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Most shops, garages and businesses open Tuesday to Saturday from 8 am, close at 12.30 or 1 p.m. for lunch and re-open at 4.30 (5pm during July & August) until 8 p.m. or later. Main supermarkets in nearby Castiglione del Lago now stay open at lunchtime. Many shops are closed on Mondays with larger supermarkets opening from 1pm. Almost everything closes on Sunday except bars, restaurants and delicatessens, but Supermarkets now open Sunday mornings in July & August. Large shops selling household goods open Sunday afternoons and get very busy.
Official holidays, when everything closes, are:
January 1st, January 6th (Epiphany), Easter Monday, April 25th (Liberation Day),
May 1st, August 15th (Ferragosto - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), November 1st (All Saints Day), December 8th (Immaculate Conception), December 25th & 26th. | |
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Credit /Switch/ Master Cards
Italy is still very much a cash society! Don't rely on using credit cards at the supermarkets, they do take them but tend to pretend they are out of order during very busy times! Most general shops now accept credit cards in payment. At both the Etrusco and the Co-op there are Banks where you can change travellers cheques - but these are becoming less popular as the use of electronic cash machines increases.
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The practice of shopping daily in village shops still exists but is slowly changing with the growth of Supermarkets. Independent Butchers can be more expensive than buying meat in supermarkets, but other things are usually competitively priced. Most general stores (Alimentari) and supermarkets now stock most of the things British visitors want such as fresh milk, butter, cereals, fruit juice, tea bags, instant coffee, etc.
There are some things you won't find such as bacon & baked beans! salted butter can be hard to find as Italians prefer unsalted. Much of the bread is unsalted too so tends to go rock hard in a very short time - you buy these loaves by weight or ask for Pane salato, ciabatta, Panini (rolls) and baguettes (svilatini) if you want salted bread.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are seasonal and everything seems to have more taste here.
Meat is cut differently but Pork chops (bracioli di maiale) either on or off the bone, are particularly good. Bifesteak from the Val di Chiana is some of the best T bone steak you could taste but be more adventurous and try the fresh sausages, they are delicious especially on the barbecue. Lamb is traditionally served at Easter and again at Christmas. It is delicious but much smaller than in the UK with bitesize chops so often not worth the effort.
Umbria is famous for its raw hams, salami's and sausages so try some of these at the many delicatessens in the Centro Storico at Castiglione del Lago and take home some of the handmade pasta, jars of truffles and pre-prepared soup mixes for the authentic Italian taste back home.
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In our local villages of Goiella & Porto, which are approx. 4 kms away, there are small supermarkets which are OK for basic shopping including fresh meat, bread and milk.
In nearby Pozzuolo and Viaino there are larger CONAD supermarkets with good fresh meat counters. Pozzuolo is also very good for fresh fruit and vegetables whereas Sergio in Viano does excellent set meals which you can order in the morning and pick up in time for supper.
There are three good-sized Supermarkets in Castiglione del Lago -
CO-OP with good fruit & vegetables and fresh fish & meat counters,
SIDIS - smaller with good deli counter
A & O - at the back of Castiglione , good for wine selection.
There is another large Supermarket in a good shopping Mall (the Etrusco) near Chiusi right by the Chiusi exit/ entrance for the A1 Motorway.
There are two Lidl supermarkets - one in Chiusi, one in Castiglione which sells a variety of goods preferred by English palates - French Croissants, cheap alcohol, special offers.
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Wine - in Castiglione del Lago near the Super Sidis supermarket is the local Cantina where wine growers bring their grapes. You can buy wine for approx. 50p a bottle there or fill up a demijohn from their 'petrol pumps'!! .
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Short scenic rides away there are many vineyards selling wine, It is possible to buy"Vino Nobile" & "Brunello" direct around the Montepulciano and Montalcino areas. Nearer to hand Solismo in the village and our neighbour Stella sell excellent 'quaffing wine',olive oil and honey.
Olive Oil - The nearest Frantoia (Olive press) is in Petrignano. Many 'Agriturisimo's' like us, Stella & Solismo sell our own, subject to availability.
Fruit & Veg - on the road between Pozzuolo & Petrignano a local sells fresh veg which he picks to order -you cannot get fresher than that and his prices are excellent. Every time we go there we come away with a new recipe -after all eating is a very serious business in Italy!
Cheese - Pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) is a local speciality and is probably the nearest to Cheddar. It is often sold on farms around Pienza. Look for the signs as you drive along. There are many shops in Pienza itself selling many different types of Pecorino.
You can enjoy a pleasant drive which takes in both Montepuluciano and Pienza and treat yourself to some great wine and cheese to go with it.
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Markets
The busiest time of the week in small towns is "market day" and this is an interesting time to visit the smaller places as you can combine being part of the local life style with looking at historic buildings etc.
There are always stalls with fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese and meats such as Porcetta, salamis and prociutto crudo ( similar to Parma ham), plus clothes, shoes and household goods. They start early in the morning and finish before 1 p.m. leaving lots of time for sightseeing |
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Local Markets
Monday - Chiusi Scalo (near railway station), Tavernelle
Tuesday - Chiusi Citta (the old, high, town), Sinalunga, Perugia
Wednesday - Siena (all day), Castiglione del Lago, Chianciano
Thursday - Camucia, Montpulciano, Magione, Lucignano, Trequanda
Friday - Pienza, Sarteano, Torrita di Siena, Montalcino, Castiglione Fiorentino
Saturday - Cortona, Arrezzo, Citta della Pieve, Cetona, Bettolle, Montepulciano Stazione.
On the 1st Sunday of the month - Arrezzo hosts an Antique Market. This is a huge market that takes over the whole of the old town centre. Fascinating to see but very expensive.
In August Montepulciano hosts a summer fair, November Perugia hosts a week long Fair 'Feira del Morte' (fair of the dead) both of which sell just about everything and there are Christmas markets at Citta della Pieve and Perugia.
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To access free/subsidised healthcare during your stay UK residents will need a form E111 that is obtainable from your Post Office. Other European countries are issuing healthcare cards with magnetic strips which will entitle them to reciprocal health care in each others country.
We have a very good cottage hospital in Castiglione del Lago and if you have any medical problems while on holiday here then just visit the Pronto Socorso ( emergency/minor injuries). Take your pasport with you and there will be a E25.00 charge. There is also an English doctor who currently provides private healthcare in Cortona and Castiglione del Lago and we have an excellent English Dentist also situated in Castiglione del Lago
Pharmacies ar identified by a red cross and we have a very good one in Gioiella. The pharmacist is used much more than in England for help/advise on minor ailments with Doctors and Hospitals reserved for more serious illness. In case of holiday ailments they should be your first port of call.
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Petrol Stations
Petrol is quite expensive currently it is about €1.215 a litre. Petrol can be obtained during the same hours that shops are open and is usually served by an attendant, who will also check your oil and water levels if asked. In Towns petrol can also be obtained from many larger Petrol stations on a 24 hour basis, using a self service system ( you put cash/ cards in a central machine to the value of the Petrol you want, select the pump and then fill up). Smaller petrol stations may not accept credit cards so ask first! |  |
