Well - its time for me to recount the day we finally completed the purchase of our apartment in Citta della Pieve. I'm feeling a bit annoyed with myself as I started this last evening and wrote several paragraphs which I then deleted by mistake. How irritating!! Anyway - at least the thoughts and information are still fresh in my mind.
After breakfast at the Vannucci Hotel we checked out and left our bags with the porter to collect later on. Our first stop was to be the apartment itself where we had made arrangements with the Professor's sister-in-law, Jackie, to have a final look at the place and make sure everything was in order which we knew it would be. She had stayed in the apartment the evening before with her youngest son, Chris and we were all to visit the notary's office together later in the morning. It was good to get some fresh air before arriving at the flat and we strolled through the medieval streets of the old town wondering how the day would go. In contrast to the dreadful hail storm of the previous evening, it was a bright sunny morning and the main street bustled with activity as the locals went about their business. It seemed only a matter of minutes before we were ringing the apartment bell and climbing the stairs to the flat. Our inspection took only moments and we were soon sitting down for a chat in the small dining room with the full length doors flung open revealing the amazing view outside. As I gazed out over the Tuscan hills and the Chiana valley I knew this was why we were buying this particular apartment and I couldn't help looking forward to later in the day when we would be returning there as the new owners. Jackie and her son had arrived from London via Perugia airport the previous afternoon and had been entertained by the estate agents that evening. They seemed a bit sad to be leaving everything behind, though I know it was a relief to Jackie to finally get the complex legal work concerning the Professor's estate finally wound up and the and sale of the property completed. I was touched by the fact that she'd left me all the Professor's books on the medieval and Renaissance periods in Italy and many other historical works and travel guides too - most of them in English. There were some interesting looking novels I hadn't read as well. This was a nice gesture and I thought of lots of pleasures to come going through them and selecting stuff to read.
Together we strolled over to the estate agent's office to meet Laura who was to accompany us to the notary's office for the official signing. After we'd all squeezed into her four wheel drive vehicle it took about an hour to get to Perugia and it was interesting to discover this particular notary had his office in a relatively new looking modern building above a coffee shop! We ended up arriving a bit early for our appointment so you can guess where we ended up - downstairs in the cafe where there was time for quick cappucinos all round. Then we headed upstairs to the office on the first floor. In Italy the notary is a respected individual and there is some degree of ceremony involved in any business done in his or her presence. When we had bought a villa in the Costa Blance in Spain several years ago and then sold it again a few years later we had been through a similar process with a notary so we sort of knew what we were in for. It made me think about how this particular role had evolved in the Mediterranean region and its a fascinating vestige from the institutions and offices developed by the Romans during the Republican period.
When the Romans were setting up civil institutions during the early phases of the Republic 'SCRIBAE' had been appointed to record facts and various legal proceedings and as transcribers. As the value of such written records became more and more apparent so the role of these individuals grew and became professionalised. They were valued for their education and learned background and became more and more important in both public and private affairs. Some became attached to the Roman Senate and to the courts of law and recorded all the proceedings to do with these important institutions and supplied magistrates with legal papers, registered decrees and judgements.In the century before the Rupublic converted to an Empire many scribae became a NOTARIAE and used a new form of shorthand involving specially developed marks and signs called 'notae' to record events and proceedings. Later still the title and role of NOTARIUS became associated exclusively with registrar's attached to important government officials including provincial governors of the Empire.
When the Empire dissolved in the 5th century AD the notary continued as an important official in many parts of Europe and during the medieval period in Italy, when the civil law became once again an important organ of many sovereign states and governments, notaries became inextricably involved in those institutions connected with legal matters. Today, in those countries which have legal systems descended from Roman models, including Italy of course, the notary is an important and respected figure.
Gordon Neale in his book "Buying a House in Italy" defines the role of a modern highly qualified Italian notary as follows:
"The notary is a representative of the State and it is his/her duty to register all contracts deeds and titles in the appropriate registry office; collect all appropriate taxes and duties on behalf of the state and be responsible, if in default, for making good any deficit from his/her own pocket."
