After 25 years of searching, the big day finally arrived. On 5 February 2026 we sat down with Bob and Ian at the notary's office and officially became the owners of Casal dei Fichi. Three days earlier we had sold our house in the Netherlands, and even with a cup of coffee and a friendly chat that took only about 20 minutes.
By now we know that there is no point being in a hurry in Italy — it only creates stress. The purchase of Casal dei Fichi took around three hours. We sat around a large table with roughly 20 people who talked enthusiastically, and every so often something in the deed had to be changed. At first we thought people were arguing, but it turned out to be simply the volume and temperament of people getting things organised. It was great fun to experience, and afterwards we celebrated the successful completion with Bob and Ian over a meal in Montegiorgio.
