A novelist has explained how she and her husband found the ideal overseas home in northern Tuscany.
Writing in the Times, Roma Tearne explained that they have come to northern Italy with the dream of owning an Italian home. She noted that the hilly countryside in less "discovered" parts of Tuscany differs from the tourist-orientated parts of Tuscany by being much calmer and retaining a peaceful, rural atmosphere.
"You have a Tuscany address, but it is more isolated, it is a cultured crowd who make for Tuscany in summer. The region's undulating olive groves, Renaissance towns and stone borghi satisfy their romantic definition of "summer holiday" in these undiscovered towns which radiate friendliness" Ms Tearne explained.
Luca Catalano of developer Realitalia says "Despite its beauty, this location is relatively undiscovered where agriculture is still a solid, local business, and with property prices that are a fraction of those in other, better-known areas in Tuscany."
In related news, the recent Savills Research reveals that Brits dominate the inward flow into the Tuscan property market representing over one third of foreign buyers...
Jul 18, 2009
Brits are turning their attention to cheaper, less established areas in Italy
Brits have long lusted after second homes in the land of La Dolce Vita, and are continuing to avoid expensive locations and turning instead to more affordable newcomers in light of the credit crunch, according to new research.
According to a recent survey by Italian property portal Immobiliare.it, the geography of Italian second homes is changing dramatically. Buyers are taking into account the economic climate and turning their attention to cheaper, less established areas such as Puglia and Sicily as a cheaper alternative to old favorites Tuscany and the Lakes. The portal has noted a steady interest in the coastal property. Those looking at Puglia are especially interested in the Gargano and Salento areas, where demand has risen by as much as 17 per cent.
Le Marche in Central Italy is true storybook Italy, with rolling hills, terracotta tiles and lemon trees. It has a very similar look and feel to Tuscany but is far less known and therefore prices are much cheaper. The region is around thirty minutes from both Ancona and Rimini International Airports. The gated Casa Serafini, with its private olive groves and traditional Italian restaurant with stunning views over the valley, has become a popular choice for Brits looking for a holiday home.
Property prices across the country have been rising slowly, especially in these areas, but still remain relatively good value. With new low cost international flights arriving into otherwise isolated areas of Italy, mini emerging markets are to be found in these regions.
According to a recent survey by Italian property portal Immobiliare.it, the geography of Italian second homes is changing dramatically. Buyers are taking into account the economic climate and turning their attention to cheaper, less established areas such as Puglia and Sicily as a cheaper alternative to old favorites Tuscany and the Lakes. The portal has noted a steady interest in the coastal property. Those looking at Puglia are especially interested in the Gargano and Salento areas, where demand has risen by as much as 17 per cent.
Le Marche in Central Italy is true storybook Italy, with rolling hills, terracotta tiles and lemon trees. It has a very similar look and feel to Tuscany but is far less known and therefore prices are much cheaper. The region is around thirty minutes from both Ancona and Rimini International Airports. The gated Casa Serafini, with its private olive groves and traditional Italian restaurant with stunning views over the valley, has become a popular choice for Brits looking for a holiday home.
Property prices across the country have been rising slowly, especially in these areas, but still remain relatively good value. With new low cost international flights arriving into otherwise isolated areas of Italy, mini emerging markets are to be found in these regions.
Jul 15, 2009
One of Italy's best kept secrets, Ferrara
Italy property hunters may like to consider a home in one of the Italy’s best kept secret's, Ferrara.
According to the Guardian reports, Ferrara is as history-rich as the neighboring city of Florence in Northern Italy; Situated on the banks of the River Po and this medieval town was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. House hunters will find themselves inside "a well-nigh perfectly preserved medieval and Renaissance city, with barely a car or a tourist to be seen." It's a popular stop for tourists traveling up from Bologna to Venice.
Tourists enjoy Ferrara in winter when the air is chilly and fog softens the features of the landscape. But the region also has summers as hot as those in southern Italy. The nearest international airport is at Bologna. British Airways flies three times daily from Gatwick airport to Bologna; EasyJet flies daily from Stansted airport to Bologna whereas Alitalia flies daily from Heathrow via Rome or Milan. Ferrara is a half-hour train journey From Bologna.
The town is still surrounded by more than 9 kilometers of ancient walls, mainly built in the 15th and 16th centuries and they are the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy. The most prominent building is the square Castello Estense in the centre of the town, a brick building surrounded by a moat, with four towers. Ferrara is also host to several churches, cloisters and convents which add a spiritual air to the town.
