Italian property investors could be interested to hear that the winter in Florence could be on course to be an enjoyable one.

Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany and is one of Italy's finest cities. Winter is a good time to visit Florence and it can be wetter the average temperature is around 50° and still plenty of sunny days. The winter in Florence, a programme of events is held between November and February, which will offer those visiting or living in the city many chances to enjoy music, art, theatre and cultural events. This is positive reading for rental investors as such an event help increase the number of visitors to the city in the winter months, resulting in high occupancy rates and rental yields.

Italy is becoming increasingly more popular and there are many properties available at good prices, either brand new developments or old style properties and every type of accommodation imaginable from farm houses to castles, apartments to villas, and palaces to ruins. What ever investors are looking for Florence can offer it. Prices are stable and can vary as much as the type of property available and whether investors are looking to the city centre or the nearby towns and villages. The average price for a 2 bedroom villa on the outskirts of Florence is approximately 270,000 Euros.

In related news, Property Abroad's survey has shown that Italy is becoming more popular with people looking to buy overseas and it has climbed two places to sixth most popular destination for most searched countries on its portal.

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Sicily has been hailed as a popular haunt for celebrities and film stars, according to a media outlet.

According to the Daily Mail, the Italian region offers a number of attractions, such as good weather, culture and natural beauty. As a result, it is becoming a favored haunt of many well-known personalities, including Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Cruise who have chosen to buy property in areas such as the islands of Panarea and Pantelleria.

Sicily has range of properties available for prospective buyers, from bargain run-down houses which can be renovated to luxurious mansions. The region is suitable for those who prefer to avoid over-built areas as the region is unspoilt and there are many baroque and neo-classical buildings ready to be converted into apartments.

Additionally, a bonus of owning a property in Sicily is the island's popularity with the tourists, which means high returns can be made by renting the home to either foreign or Italian tourists during the summer, reports shelteroffshore.com

Meanwhile, Luca Santoro, from House & Loft told the Daily Mail that in the next 15 years there will be huge changes in the Sicily property market making it increasingly similar to the market in Sardinia.

This comes shortly after the Daily Telegraph has reported that golf tourism is becoming popular on the island with currently two courses and another three are in planning.

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Italian property investors could be interested to hear that the country's winemakers are on course to become the world's top producers of wine which suggests the economy is improving, it has been reported.

According to statement released by Coldiretti lobby estimates, the production of Italian wine is up 8 percent over 2007 to 4.7 billion liters. France was the world leader last year and Italy is expected to seize the top spot as wine production fell in France by five per cent in the last 12 months.

The Global demands for wine is beginning to rise at a faster pace than the current production levels and Property investors view that the investment in Italy is a significant opportunity over the long term to supplement its ongoing commitment to the wine production. Coldiretti spokesperson Domenico Bosco told the Guardian that Italy is the world's biggest exporter by volume now.

According to Property Abroad's latest index, Italy climbed two places to sixth most popular destination for the most-searched for countries on its portal. According to chief analyst Liam Bailey, the country's success rests on its status as a secure and established property market. Italy’s exchange rate stability as it is within Euro zone and the country's historic, cultural and architectural heritage gives guarantees over the solidity of property values.

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The Italian property market is set to experience a very busy year in 2009, according to a property specialist firm.

InCalabria, which specialises in property in Southern Italy has stated that southern Italy particularly Calabria is set to see a wave of new investors in the coming months despite the credit crunch. Property expert Dennis Onstenk, director of InCalabria, has said that the area will experience a boost through increasing numbers of people wanting to buy property.

He said that the "good weather", attractive coastline and "strong rental potential", which would encourage people looking to invest in property in Italy. The beachfront property in Calabria can be bought for "less than half" of the average price of a home in the UK, themovechannel.com reports. This has prompted the incalabria firm to predict that Calabria will become one of the most popular investment markets in the Mediterranean.

Commenting on the investment trends, Rhiannon Williamson, director of Amberlamb said that Calabria's market is newly accessible and is less mature and is among those that offer the "best chance" for investors to achieve capital growth.

In related news, in Property Abroad's latest index, Italy climbed to sixth most popular destination for the most-searched for countries on its portal.

