Buying Property In Italy On The Cheap

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Fabrizio Giglioli


Tuscany remains the No1 choice of investors looking to buy property in Italy. But despite the current worldwide slowdown, Tuscany's enduring appeal means buying a home in Italy's most popular region does not always come cheap. As an example, while house prices in Britain fell nearly 16 per cent last year, in Florence they declined by less than two per cent. But there are affordable deals to be found in the property in Tuscany market - if you know where to look. And your search should start in the Maremma, at the southern tip of Tuscany. The Maremma - with more than 160km of beautiful coastline - begins in Follonica, south of Piombino, and stretches down to Monte Argentario. And it is proving fertile ground for property in Italy bargain-hunters. In areas such as Sorvana, €200,000 will pay for a three-bedroom semi-detached home while a detached house can be picked up for an additional €50,000. Just two hours away, in the much pricier Siena, you can expect to pay up to three times those prices. Other superb towns in this part of Tuscany that remain popular include Saturnia spa retreat and Pitigliano, its buildings famously hewn from the tufo rockface. Here, €100,000 will buy an apartment, just the thing if you are looking for a base from which to explore the rest of Tuscany. However, the Maremma has no end of appeal of its own and has attracted holidaymakers for decades, ensuring maximum rental returns on your investment in property in Italy here. Follonica is a lively beach resort and home to the Modigliani art gallery, with works by Picasso and Dali. Some 15km miles south lie the beaches of Cala Violina, where the sand is so fine that ancient folklore suggests it sounds like violins when walked on. Some of the finest beaches in Tuscany are to be found on Mount Argentario, an island attached to the mainland by three narrow strips of land. Viewed from the air it appears sculpted with breathtaking precision, a large flower between the Maremma and the sea. Monte Argentario is one of the Maremma's most highly sought-after areas among investors searching for property in Italy. And it has a much slower turnover of properties, with owners keen to hold onto them for as long as possible. The seas of the Maremma are also very popular with watersports enthusiasts while skiers flock to Mount Amiata, a dormant volcano turned holiday and ski resort. And Punta Ala has one of Europe's most majestic golf courses, which looks out to sea. Saturnia is another delight, its thermal baths a great place in which to be pampered with beauty treatments and relax in thermal pools. Other typically Tuscan towns popular with visitors include Abbadia San Salvatore, Bagni San Filippo, Castel del Piano and Manciano, full of picturesque boutiques selling local handicrafts. But you cannot leave the Maremma without witnessing one of its unique palios - medieval racing contests. While Siena's famous event is run with horses, in Roccastrada it features donkeys. And locals in Paganico gather once a year in September to watch... racing frogs. Then again, the Maremma's a place quite like no other.


About the Author:
Fabrizio Giglioli works for property in Italy website http://www.homesandvillasabroad.com, which lists more than 2,000 stunning properties for sale throughout Italy to suit all budgets. He has 21 years' experience in the real estate industry.