Ferrara is the 'hot' new area that is attracting a new generation of overseas investors who are fed up with the economic gloom. The fact that it has been recently discovered by estate agents and so prices are not that increased and it is still being sold as undiscovered territory.
According to the Guardian reports, Ferrara is as history-rich as the neighboring city of Florence in Northern Italy; Situated on the banks of the River Po and this medieval town was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. House hunters will find themselves inside "a well-nigh perfectly preserved medieval and Renaissance city, with barely a car or a tourist to be seen." It's a popular stop for tourists traveling up from Bologna to Venice.
Tourists enjoy Ferrara in winter when the air is chilly and fog softens the features of the landscape. But the region also has summers as hot as those in southern Italy. The nearest international airport is at Bologna. British Airways flies three times daily from Gatwick airport to Bologna; EasyJet flies daily from Stansted airport to Bologna whereas Alitalia flies daily from Heathrow via Rome or Milan. Ferrara is a half-hour train journey From Bologna.
The town is still surrounded by more than 9 kilometers of ancient walls, mainly built in the 15th and 16th centuries and they are the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy. The most prominent building is the square Castello Estense in the centre of the town, a brick building surrounded by a moat, with four towers. Ferrara is also host to several churches, cloisters and convents which add a spiritual air to the town.
Ferrara is the 'hot' new area that is attracting a new generation of overseas investors who are fed up with the economic gloom. The fact that it has been recently discovered by estate agents and so prices are not that increased and it is still being sold as undiscovered territory.
Jul 14, 2009
Cruise tourism to Italy continues to rise
Italy derives the greatest economic benefits from the cruise industry in Europe at 30 percent of total spending in 2008, according to new reports.
According to the fourth edition of the "European Cruise Contribution" prepared by the European Cruise Council (ECC) in Rome, there is increase in direct expenditure by cruise companies, shipyards and passengers of 14.2 billion Euros in 2008, a 10 percent increase from the previous year. 4.3 billion euros came from Italy at a 9 percent gain over 2007.
The report adds that Italian ports are the busiest in Europe with 1.7 million departing passengers and the country remains Europe's favorite cruise destination with 23 percent of transit passenger movements, followed by Greece, 20 percent, Spain 17 percent and France at 8 percent. Costa Cruises has once again confirmed its position as the number one cruise line in Europe, with an overall investment worth almost 2.4 billion Euros.
According to the survey results of the Milan Polytechnic School of Management, the Costa Cruises brand produced a total business output in Italy worth at least 1.1 billion Euros. Initial estimates suggest that the regions benefiting most from the activity of allied industries last year were Liguria, Lombardy, Latium and Sicily.
The tourism sector in the country is "on the up" and has witnessed some "impressive growth" in recent years. This was largely attributed to efforts by the government as it offers extra funding for its tourist industry, something that could benefit those investing in holiday rental property. Authorities have recently pumped money into new buildings, leisure facilities and infrastructure upgrades in order to make Italy more appealing to holidaymakers.
According to the fourth edition of the "European Cruise Contribution" prepared by the European Cruise Council (ECC) in Rome, there is increase in direct expenditure by cruise companies, shipyards and passengers of 14.2 billion Euros in 2008, a 10 percent increase from the previous year. 4.3 billion euros came from Italy at a 9 percent gain over 2007.
The report adds that Italian ports are the busiest in Europe with 1.7 million departing passengers and the country remains Europe's favorite cruise destination with 23 percent of transit passenger movements, followed by Greece, 20 percent, Spain 17 percent and France at 8 percent. Costa Cruises has once again confirmed its position as the number one cruise line in Europe, with an overall investment worth almost 2.4 billion Euros.
According to the survey results of the Milan Polytechnic School of Management, the Costa Cruises brand produced a total business output in Italy worth at least 1.1 billion Euros. Initial estimates suggest that the regions benefiting most from the activity of allied industries last year were Liguria, Lombardy, Latium and Sicily.
The tourism sector in the country is "on the up" and has witnessed some "impressive growth" in recent years. This was largely attributed to efforts by the government as it offers extra funding for its tourist industry, something that could benefit those investing in holiday rental property. Authorities have recently pumped money into new buildings, leisure facilities and infrastructure upgrades in order to make Italy more appealing to holidaymakers.
Jul 5, 2009
Liguria's hinterland one of the most stable markets for investors
Italy property seekers can pick up bargains in inland areas of Liguria; the warm, colorful Italian Riviera has long been adored by international visitors. Liguria is not a cheap region for property, but it remains a good investment but particularly right now in its lovely, lesser-known hinterland.