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Italy is becoming more popular for its beautiful landscape with people looking to buy property abroad, according to a property expert.

The Guardian's Bob Maddams recently took a holiday in the Marche region of Italy, where the medieval towns and bustling coastal resorts and an abundance of delicious food and drink captivated him. He said that the place had more charm than many other popular investment hotspots, since it is unspoilt and practically undiscovered.

He added that this part of the country has only recently been tapped into by Overseas property investors. Therefore, the market is growing and a property in the region could be a potentially lucrative investment.

Commenting on the location, he said it is an ideal place to escape to at the weekends with friends and family. Property expert Linda Travella, of Casa Travella, said cheap properties can be found away from the coast and recommended Macerata or Amandola for rural beauty.

This comes after the news that homesoverseas.com has stated Le Marche offers better value than the more popular areas of Tuscany and Umbria.

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According to a study by Alliance & Leciester, Italy is in the top three destinations offering the best quality of life for Britons moving abroad. Holidaymakers are attracted by the country's "stunning natural scenery" and "fascinating" history and culture.

Beaches in Italy attract more people per year than any other country in Europe. The hardest part is deciding which of the Italian beaches to visit, as each one has a storied history and separate attributes. Italians keen to maintain their Catholic faith, yet distracted by busy schedules of socializing and sunbathing have had their dilemma solved thanks the initiative of innovative priests such Antonio Rungi. They have established an inflatable church and a beach-convent to minister to vacationing beachgoers. Activities at the two movable venues will include opportunities to confessions and to pray the Rosary.

The inflatable church will be set up in the Molise region on the Adriatic Coast and will be staffed by priests who hear confessions, according to Reuters. Nuns from a convent near Naples have moved to beach cabins to join holidaymakers saying the Rosary, with altar nearby which is set up under two tents. Father Antonio Rungi said to ANSA that the concept of a beach-convent is appreciated by vacationers and the nuns themselves.

In related news, Readers of the Sunday Times recently voted Italy the Best European Country ahead of places such as France, Spain and Greece.

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In news that may be of interest to those looking for property in Italy, Daily Telegraphs annual travel awards has announced Italy as the best European destination.

More than 25,000 readers were recently polled in Britain’s biggest survey of travel habits and Italy has been chosen as the preferred European destination for the second year in a row. Rome's Hotel Cavalieri was also named the best city hotel, ahead of Hong Kong’s Peninsula and Mount Nelson in Cape Town. The publication has praised the hotel for its luxurious interiors and innovation which has kept the hotel in the spotlight and recently, it has been offering its guests running tours around Rome .

Meanwhile, Readers of the Sunday Times also recently voted Italy as the Best European Country ahead of places such as France, Spain and Greece. A spokesperson of Italian State Tourist Board said that this encourages the officials to work even harder to improve Italy's image abroad.

Overseas property buyers are being encouraged by the poll results to consider purchasing a residence in Italy. ShelterOffshore.com recently praised Italy for offering a wide variety of attractions to second home owners including the changes in the tax regime. The website added that increasing number of people in the UK are thinking of moving to Italy, partly because the downturn in the domestic economy.

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Foreign investors thinking about buying property in Italy can find good value in stunning surroundings in the southern Tuscany, according to a real estate expert.

Bill Thompson from international estate agency Knight Frank told Country Life that the area Southern Tuscany is easily "accessible" and had great potential, saying it was already popular with Italians.

Country Life described the Italian region has become a hotspot of activity among foreign property buyers, although current financial crises across the world have led to concerns regarding various property markets. Guido Lodigiani, of estate agent Gabetti, told the website: "prudent mortgage policies and strict planning controls and the country's historic, cultural and artistic heritage gives some guarantees over the solidity of property values."

The magazine added that seaside resorts such as Milano Martittima and Marina di Ravenna have recorded 4.3 per cent increase in property prices since last year. Porto Cervo and Capri are still enjoying high prices of over 10,000 euros (£8,089) per square meter.

This comes after the news that Alliance & Leicester recently rated Italy as one of the top three destinations offering the best quality of life for Brits looking to move abroad and also ranked sixth for being most cost-effective.

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