We have already said that it is possible to find good housing near major Italian cities, and it will not be inferior in any way to what you can buy in Rome or Milan. Real estate consultant Anastasia DiCaprio shared with us the necessary information about three not-so-obvious regions of Italy for living and buying a home there. We also talked to those who have already moved to these places and wanted to share their experiences.
Liguria. The capital is Genoa
Liguria is a region in the northern part of Italy, located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. It borders both France and other Italian regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.
Liguria has a unique geographical location. It can be divided into two parts: the coast and the mountains. Part of the Ligurian coast is known as the Italian Riviera. It stretches from the border with France and includes such famous cities as Genoa, Lavagno, Portofino and San Remo. In addition to the coast, Liguria is also famous for the mountains of the Alps with an abundance of natural parks and reserves. And the streets of Alpine towns such as Savona, Imperia and Albenga offer panoramic views of the coast.
Due to the combination of mountains and the sea, Liguria is often called a climatic resort. Summers are warm and sunny, and winters are mild, which is why living here is comfortable even if you consider yourself to be very picky.
Cultural heritage
The capital of Liguria, Genoa, is rich in historical monuments and has one of the largest historical centers in Europe. The main attraction is the Old Town of Genoa, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. At its heart is the Piazza De Ferrario, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the house of Christopher Columbus and much more.
Besides Genoa, Liguria also has many other cultural attractions. These include, among others, the city of Savona, famous for its medieval castles and fortresses, such as the castle of Genoiseta.
Albenga is home to the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, which is considered one of the most important early Christian monuments in Liguria, ancient sarcophagi and frescoes. And this is only a small part of what you can see in Liguria.
Real estate prices
Liguria is considered one of the most expensive regions in terms of real estate, but it all depends on where you want to buy it. If you are determined to live in the capital, then be prepared for the fact that the price per square meter starts here from 3,000 euros. But at the same time, the price in the province is on average 500 euros lower, which makes housing affordable for purchase.
It is more difficult to rent: in recent years, the average price has been set at around € 10 per meter. But it is worth noting that this is the lower bar — at the height of the holiday season, the price may increase two or even three times. And if you consider that Liguria is a region with one of the longest holiday seasons (in summer — the sea, in winter — the mountains), then the average price of your property will be much higher.
Life in Liguria
Liguria organizes traditional festivals and events, including “Leaf Fall in Portofino”, “Flower Festival in Sanremo” and “Siburnia Festival in Ortenier.” Locals appreciate art, especially music. An important role in this is played by the fact that the Niccolo Paganini Conservatory, named after the famous Italian violinist, is located in Genoa.
Italian culture can also be traced in the cuisine of Liguria. The local gastronomy is known for its dishes such as pesto, focaccia (Italian bread with olive oil) and farinata, a dish made from pea flour, as well as a variety of fish dishes.
Anna told us about her experience of living in the province of Liguria and about buying a house there:
— Initially, I looked at buying real estate only as an investment, knowing perfectly well how much financial investments and nerves can be spent on this. That’s why I was ready for anything. There was no budget to buy an apartment in Rome or Florence, and I wanted to buy something near the sea. Actually, the choice fell on Liguria, namely the commune of Alassio.
When we arrived in Genoa, I was surprised at how easy it is to breathe here. I think it’s not even necessary to talk about how the air outside the city feels — and it’s clear that it’s very comfortable. We drove along the sea, and I was amazed that there were mountains nearby, and on weekends you can even go to France. And outside the window there is sand, a beach, seagulls… And, by the way, it’s not stuffy at all.
I think if we had arrived in Alassio a couple of hours before the meeting with the realtor, we would have just looked at the apartment, discussed repairs, hired builders and left. But we arrived a couple of days before that. In general, as I said, I was ready for anything. But definitely not to the fact that in the end we will buy two apartments and stay here.
We rent the second apartment: it is usually rented by tourists who come to swim in the sea and breathe the mountain air. But there are also those who, like us, fall in love with the city and stay. For example, we once had a couple as landlords who recently moved here to their own apartment. They even invited us to a housewarming party. That’s how Italy can unite, it turns out.
Tuscany. The capital is Florence
Tuscany is a region in the central part of Italy, which is located on The Mediterranean coast is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy.
Tuscany is famous for its beautiful landscapes: here you will find rolling plains, beautiful vineyards and olive groves, the mountains of the Apennines and coastal areas of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The richness of nature in this region attracts lovers of outdoor activities and outdoor walks.
Cultural heritage
Florence is home to such famous sites as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Palatine Museum, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. The cities of Pisa and Siena also offer many historical architectural wonders, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Duomo Cathedral in Siena. In addition, Tuscany is known for its ancient medieval towns such as San Gimignano and Sant’Angelo in Colle.
Real estate prices
Florence is one of the three most expensive cities in Italy in terms of real estate, which is not surprising. The average price per square meter in the Tuscan capital is about 5,500 euros. But in the province, prices are more than twice as pleasant — about 2500 thousand. At the same time, rent is one of the most expensive in the country — a tenant pays about €15 per square meter per month on average. And in such conditions, for example, an apartment of about 40 square meters pays off in a little more than a year.
