Fresh figs!

We love fresh figs, and these were just gorgeous.  There are lots of fig trees around the village, growing out of stone walls.  The figs never seem to be ripe when I am looking, so these probably came from the south of Italy. But the leaves came from the village!

Discovering glorious views at the north end of Lake Como

Il campanello - the little doorbell

This is the original brass doorbell that we named the house after. This is because we think it's the very last one left in the village. Just a tiny touch of the old days that lends a special character to the house.  We have recently had the entrance renovated, but have kept the old door and the bell as a reminder that the house is actually over 300 years old.  Thankfully, there shouldn't be too much else that does that!

And here it is polished up.

Sunset shadow

Sometimes, when the air is very clear, we see the shadow of the mountain behind us projected onto the mountain in front.

Builders in!

Keith and I have been at the house over Easter to do a bit of walking and get the house ready for the new season. We had decided to have the entrance corridor renovated as the walls were showing signs of age. The builders said they would do the work in March.

Of course, they didn't start until the week before Easter, and so we have had them with us nearly every day! It has been good for our Italian to learn more builder vocabulary, in more ways than one.
We're sure it's going to look great for you when you arrive.

They have also covered the old earth floor in the 300 year old cellar with slabs.  We think the wall at the back hides a passage to a larger cellar further back, which is now underneath one of the neighbouring houses.

On the mountain above the house

Just above Acquaseria is the tiny chapel of St Amate, with stunning views of Lake Como, Lake Lugano and the Swiss mountains. To get there, go up to Breglia, follow the road up the mountain to the car park, and walk (about an hour). Here's a video we took last winter -

http://bit.ly/viewfromstamate