The Italian island of Sicily is attracting increasing amounts of interest from those looking for holiday properties particularly from Brits, it has been claimed.

According to Country Life, Sicily has become increasingly trendy and modern, with Britons starting to buy in numbers around two years ago. The magazine stated that the British preference is for the east side, where properties in places like Ragusa have seen year-on-year price increases of around ten per cent. The city of Ragusa is off the beaten path and is located about an hour's drive from Syracuse. The beaches of the province of Ragusa some of the cleanest and affordable and least crowded to be found in Sicily.

According to Justin Figgins, director of Rightmove Overseas, "Flights are already in place and our statistics prove that interest in Sicilian property is increasing significantly, so I would not be surprised if prices start to rise fast." Apartments and villas in Sicily comprise some of the best value real estate to be found in Italy, prices will "definitely" rise in the south of the country over the next three years; Part of the reason for this is that it is a relatively untapped market for investors, making this a good part of the country in which to invest.

Sicily has had the largest annual rise in popularity among prospective buyers, with searches increased by 185 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year. The northern regions such as Tuscany, Le Marche and Abruzzo have all become well-established Italy property markets among British buyers. However, for those wanting something more traditional and priced less, or who are less keen on restoring an old ruin, Sicily may offer the best prospects.
Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has stated that the Sicily, the largest in the Mediterranean, has a strong rental market and is also a popular tourism destination, with three airports (Palermo, Catania and Trapani) providing airport access from Britain.