News

The Italian Home Office yesterday issued a statement saying that the matter of reciprocity for UK home buyers in Italy has been resolved, and that it is perfectly legal for Brits to buy houses in Italy, and will remain so. I waited till today to publish this due to April Fool connotations!

If you're travelling and need a Covid test to fly (PCR) with a certificate in English to satisfy the UK authorities, you can get it done in Modica at the centro analisi Caruso on Corso Umberto, which saves a trek to Palermo or Catania.

From tomorrow 1 February, Sicily returns to be orange - still no cafe society and you cant eat out in the evenings. You can only leave your comune for necessity, or to go to Zara if you dont have one on your doorstep. No going out between 10pm and 5am.

Sicily will be 'orange' until 15th January and then who knows...... There is to be a ministerial decree early next week which will serve to confuse an already mystified population all the more......

Rumours swirl - Sicily will be a red zone for three weeks from Monday. TBC.
You will need a negative test to enter the UK from the weekend done within 72 hours of travel, and will still have to quarantine on arrival for 10 days. A further negative test in the UK will reduce the quarantine period to 5 days.

The 'Deal' - here's what we know so far:
EHIC cards - valid until their expiry and then they will be replaced with a new version which offer basically the same safeguards.
At the moment it looks like you wont need an International Drivers Permit for Europe, at least for next year, but its not clear whether you will need a Green Card.
You will be allowed to stay in Europe for 90 out of every 180 days. More than that and you will need a visa.
Banking services look like they will take years to sort out - so at the moment any UK financial institution without a base in , say, France, will not be allowed to operate there.
Insurance - another service which hasnt been covered by the deal - means that very few UK insurers will now be able to offer insurance in Europe.
No more pet passports, but UK pets will have part two listed status, so will be able to travel if they have their vet certificates within 10 days of travelling.
It will be undoubtedly more difficult to watch UK tv in Europe than before.
More in the Buying In... update which will be sent out very soon. ... See more

The new decree issued yesterday makes travel over Xmas virtually impossible. From 10 December, any traveller to Italy must provide a negative test result obtained within the preceding 48 hours at the gate of the departing airport. From 21 Dec to 6 Jan, anybody arriving in Italy must quarantine for between 5 and 10 days depending on test results. From 21 December to 6 Jan it will not be possible to leave your region unless to return to your residence (no second homes). For 25/26 Dec and 1 Jan, you cannot leave your comune. There remains a curfew in force from 10 pm to 5 am, and from 10 pm to 7 am on 31 Dec/1 Jan. ... See more

In a parliamentary answer yesterday the UK government confirmed that from 2021 British citizens can only stay in Europe for a cumulative 90 days out of a 180 day period. This is because Britain wants to 'take back her borders'. Europeans going to the UK from Jan 1 will be able stay there for 6 months consecutively. The govt confirmed that they would not be asking for a level playing field.

From tomorrow Friday 5th November Sicily becomes an orange zone. This means you cannot enter or depart from Sicily, you cannot move out of your own comune unless for specific reasons, you cannot be out and about from 10pm to 5am. All bars, restaurants, gelateries, pasticcerie remain closed. Shopping centres shut on festivi and pre festivi - (ie Saturday and sunday) Museums, galleries, cinemas and theatres are all closed. Barbers and hairdressers remain open. This will be reviewed weekly.

All change - the new ministerial decree says bars and restaurants shut at 6pm, (but can stay open at weekends) and pools and gyms must close. - So in Sicily, there is lockdown from 2300, things shut at 6pm and shopping on Sunday ceases at 1400. No icecream after 1800, but you can go to the seaside, though preferably in your own comune.

The new Sicily rules are: Curfew from 2300 to 0500. Pools and Gyms to close by 2000. Sunday trading allowed till 1400. Public transport to run at 50% capacity.

There is now a COVID test centre at Palermo airport for arrivals from the UK,France, Belgium, Spain, parts of Greece and the Czech Republic. Tests are free with results in 15 minutes. Follow the signs after baggage reclaim.

The second update for Buying in Sicily 2020 was sent out last week. If you are eligible for the updates but havent received it, please let me know.