EX-PATS AND INVESTORS looking to buy real estate in Italy are now discovering Calabria - a real jewel in the Italian Sun!

 (Constuction underway at Il Casale di Capo Vaticano - an off-plan development from InCalabria Ltd. January 2008)

Buying property in Italy to soak up the sights, the ancient history and the distinct modern flavour of many of its larger cities has long appealed to investors and expats alike. 

Although Italy has a fairly high cost of living,  and buying property in Italy can be quite expensive, investors and expats often look past all this because of the many distinct appeals of the nation.

On the investment front, Italy has a sustained tourism draw.  It’s hard to deny the eternal and international attraction of places like Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples.  For expats, the opportunity to explore the historic wonders first-hand while soaking up the culture over a longer period of time is just too good an opportunity to pass up. 

Fortunately, for those on a slightly lower budget, a new region in Italy is becoming popular with buyers.  Those buying property in Italy are now exploring Calabria.

In this article, we’ll explore Calabria too and look at why this region is now attracting investors.  Just like more famous Italian destinations, Calabria offers a great deal of history to draw in visitors, plus it offers the southern, and quite balmy Mediterranean climate that Italy’s famous for.

Although Calabria is ideally situated in the Italian boot’s “toe,” Calabria has remained largely untouched by the influx of investors and expats other regions have played witness to.  This was largely due to a lack of affordable transportation into this region.  This has all changed with the arrival of low-cost carrier Ryanair which makes getting to Calabria easy and affordable.

Now, buyers are taking a good hard look at this region and tourists are starting to discover its unique attractions.  The Telegraph newspaper has even called Calabria “fashionable” for international buyers and the London Stock Exchange acknowledges the rise of Calabria’s star.

Calabria was originally inhabited by the Bruttians around 1000 B.C., it later saw the arrival of the Greeks, the Pythagoras, the Visigoths and even Byzantines and Goths.  An old legend even says that Visigoth King Alaric buried his treasure in the Busento River.  Thanks to its many visitors from the past, visitors here today will still find a host of historic sights, including a bounty of ancient ruins.

Property buyers in Calabria will find plenty of history sites and some natural features that are extremely attractive too.  Calabria is surrounded by a number of mountains, including the Pollino Massif and the Catena Costiera and it is situated on the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas.

Property in Calabria is considered largely more affordable than in other regions of Italy.  New construction is under way – especially on the coast and existing properties are selling for as little as GBP 60,000.

As holidaymakers and expats discover the region, don’t count on the prices staying low for long.  With easy and affordable access through airports in both Palermo and Naples, this Italian region’s star is on the rise with property investors looking for their own piece of Italy.

Source: Shelteroffshore.com