La scrittrice Myra Robinson riflette sulla sua vita negli ultimi 16 anni mentre viveva in Veneto. La signora si è trasferita in Italia dopo essere andata in pensione e ha deciso di acquistare un piccolo appartamento a 56 km da Venezia a Battaglia Terme, paese in cui è stata molto coinvolta con Venezia e diverse organizzazioni. Sfortunatamente, ha deciso per vari motivi che è ora di vendere l'appartamento e fare altre cose della sua vita. Vorrebbe vendere questo appartamento a qualcuno che apprezza il Veneto, si innamorerà del suo appartamento, e vorrebbe avere una vita piena e felice in Italia. Per più informazioni, invia una mail.

When I took early retirement 16 years ago, I was determined to do something amazing for the rest of my active life. It was to be a challenge involving learning a new language and experiencing a different way of life.

It wasn’t hard to choose Italy. We’d spent many happy summers in different regions of Italy, and I thought I had finally found the ideal undiscovered region where I’d like to try my luck. The Euganean Hills is a beautiful area of extinct volcanoes and hot springs hardly visited by tourists, yet only 35 miles from Venice. My guidebook said there were three spa towns: two thriving with hotels geared to mud cures, and one almost forgotten. 

“Got to go there!” was my decision, and I’ve never for one moment regretted it. “Don’t be stupid!” warned my partner, but I did it anyway. Property was affordable and there were no tourists. I bought my second home in Battaglia Terme, a small apartment with a fabulous view from the balcony, and gradually accumulated a network of friends for advice, odd jobs, helping with perplexing bureaucracy, but mainly just being there for chats over aperitivi or meals in their gardens.

My life changed from the very first year. Speaking the language (not fluently, but well enough) has endeared me to the locals, especially when I offered English classes in the library and had a market stall selling typical English items (China tea sets, cutlery, tea…) at the annual Canal Festival. It meant I was invited to help with the grape and olive harvests, join the rowing club, and generally take part in anything and everything going on in the area.

I got to know the owners of a couple of magnificent castles, and a palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice. Battaglia has its own station and direct trains to Venice take 50 minutes. I even helped to save the little local canal museum from closure by twinning it with a similar English museum thereby allowing them to claim a European grant. For that they gave me the title ‘Queen of the Waterways’! 

However, all good things must come to an end. We’re older and perhaps wiser, realizing that traveling so often can be tiring, and an apartment on the second floor without a lift is something we never considered when I bought it. I’ve decided to sell my beloved apartment, the good thing being that we’ve made so many friends that we can always return to stay with them. This autumn I’ll contact a real estate agent and see if there is any interest. It would be ideal as a second home because I’ll be leaving behind furniture, bedding, kitchen equipment, washing machine etc., so it will be move-in ready. It may almost break my heart, but if I know the buyer will love the place as much as I do, it will be a comfort.

It there’s a reader out there who’d like to find out more, I’ll be happy to correspond with details. Property is inexpensive at the moment and I have written so many articles (and a book) about the area that there’s a lot of information. 

Please feel free to contact me either via my website, myrarobinson.com or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Myra’s apartment is the top right unit.