What areas of Italy have you been focusing your property search on? According to our website data these are the Top 10 most popular regions. Has your favourite region made the list?
Tuscany
Tuscany is located in central Italy and stretches from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Homes in San Gimignano, Tuscany
Its landscape, artistic heritage and beautiful cities make Tuscany the most popular location for property buyers. Medieval villages, historical towns, castles and farm buildings, are scattered all across the region.
FIND a property in Tuscany
While the cities of Florence, Lucca, Siena and Pisa are still the most popular places to start a property search, many house buyers discover they can get more house for their money in the far north and south of the region. There are some gorgeous hilltop towns within an easy drive of Siena that are attracting particular attention, such as Montepulciano and Pienza.
For innovative ideas on raising the money to buy your Italian home, read How to Pay for an Italian Property.
Heading into the hills above Lucca, the town of Bagni di Lucca and nearby villages are offering great value properties. While many people dream of a Tuscan farm house with panoramic views, a town house can also make a great holiday home and still enjoy those views of the Tuscan hills.
Abruzzo
In Abruzzo you can be looking in wonder at an antique fishing structure on the coast in the morning and admiring a mountain top castle in the afternoon. The culture and food give the whole region a warm homely feel, and the local people are exceptionally friendly. The hilltop villages come alive in summer with festivals and food events.
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While L’Aquila was a popular and beautiful town, the earthquake there in 2009 appears to have affected property prices across the region. The low prices are a great opportunity for those looking for a cheap holiday home. The nearer you get to the coast the lower the risk of seismic activity, and so most people start their search at the seaside town of Pescara and work their way inland from there.
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As the region’s airport is at Pescara this is a great place to start. In Chieti, Just 20 minutes’ drive from the airport you can find detached country houses from €106,000.
Puglia
Apulia is the “heel of Italy’s boot”, with 540 miles (860km) of coastline with golden beaches, rocky cliffs and caves. Holiday home owners can fly into Bari or Brindisi airport to enjoy the mild winters and hot summers.
Ostuni, in Puglia
A top destination is Ostuni, “the white city” with views to the sea. Here you can enjoy days at the beach and evenings in the restaurants and bars or enjoying festivals and concerts in the piazza. Small apartments in Ostuni can be found from €55,000 and from less than €60,000 you can buy a villa in the countryside. Large towns in Apulia, such as Lecce, Fasano, Ostuni and Francavilla Fontana, have all the amenities you need for year-round living, including supermarkets and hospitals.
FIND your property in Puglia
It’s possible to find country houses with large gardens or olive groves just a short drive from town. The countryside around Martina Franca, Cisternino, Locrotondo and Alberobello is popular with British buyers, due to the rolling hills and cone shaped trulli houses. House buyers who want a large property with potential for conversion to a hotel or holiday apartments are investing in Masserie (fortified farm houses) in the southern half of the region, called Salento.
Check out this large masseria needing renovation, for €270,000.
Umbria
Umbria borders Tuscany, Lazio and Le Marche. Often called the country’s green heart, it’s known for its medieval hill towns, dense forests and local cuisine, particularly truffles and wines. This region comprises mainly hills, mountains, valleys and plains and extends along the Tiber’s central basin.
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Lake Trasimeno is a popular area and is close to the regional capital, Perugia and its airport. This vibrant city is surrounded by enchanting medieval towns such as the Citta della Pieve which is spread across a hill top with breath-taking views. In the province of Terni the town of Orvieto is rich in artistic and cultural heritage dating back to the Etruscan civilization and boasts a majestic cathedral.
FIND a property in Umbria
If you are looking for a traditional house with character, Umbria won’t disappoint. You can find town houses from €70,000 and country houses from €290,000. If you can’t afford a whole farmhouse you can buy a portion of one from €90,000 or a farmhouse to renovate from little over €100,000. There is also potential to live in Umbria and make an income from tourism, such as this property in Orvieto for €200,000.
Sicily
Sicily is the largest Island in the Mediterranean and is located off the toe of the Italian boot. This sunny island offers nature, history, culture, good food, charming towns and beautiful beaches. As a popular tourist destination, there is no wonder that so many people start searching for a property here after – of during – their holiday.
Sicilian port of Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani.