When we arrived in the office of our notary in Perugia we were shown to a room with large glass windows overlooking the street. It was pouring with rain outside. The furnishings consisted of a large white topped oblong table with a number of stylish black chairs round it and all modern conveniences for projection of documentation on to the wall at the end of the room. Jon and I sat with Laura on the street side of the table and Jackie and her son sat on the opposite side. Soon the notary, a jovial, good humoured fellow in his late 40's, joined us and sat at the head of the table facing the wall where our documents would be projected for us all to check. Everything had been translated in to English so both parties could absorb the detail and after a brief introduction of the purpose of the meeting by the notary proceedings began. Each page of the contract document, in Italian and English, was projected on the screen and read out by the notary; we were asked to comment on any errors or mistakes regarding each page. Essentially it consisted of a title deed with a detailed description of the apartment and the legal matters of title relating to it. When all of this had been gone through and minor matters concerning the odd spelling mistake and correct naming of individuals had all been put right, we were then presented with paper copies to sign. In Italy it seems to be common practice to sign every page of any legal document so a good number of individual signatures can be involved as was the case here. When all of this had been done - it was time to present the cheque drawn in sterling for the balance of the purchase to Jackie and the deed was done. We all shook hands and we were now the new owners of the Professor's apartment in Citta della Pieve. The whole business had taken less than an hour and the sun had come out in the meantime! A good omen surely?
After leaving the notary's office we all went off to Perugia railway station so Jackie and her son could catch a train to Rome and then eventually board a flight back to Gatwick. It had been a pleasant experience meeting them - and so different to purchasing a property in the UK; the almost ceremonial experience of getting everyone round a table to do the business did feel as though it had roots in centuries gone by. I am always intrigued by understanding present human cultural practises in terms of the past and there couldn't be a better example of this notion than this. Meeting and doing business with an Italian notary is to make a direct link with business done in the Italian peninsula over 2000 years ago - fascinating!
Jon and I returned to Citta with Laura, picked up our bags at the Vannucci and we then walked back to the apartment to start our new life there. It had been an interesting day and we were finally alone in the flat for the first time. It seemed huge and rather cavernous, despite the fact we had inherited all the professor's furniture including everything from knives and forks to clean sheets for the beds. We were lucky in that respect and all we needed to do was to go out and buy some provisions at the shop nearby so we could have a glass of wine with a special toast, some home made pasta and enjoy the sun setting over the Tuscan hills - our first true taste of la dolce vita!!
PS. The estate agents we used, Apolloni & Blom, have their office in Via Vannucci, the main street of Citta della Pieve. We found Krister Blom and Laura Valdambrini incredibly helpful through all stages of the buying process and recommend them warmly. Check out their web site - www.apolloniblom.com - and have a look at the wonderful array of properties they have for sale in this part of Umbria.
You might also like to look at www.casatuscany.com which is the website where our search for a property in the area began.
After breakfast at the Vannucci Hotel we checked out and left our bags with the porter to collect later on. Our first stop was to be the apartment itself where we had made arrangements with the Professor's sister-in-law, Jackie, to have a final look at the place and make sure everything was in order which we knew it would be. She had stayed in the apartment the evening before with her youngest son, Chris and we were all to visit the notary's office together later in the morning. It was good to get some fresh air before arriving at the flat and we strolled through the medieval streets of the old town wondering how the day would go. In contrast to the dreadful hail storm of the previous evening, it was a bright sunny morning and the main street bustled with activity as the locals went about their business. It seemed only a matter of minutes before we were ringing the apartment bell and climbing the stairs to the flat. Our inspection took only moments and we were soon sitting down for a chat in the small dining room with the full length doors flung open revealing the amazing view outside. As I gazed out over the Tuscan hills and the Chiana valley I knew this was why we were buying this particular apartment and I couldn't help looking forward to later in the day when we would be returning there as the new owners. Jackie and her son had arrived from London via Perugia airport the previous afternoon and had been entertained by the estate agents that evening. They seemed a bit sad to be leaving everything behind, though I know it was a relief to Jackie to finally get the complex legal work concerning the Professor's estate finally wound up and the and sale of the property completed. I was touched by the fact that she'd left me all the Professor's books on the medieval and Renaissance periods in Italy and many other historical works and travel guides too - most of them in English. There were some interesting looking novels I hadn't read as well. This was a nice gesture and I thought of lots of pleasures to come going through them and selecting stuff to read.
Together we strolled over to the estate agent's office to meet Laura who was to accompany us to the notary's office for the official signing. After we'd all squeezed into her four wheel drive vehicle it took about an hour to get to Perugia and it was interesting to discover this particular notary had his office in a relatively new looking modern building above a coffee shop! We ended up arriving a bit early for our appointment so you can guess where we ended up - downstairs in the cafe where there was time for quick cappucinos all round. Then we headed upstairs to the office on the first floor. In Italy the notary is a respected individual and there is some degree of ceremony involved in any business done in his or her presence. When we had bought a villa in the Costa Blance in Spain several years ago and then sold it again a few years later we had been through a similar process with a notary so we sort of knew what we were in for. It made me think about how this particular role had evolved in the Mediterranean region and its a fascinating vestige from the institutions and offices developed by the Romans during the Republican period.
