It’s hugely encouraging that every week more people are reading the Villasfor2 ‘About Abruzzo’ blog which I started writing about a month after our arrival in Italy in early October 07.

I know from your mails that you regard me and Pauline as a mix of brave, crazy, misguided and/or visionary, but the simple fact is that we wanted somewhere new to live and to run the kind of small, low-key, laid-back villa rental place that we were never quite able to find ourselves…

(Click on the headline title for the full story - with pictures !)

All but the very smallest villages have a regular weekly market - in Casoli, just 4 miles away from your Villas for 2 base, it’s every Friday - but if you want the full-on Abruzzo market experience, head off to Casalbordino’s regular Sunday morning extravaganza. The town itself is delightful; a few miles inland from the Adriatic coast with some fine old streets and buildings.