Property Hunting For Multi-Million Dollar Ruins In Chiantishire
10/12/2007 09:10 a.m.
It may never be known whether this anecdote really occurred or if it is just an urban legend, however it is certainly not far from reality, and specialized travel agents can most likely confirm it: A few years ago one of the many wealthy British couples driving around the specific area of Tuscany that has come to be known as Chiantishire come across a decrepit, half-collapsed ancient farmhouse with a Vendesi (For Sale) sign in the front. They stop and find the owner, a Tuscan farmer nearly as old as his ruin. In broken Italian, they ask the farmer how much he wants for his property. The farmer replies Five Million. The British couple is surprised by the high price, but they offer him Three Million. The old farmer tries to explain that he really can't sell it that cheap and has to get Five Million. The Brits insist and the old farmer agrees to meet with them the next day in town at the lawyer's office. At the meeting, the lawyer insists through winks and taps under the table that the old farmer accept the Three Million offer and the farmer reluctantly agrees. The papers are quickly signed and the lawyer then explains to the old farmer that the Brits had just paid Three Million Euros ($4.5 Million) while the farmer was asking Five Million Lira ($3,000)!!!
These sort of outlandish valuations are the norm in Chiantishire, which has seen a literal avalanche of Pounds Sterling falling on its fabled rolling hills. Multi-million dollar renovation projects have turned stables and farms where horses and cows once bedded into ultra luxurious "Tuscan Villas" for the newly moneyed gentry of Great Britain. As to why Chiantishire has been chosen as the exclusive area for these conversions is not completely clear. The rolling hills of neighboring Le Marche and even northern Lazio are virtually indistinguishable from Tuscany, but old wrecked agricultural buildings in those provinces are still fetching appropriately cheap prices. Not so with Chiantishire, where it is not at all unusual to find rich Brits entering into bidding wars for what are little more than piles of rubble. The old real estate saying of location, location, location has never been more appropriate than here. Your travel agent can help you explore not only the well-moneyed hills of Chiantishire but the exceptional scenery to be found throughout this magnificent part of Italy.
So thorough has the de facto annexation of this part of Tuscany to the United Kingdom that area store shelves now offer Marmite next to the Nutella and local restaurants advertise Sunday Roasts with Yorkshire Pudding. Right Hand Drive Bentleys are the new Fiat 500s of the region and even the Tuscans whose families have lived in the area for centuries can now be heard exclaiming "flippin' 'ell, mate!" Fortunately the invading AngloSaxon hordes have had the consideration to appropriately enjoy the local vintages. They do have a tendency to bring several cases of Carling Lager in their car "boots" however! You don't have to bring British beer to enjoy Chiantishire and will be much more impressed by the superlative wines of this very special region that your travel agent can assist you in visiting.
Tags: real estate tours, wine tour travel agents, property hunting travel
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