This is one island where you won’t get bored of exploring, there is so much to see. Have you seen Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, the cathedrals in Palermo and Cefalu, the Baroque monuments in Noto and the view of Mount Etna?
LOOK for a property in Sicily
Taormina is a popular choice for those wanting a panoramic sea view and the town and roman amphitheatre are outstandingly beautiful. The bargain properties tend to be inland, but all around the island there are great places to find a holiday home in the sun and at very good prices. This three-bedroom holiday villa close to beaches is just €190,000.
Liguria
Liguria is in north-western Italy, bordering with France. The region features impressive mountains and lovely rolling hills overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The pretty pastel coloured houses clinging to the coast of The Cinque Terre are among the most photographed in Italy, and the area has long been a favourite with hikers. The characteristic rocky coast also has small coves, and beaches of fine golden sand.
The Italian Riviera stretches across almost 200 miles of coastline, from the exclusive beaches surrounding Portofino and Pariggi, to picturesque fishing villages like Camogli. The most famous tourist resorts of Liguria include Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante and Chiavari. Genoa with its historical palaces, museums, art exhibitions and large aquarium is a city that combines ancient and modern to successfully tell the story of its maritime history.
Sanremo, known as the city of flowers, is popular for shopping and it’s famous Music Festival. A San Remo apartment can cost from €420,000, but there are places along the coast where sea view apartments start at around €200,000. Inland village houses can be found from €120,000.
Lombardy
Lombardy lies in the north of the country, sharing a border with Switzerland. Lombardy’s wide range of landscapes, include breath-taking mountains, rolling hills and the lowlands of the Po valley. The most searched property locations in Lombardy are around Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore.
Milan’s airports make the region easy to get to all year round and the lake areas offer relaxation and the opportunity to enjoy trekking, horse riding, mountain biking, golf and water sports. It’s also possible to visit the mountains for a spot of skiing, snowboarding or a thermal spa.
A property with a lake view is a popular choice and can also be a good investment when you rent it to tourists. Prices vary greatly depending on how close you are to the lake and popular towns. A lake view property could cost from €400,000 and up into the millions. But, if you are willing to drive that little bit further from the airport and look up the hills, it’s possible to find cheaper properties with panoramic views for much less. This lake view property on the banks of Lake Como is priced at €195,000.
Piedmont
Piedmont is in Italy’s northwest, and borders Switzerland and France. Piedmont is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, with the highest peaks and largest glaciers in Italy. This incredible landscape is home to ski resorts such as Lattea and Sestriere and picturesque valleys. The city of Turin is full of history and cultural heritage in an area that boasts the famous residences of the Royal House of Savoy as well as castles and spa towns such as Acqui Terme.
FIND a property in Piedmont
It’s possible to find countryside farmhouses from around 80,000 and apartments in Aqui Terme for about the same price. From 250,000 you can find a family sized home in the hills. The farm houses are generally large with character arches and a barn.
Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna lies between the River Po to its north and the Apennine Mountains (to its south). It is one of the most fertile and productive regions of Italy.
Those who love sun, sea, fun and entertainment choose Rimini on the Romagna Riviera. If you like to be surrounded by nature the beautiful landscape between Parma and Piacenza is a great place to start your search. In the Apennine hills you’ll find properties with the most amazing panoramic views. There are also some superb cities to explore, including Parma which has been named Italy’s 2020 capital of Culture. Also discover the Renaissance splendour of Ferrara, the mosaics in Ravenna, the Romanesque cathedral of Modena and the ceramics of Faenza. Of course, a must for sports car enthusiasts is the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
There are detached countryside properties for sale from €65,000.
Molise
FIND a property in Molise
Have you discovered Molise yet? Foreign buyers are just beginning to notice this tiny region sandwiched between Abruzzo and Apulia and are realising that their small budget can get them a detached property with panoramic views. When you see the unspoilt natural landscape, archaeological sites, abbeys, small towns and castles you’ll be amazed that there are still hidden gems like this. Did you know there is even a Roman settlement, called Saepinum, that has a complex of baths and a forum. Besides the picturesque coastal town of Termoli there are plenty of sandy beaches to unroll a towel on and enjoy space and relaxation.
Between the Adriatic sea and the Apennine mountains the countryside and villages are dotted with properties waiting to be renovated and transformed into beautiful homes. Property prices start from €50,000, like this three-bedroom townhouse.