Life in Tuscany
Tuscany organizes many traditional festivals and events, including the Palio di Siena, the Turkey Festival in Santa Maria di Chiesa and the Medici Workshops in Florence. But perhaps the most striking thing about Tuscany is its cuisine and wine.
Tuscan cuisine is known for its delicious dishes such as Florentine Steak, ribollita bean soup and Chianti wine. This area is also famous for its top quality olive oil. And Tuscany is one of the most famous wine regions in Italy. It produces some of the most prestigious and refined wines, such as Brunello di Montalcino, Wine Nobile di Montipulciano and Santa’Antimo.
Top expensive and cheap regions of Italy for buying a home, plus an overview of interesting and budget facilities
Andrey told us about life firsthand:
— I moved to the Italian province about ten years ago and thought that after Moscow it would be difficult to live in a calm and measured rhythm. But you can’t even imagine how important it turned out to be for me: to get out of the skin of an office clerk and become free, or something.
I am a cultural scientist by education, but I worked. I think it’s easy to guess which place I’ve found for myself here. I opened an online store, and now I introduce Tuscan ceramics to people all over the world. It is a special pleasure to tell customers the story of what they buy. After that, someone begins to be interested in the culture of Italy in general, and this is very pleasant. And it’s also strange to realize that if it hadn’t been for the move, I might not have remembered that culture and its history have always fascinated me so much.
Living in Italy has basically changed me and my attitude towards the world. I became more open, calm and ready to enjoy the moment. Now I can’t imagine my life anywhere else but here.
Lazio. The capital is Rome
Lazio is a region in Italy, located in the center of the country with its capital in Rome. The region is home to many towns and villages with unique history and culture. For example, the city of Viterbo is famous for its medieval architecture, and the city of Tivoli is famous for Villa d’Este and Adriana.
In addition, Lazio has a beautiful coastline on The Tyrrhenian Sea, and the town of Sperlonga, located in the Lazio region, offers picturesque beaches and cozy caves. The combination of history, scenery and life make Lazio the best region to live in Italy.
Cultural heritage
The capital of the region and the largest city of Lazio is Rome — a great historical city, an important cultural center of the world. Rome is famous for its architecture, including the Colosseum, Pantheon and Forum Romanum, as well as papal architectural wonders with the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. The historic center of Rome was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is still the main tourist attraction of Lazio.
Lazio is also known for its numerous archaeological excavations, which provide a better understanding of life in ancient times. For example, the excavations at the hunting villa de Livia, where unique frescoes depicting scenes with animals and hunting have been preserved.
Roman culture as a whole has always been the epitome of classical art, and the Lazio region was the historical center of this culture. Works of classical literature, such as Plutarch’s Anecdotes and Virgil’s Aeneid, were created here.
Real estate prices
Rome is second only to Milan in terms of the price of real estate per “square” — the average price starts from 7,200 euros.But such housing will pay off quickly if you buy it for rent — after all, this is the capital, and the demand for housing here is huge.
But the cost of housing in nearby cities is on average the same as in Liguria and Tuscany — about 2,500 euros. At the same time, the rental price is kept around € 14 per square meter in the region, that is, €500-700 for a spacious studio apartment.
“You can buy an apartment in Italy for renovation from 15 thousand euros.” How does a family of 7 live in Italy
Life in Lazio
The Lazio region hosts numerous events and festivals, including Easter celebrations in Rome, the Film Festival in the Republic of Rome and the World Art of Wooden Stairs in Genzano.
Rome is the fashion capital of Italy, because the region is home to the Grande Galeria (Galleria Alberto Sordi), known for a large selection of brands of great importance in the fashion industry.
As for the cuisine, in Lazio it includes dishes such as pasta carbonara, baked fava bean soup, focaccia (Lazio lasagna) and others. The region is also famous for its wine, including the Frascati white wine served with the dishes.
Olesya told us about life firsthand:
— I have always been attracted to a beautiful life somewhere in Europe, and when I arrived in Rome, I realized – this is it! But after a couple of years, it came to the realization that the capital is still too noisy and too fast. And I moved to Vitebsk.
The streets here are strewn with beautiful historical buildings that breathe history. Walking through them, it seems as if you have returned to several centuries ago. Every time I pass by medieval towers or colorful squares, I feel that a piece of history is right in front of me.
But the most important thing is Viterbo’s people. They are kind, hospitable and friendly. There is such an atmosphere of warmth and family comfort here that every time I return home after a long journey, I feel loved and accepted.
I have been thinking for a long time whether this place would suit me, and now I understand that it is really special — it combines a rich history, beautiful nature and friendly flavor of the locals.
It is necessary to buy real estate — for living or renting — in “living” cities and regions. Firstly, it is much easier to find a business you like in them — this is about business and about work in principle — which has a positive effect on the demand for housing.
Secondly, it is a variety of cultural and entertainment events, many restaurants, shops, parks and everything that makes life comfortable.
Another advantage will be the ability to easily move both within the region and between them, even if you do not have a car: there are trains, regular buses, motor ships.
But, unfortunately, many people forget about these factors and choose real estate only based on the budget, buying apartments and villas in less popular and therefore more budget areas. And very wrongly, because real estate near Rome, Genoa and Florence is not only about a reasonable price, but also about the comfort and emotions of living in beautiful Italy.
Author
Constance Pelevin
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish