Romania is sometimes being criticized for its old and derelict buildings, for the lack of interest in restoring such properties, but also for replacing many old things with something straight up new, which lacks a soul.

I have seen so many countryside homes, beautiful, old houses now ready to fall, as people have left their villages in search of a better life elsewhere. I can understand the need to build a better destiny elsewhere, but I hope the wheels will turn and that Romania will get something back.

For example, there are over a million Romanians who work in Italy, and I believe many of them plan to return to Romania one day – many have done so already, some, however, were forced to, as the grass is not always greener on the other side. They plan to build houses and businesses back in their home country, and hopefully, when that day comes, they will have learned some of the better ways of the West (not generalizing, though).

I hope to one day see in Romania a lot of what I have recently seen just outside the city of Verona, where Maria Giulia da Sacco restored a 16th century property, but somehow managed to keep the soul of the house intact. Called Villa La Valverde, this place hosts events – including wine tasting events in an amazing cellar, travel writing workshops, as well as gardening classes. I am yet to see something like this in Romania – if you know a place similar to this, please write me or comment here – I would love to see it.

I know that many people restored old villas in Bucharest, and even some properties elsewhere in the country (Prince Charles' properties), but in many cases it feels like fresh paint has been added onto an old wall, and the passing of time was somehow canceled.

While on a tour of La Valverde, I noticed how the owner had managed to balance new and old so well. Glass windows and doors living in harmony with centuries-old ceiling beams, a healthy balance of everything new and old. Even in the part of the house where she lives, Maria Giulia, who is an architect and landscape artist, managed to install some Ikea furniture alongside older furniture items, and on the background of walls partially covered in old, original frescoes.

In the wine cellar and in the tinazzara (above the cellar where grapes were pressed to produce must), the stone walls were treated with lime, the solid flooring in wood has been restored, the furniture and fittings have the romantic feel of items salvaged from the attic. The old oak barrels and the vats in which the grapes were pressed still occupy their original positions.

Perhaps Romania does not have so many things left from its history-rich past like Italy does, and of course the country's territory was not the core of a large empire (we were in fact at the margins of the Roman Empire), but we too have riches from the past that can be brought to light, and used in a modern, intelligent way. I dream of seeing more of similar projects emerge in Romania, and living the day when Romanians return home with enough resources, ideas and love for their past to dig it up and make it shine again.

By Corina Chirileasa, corina@romania-insider.com