Leanne01

We are planning on moving to Sicily, preferably the Taormina area, next year once my son has completed his GCSE's. He wants to continue his studies in Sicily which will include history and politics.
I am interested in relocating my cake decorating business here, which would include running workshops, renting equipment such as tins and stands and selling items such as tools, cutters, sugarpaste etc.
An opportunity has also come up near Mascali which would give us a chance to run horse riding trips around Mount Etna.

I would appreciate any advice and views on which would be the better business to pursue, if any, or both! Also where would be best for my son to continue his studies. Anything else you think we need to know will be appreciated too. Thank you in advance.

modicasa

You like a challenge! To be honest horse riding is probably a better bet than cake decorating even though it requires greater input. Cakes as we know them are not in great demand here - people plump for fruit flans, and lots of cream over icing always. And they wont change easily.... Now we have Bakeoff here - there is a slight increase in interest. There are shops around which sell cake stuff already, even in smaller towns. On the other hand a well run 'maneggia' is hard to come by, but it depends where - you will have to have a decent flux of guests and nice walks, beaches to ride on.
As to schooling - He will need to go to Liceo if he's doing history until he's diplomato, which is a big challenge at his age - especially as schooling is in Italian only. Politics is not taught in school, and frankly the history teaching is dire. If you were to wait until he had done his A level and he went straight to a university he would have much more chance....
Good luck

Lorna at Vicenza

and I agree about the cakes and I hate jellied fruit flans and that awful ricotta custard like stuff. My friends have complimented and tried any cake I've ever made. The kids have taken cupcakes and cake pops to school which went down a treat as something new, but most of the decorations, lolly sticks etc I bought in England.

sunnysider

Am always interested in your posts modicasa and I think you've touched on this before, but maybe gone all polite when I've asked a question.

But I can't help it - I'm intrigued by your statement, maybe because I have come across a few Italians with what seem to me to be curious historical views.

Care to say more/educate me?

Am nervously aware that this might take things off the OP's original question but it can return later.

Leanne01

Thank you for your replies and advice. Yes I love a challenge lol. The riding school seems the better option and it is what my heart wants to go with. I think with the correct research and based in the right area it would work as we were unable to find anything similar on any of our visits. Also I can keep running my cake business online for current customers. Waiting an extra year for my son to complete his A levels makes sense if it will give him a better chance. He has taught himself basic Italian and now we are both having Italian lessons. He has always been fascinating with Italy and feels he "belongs there" but I'd like to make the move has easy as possible for him. Thank you once again.

highlander1

Be sure to look carefully at the tax implications in running a business from Italy.

Capo Boi

'Be sure to look carefully at the tax implications in running a business from Italy.'

Good advice. But, if you are thinking of a horse riding enterprise, the insurance costs can easily be way over €10,000 even for the smallest school. Before you do anything, I'd advise you to gain credible quotes. For a kids's Shetland, you can easily pay €1,000 for public rider insurance. Multiply by a few horses....and maybe that's why there are no schools in your vicinity. It's very difficult to ask up to €45 for self insurance onto your riding costs.

modicasa

Here there are very few good maneggia - the best were owned by foreigners, bascially becasue the horses were treated better, and better understood. And there is a demand, both for stabling facilities and for horse riding holidays - but as I said before it does depend where. Tourists on the whole arent willing to drive more than 30 mins from where they're staying so ifyou are in the middle of nowhere you will have a tough time.

History teaching: The text books are ancient, and take little notice of history, its more a denial of previous politics and a talking up of failures. When Mack Smith became available in Italian, many Sicilians I know were astonished that that was how the rest of the world saw history, because here its taught through particularly rose tinted italian specs, and has no bearing on what actually happened. Italys part in WW1 for example is purely taught from an Italian point of view - that Italy was an ally and maltreated by the other allies - they forget to mention that Italy joined late, and then tried to change the agreed goalposts, before stamping its foot and going off to occupy land that it had no claim to at all. You only have to look at some of the street signs in ITaly to realise that the people they are named after are of 'dubious' quality. ITs that thing of picking what you like and ignoring the rest, that other countries dont really do. Name a street after a facist 'poet' youd be in trouble for the fascist bit - here they only concentrate on the poet. I have been told variously, that Churchill was a huge admirer of Mussolini but then changed his mind and betrayed Benito, after promising him military support; that Italian intervention in WW1 was the only reason the allies won, that the battle of lepanto was the most significant historical event ever, Shakespeare was Sicilian, .. you get the picture - its important that Italy is important, and if that means altering the facts then its ok...

highlander1

that Italy was an ally and maltreated by the other allies - they forget to mention that Italy joined late, and then tried to change the agreed goalposts, before stamping its foot and going off to occupy land that it had no claim to at all.

So true .

lindanoto

The problems that I have personally experienced with having horses in Sicily is that they must be kept in high security conditions (anti-theft wise horses are stolen all the time ) A decent farrier is almost impossible to find (but costs the same as one in Milano) and can leave you with a lame animal (even though here they will pop around on a head bobbing horse all day long here) and folks want to see their child jumping a 3ft course after four lessons. There are plenty of sicilian barns already doing that. Depending on your background/experience with horses you will be alarmed at what you see here. If you want to do the trail rides keep in mind that the terrain is very rocky and barefoot horses are not an option. Gaining access to land is becoming harder. Coming from a background of A circuit barns I maybe had to lower my expectations a bit but I have my doubts it would be a way to make a living here even if you are willing to look the other way and do it "sicilian style" just my personal opinion (with personal experience)

lindanoto

What we need here is a good quality dog/cat boarding facility! There is a huge need for this. I would glady drive my pets 2 -3 hours distance if it meant they were to stay at a good kennel with proper care. It does not exist anywhere here that I have found.

Leanne01

Thank you again for your replies and advice. Before I decide anything I will always thoroughly look into everything involved and then look into it some more, including tax, insurance, expenses etc. I am an animal lover so the animals health and well being will always be the most important thing and the animals will always come first. I was looking into horseriding only because the opportunity had come up that we could run some stables next year. We actually talked about a boarding facility first as we were surprised at the number of cats and dogs that roam freely around Sicily but we didn't get very good feedback on it so didn't explore it further. Our family already run a daycare park and pet sitting/walking/boarding service in the UK. Cats and dogs have always been our life and we love working and living with them so maybe we should go back to our original idea! We would offer a pickup and drop off service for whatever business we decide on as I know how much this can help customers out.

highlander1

I hope you have a lot of courage and understamding about animal welfare.
The animal sutuation in Italy, and unfortunatly in the south is dire.
Search for cani randagi and canili lager , you will be upset to know what is going on in part of Italy.
If you are an animal lover, please search the subject carefully, and be prepared for a shock..., a big one !

If you thing you can cope and help, well... fantastic !

37100

Up north, we know a kennel doing well boarding over weight dogs while their owners are on holiday. They put them on a diet and offer water therapy etc.

Leanne01

I was shocked at what I found myself but I will look more into it, thank you. We live for our dogs (our furbabies) and if there is any way we can help any animal we will. Private boarding, daycare and pet sitting is what we would like to do, would be even better if we could include neutering for strays and a rehoming centre. But I am fully aware of the lack of help and funds available. I am an active member of many animal charities including both government and non-government funded organisations with a few specialising in cat and dog rescue worldwide. Needless to say I will be approaching them for advice and guidance as this is something I feel very passionate about.