(1) Auctioning Off a Bit of Tuscany
(2) Italy by Numbers: Potency Kings

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(1) Auctioning Off a Bit of Tuscany
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Recognizing an overwhelming desire to own land under the Tuscan sun, the regional government has decided to auction off over 250 farmhouses and villas -- some starting at 49,000 euro. 

Although agricultural councilor Tito Barbini pointed out that the 264 lots aren't of particular historical value and many are in need of restoration,  leagues of Toscana lovers would probably be interested just the same in snapping up  an abandoned mill in the hills surrounding Arezzo.  An entire village is up for grabs (starting at 300,000 euro) in Casentino, province of Arezzo, while in the Mugello region near Florence, bidding for the Villa al Giogo with surrounding woods will start at 210,00 euro. 

When properties go on the block at the end of this month, it will be the second auction the region has held in two years. Villa Tegoni is undoubtedly the jewel of the auction, near Radicondoli (Siena), with a stunning mosaic courtyard, well, chapel and 60 hectares of farmland. Rumor has it that the Villa, for which bids begin at 2 million euro, has attracted the attention of a member of the English royal family as well as reigning rock king Bono. 

http://www.regione.toscana.it

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(2) Italy by Numbers: Potency Kings
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12% Italian men have erectile problems
35% English men have erectile problems
42% French men have erectile problems
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Italians win the potency prize -- suffering considerably less from erectile snafus than European counterparts. The data comes from the congress of the International Society for Sexual and Impotence Research held in Montreal recently. 

Skeptics assert that Italians may be less open about admitting such an intimate problem but Vincenzo Mirone, president of the Italian Andrology Society, disagrees: "They don't suffer in silence like other nations: over half Italian men solve the problem by talking to their general practitioner, the rest seek out a specialist."