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| RELIEF SCULPTURE OF A ROMAN SCRIBE TOMB OF FLAVIA SOLVA c 500BC |
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| WAX TABLET AND VARIOUS STYLII THE TOOLS OF A ROMAN SCRIBE |
When the Empire dissolved in the 5th century AD the notary continued as an important official in many parts of Europe and during the medieval period in Italy, when the civil law became once again an important organ of many sovereign states and governments, notaries became inextricably involved in those institutions connected with legal matters. Today, in those countries which have legal systems descended from Roman models, including Italy of course, the notary is an important and respected figure.
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| 15th CENTURY PAINTING OF A CIVIL LAW NOTARY BY ARTIST QUENTIN MASSYS |
"The notary is a representative of the State and it is his/her duty to register all contracts deeds and titles in the appropriate registry office; collect all appropriate taxes and duties on behalf of the state and be responsible, if in default, for making good any deficit from his/her own pocket."
When we arrived in the office of our notary in Perugia we were shown to a room with large glass windows overlooking the street. It was pouring with rain outside. The furnishings consisted of a large white topped oblong table with a number of stylish black chairs round it and all modern conveniences for projection of documentation on to the wall at the end of the room. Jon and I sat with Laura on the street side of the table and Jackie and her son sat on the opposite side. Soon the notary, a jovial, good humoured fellow in his late 40's, joined us and sat at the head of the table facing the wall where our documents would be projected for us all to check. Everything had been translated in to English so both parties could absorb the detail and after a brief introduction of the purpose of the meeting by the notary proceedings began. Each page of the contract document, in Italian and English, was projected on the screen and read out by the notary; we were asked to comment on any errors or mistakes regarding each page. Essentially it consisted of a title deed with a detailed description of the apartment and the legal matters of title relating to it. When all of this had been gone through and minor matters concerning the odd spelling mistake and correct naming of individuals had all been put right, we were then presented with paper copies to sign. In Italy it seems to be common practice to sign every page of any legal document so a good number of individual signatures can be involved as was the case here. When all of this had been done - it was time to present the cheque drawn in sterling for the balance of the purchase to Jackie and the deed was done. We all shook hands and we were now the new owners of the Professor's apartment in Citta della Pieve. The whole business had taken less than an hour and the sun had come out in the meantime! A good omen surely?
After leaving the notary's office we all went off to Perugia railway station so Jackie and her son could catch a train to Rome and then eventually board a flight back to Gatwick. It had been a pleasant experience meeting them - and so different to purchasing a property in the UK; the almost ceremonial experience of getting everyone round a table to do the business did feel as though it had roots in centuries gone by. I am always intrigued by understanding present human cultural practises in terms of the past and there couldn't be a better example of this notion than this. Meeting and doing business with an Italian notary is to make a direct link with business done in the Italian peninsula over 2000 years ago - fascinating!
Jon and I returned to Citta with Laura, picked up our bags at the Vannucci and we then walked back to the apartment to start our new life there. It had been an interesting day and we were finally alone in the flat for the first time. It seemed huge and rather cavernous, despite the fact we had inherited all the professor's furniture including everything from knives and forks to clean sheets for the beds. We were lucky in that respect and all we needed to do was to go out and buy some provisions at the shop nearby so we could have a glass of wine with a special toast, some home made pasta and enjoy the sun setting over the Tuscan hills - our first true taste of la dolce vita!!
PS. The estate agents we used, Apolloni & Blom, have their office in Via Vannucci, the main street of Citta della Pieve. We found Krister Blom and Laura Valdambrini incredibly helpful through all stages of the buying process and recommend them warmly. Check out their web site - www.apolloniblom.com - and have a look at the wonderful array of properties they have for sale in this part of Umbria.
You might also like to look at www.casatuscany.com which is the website where our search for a property in the area began.
It's interesting how the role of notary is so different in America. Here, the notary public's only duty is to witness the signatories' identity: they check your ID, you sign and then he or she affixes a stamp. That is all. And by the way, congratulations on your purchase. Can envy be transmitted through the internet?
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