Liguria is enviably blessed in its location, climate and geography stretching from southern France's gilded Côte d'Azur to the northern tip of sunny Tuscany. The region enjoys a wonderfully mild climate with moderately cool and fresh summers yielding to mild winters. No wonder then that Liguria is one of Italy's most visited regions and a very popular spot for retirees and second-home-owners.
Holiday rental prospects and homes are particularly plentiful. However, the beachside property is generally pricier in the east than the west but costs tumble even just a short distance inland. Over recent years, an increasing number of Brits have discovered the delights of Liguria's hilly hinterland - especially in the region's western half - Buyers can find very good-value fully-habitable homes with two bedrooms less than ten miles from the sea for between €100,000 and €200,000 whereas In beach resorts, buyers should expect to pay more than €250,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Mark Slaviero, director of the estate agency Homes in Italy, agrees that most British buyers prefer to look at the pretty little villages further inland in Liguria. Mark notes that the high prices on Liguria’s coast have stabilized, while prices inland are still rising. Linda Travella, of the estate agency Casa Travella, advises buyers to limit their search to no further than ten miles from the sea. This way, they can optimize savings by buying inland without compromising the future resale value or holiday rentability.
In related news, Italian property specialist Gemma Knowles stated: "Nice apartments in towns can cost from around £215,000 while inland buyers can find homes in charming hilltop villages or farmhouses from around £130,000."
Liguria is enviably blessed in its location, climate and geography stretching from southern France's gilded Côte d'Azur to the northern tip of sunny Tuscany. The region enjoys a wonderfully mild climate with moderately cool and fresh summers yielding to mild winters. No wonder then that Liguria is one of Italy's most visited regions and a very popular spot for retirees and second-home-owners.
Holiday rental prospects and homes are particularly plentiful. However, the beachside property is generally pricier in the east than the west but costs tumble even just a short distance inland. Over recent years, an increasing number of Brits have discovered the delights of Liguria's hilly hinterland - especially in the region's western half - Buyers can find very good-value fully-habitable homes with two bedrooms less than ten miles from the sea for between €100,000 and €200,000 whereas In beach resorts, buyers should expect to pay more than €250,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Mark Slaviero, director of the estate agency Homes in Italy, agrees that most British buyers prefer to look at the pretty little villages further inland in Liguria. Mark notes that the high prices on Liguria’s coast have stabilized, while prices inland are still rising. Linda Travella, of the estate agency Casa Travella, advises buyers to limit their search to no further than ten miles from the sea. This way, they can optimize savings by buying inland without compromising the future resale value or holiday rentability.
In related news, Italian property specialist Gemma Knowles stated: "Nice apartments in towns can cost from around £215,000 while inland buyers can find homes in charming hilltop villages or farmhouses from around £130,000."
Jul 4, 2009
Island games for Lake Como property seekers
The 600-year-old St John's Day Celebrations at Isola Comacina open the summer season in Lake Como with a fiery spectacle take place in the middle of Lake, something that may interest Italy property seekers.
Sala Comacina, a little village, which lies on the western shore of Lake Como at the foot of Monte Costone, is one of the most distinctive places on the lake and already considered to be an important holiday destination. The lake's only Island, Isola Comacina, lies opposite the village and can be reached by boat. Every year in June Saint John’s day celebrations takes place to commemorate the destruction of the island by the Comaschi in 1169 as a punishment for its' alliance with Milan during the ten-year war (1118-1127).
The history re-enactment has been marked with plenty of ceremony and flames for hundreds of years, providing what may be a memorable event for visitors and Italy property seekers in the Italian Lakes region.
The Telegraph survey last week was excellent news for those considering property investing in Italy or a holiday home to make rental income as the survey revealed Italy was the most popular tourism destination in Europe among its readership.
Sala Comacina, a little village, which lies on the western shore of Lake Como at the foot of Monte Costone, is one of the most distinctive places on the lake and already considered to be an important holiday destination. The lake's only Island, Isola Comacina, lies opposite the village and can be reached by boat. Every year in June Saint John’s day celebrations takes place to commemorate the destruction of the island by the Comaschi in 1169 as a punishment for its' alliance with Milan during the ten-year war (1118-1127).
The history re-enactment has been marked with plenty of ceremony and flames for hundreds of years, providing what may be a memorable event for visitors and Italy property seekers in the Italian Lakes region.
The Telegraph survey last week was excellent news for those considering property investing in Italy or a holiday home to make rental income as the survey revealed Italy was the most popular tourism destination in Europe among its readership.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)