Guardia Sanframondi is a typical medieval Italian hilltop town, with a formidable ancient castle, pretty squares…beautiful frescoed churches…flower-bedecked old palaces…and friendly locals saying “hello” to strangers. Situated in a lesser-known part of Italy’s southern Campania region, it is a hidden gem that is slowly being discovered by expats who want to enjoy the Italian “la dolce vita” without breaking the bank. Carlo Roberts, a California native, now a full-time resident in Guardia Sanframondi, says life in the Italian town is affordable beyond belief.

“You take all your friends out for breakfast for the price of one large mocha at Starbucks. For just over $1, you can have a cappuccino, or a glass of beer, or a gelato. For less than $5 you can have yourself a little party. There is even a bar here where you can get a glass of wine for 50 cents…because everyone has vineyards here,” says Carlo. The town is renowned for its wine with Europe’s biggest winemakers’ cooperative based here, so neat vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see.