, and the last one specially commissioned by Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo himself, as a gift for the late Pope John Paul II. The car sold for €1,055,000 at Sotheby’s Maranello Auction, 28 June 2005. Every penny of this has been donated to charity. Bjornar Jorgensen, Norway

You are indeed correct Bjornar, although according to our research the car actually sold for €950,000. Please do get in touch if you spot any errors in the magazine.

A GOOD READ I really enjoyed reading your magazine over Christmas. My wife and I love Lake Iseo, and I was wondering if you have any articles on that area. Do you know of anybody that I could contact with regards to property in that area? Don Heelbeck, via email

Well Don, we haven’t actually covered Lake Iseo itself, although Fleur Kinson can be found touring some of the northern lakes this month in a feature on Italian gardens. See page 43. We’ll certainly consider looking into this destination in the future. A good place to try for property in the area is Studio Valle. Visit www.studio-valle.com

PROBLEM LIKE MARIA’S I write in reply to Maria Jackson’s letter in the January issue concerning property in Le Marche. A friend and I bought a house near Sarnano four years ago through a local agent; however, while researching the area we used the services of Monica Bruni’s agency in Amendola, www.monicabruni. org/home/index.cfm. Although the agency is located in the heart of the Monti Sibillini we were shown properties out to the east and north east towards Ancona, and the site may be useful for Maria. I hope this helps. Paul Harrison, Oman

What a helpful bunch you are! We received numerous responses to Maria Jackson’s letter, all of which we have duly

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Each issue, the writer of the Letter of the Month will receive six bottles of Eremo, a fine red wine from the Langhe region of Piedmont produced by Fontanafredda. The prize is worth £60 and the winner will be contacted by an Enotria wine merchant on behalf of Italia! magazine. No correspondence will be entered into and the editor’s decision is final. www.enotria.co.uk

March 2007 ITALIA! 9