For years, people living in Castelnuovo di Porto, a medieval village close to Rome, had put off doing maintenance jobs on their homes, whether it be fixing the roof or cracks in walls caused by earthquakes, because they could not afford it. So when the Italian government said it would foot the entire bill for a range of renovation works, on the sol...

Have you ever been on the brink of purchasing a property, but didn’t for whatever reason and then, a few years later, the area where you wanted to buy shot up in value and you could just kick yourself that you did not make the move at the time? I have been there on MANY occasions. Hindsight is a thing, right? Well, part of the “fun” of my job, whic...

The best recent advert for the bella vita is surely actor Stanley Tucci sampling regional cuisines in CNN’s Searching for Italy exclaiming ‘oh my god’ at least four times an episode as he swoons over risotto Milanese or Sicilian pasta alla Norma. It's these sun-soaked visions of a foodie paradise that persuade scores of Northern Europeans and Ameri...

Selling old homes for one euro is not an easy task. Even though many villages across Italy have successfully launched the scheme, there are others which have not fared so well. This is mainly because the owners of abandoned houses were impossible to track down and the bureaucratic obstacles to dispose of the buildings proved huge. So, instead, they...

What do several historic villas, a palace, a theatre, a former church, a lighthouse and a former customs office have in common? They are all among the 22 treasures owned by Italy's Demanio State-property agency that are being put out under concession for up to 50 years. The aim is recoup these assets, combining tourism, culture, environmental prote...

Have you ever been to Italy and had your heart stolen? And have you ever wondered what it would be like to own your own property in Italy? A piece of paradise with your name on it? I imagine the answer is a big fat “SI.” You would be one of millions of dreamers who think the same thing, but many do not take that first step to making their dream of...

Who hasn't spent time imagining what life would be like in an idyllic faraway place, especially in a country that is so well known for its laid-back lifestyle, stunning landscapes, seasonal cuisine, and close community life? I sometimes wonder if there is anyone who hasn’t dreamed of moving to Italy at one point or another? With the arrival of remo...

Need a change of scenery? Airbnb is looking for an adventurer who wants to move to Sicily for a year - and you'll get to live there completely rent-free! The holiday rentals platform is offering up an opportunity to live in a three-storey traditional home in the Sicilian village of Sambuca, where you'll be actively encouraged to get involved with t...

The Italian house you’ve always dreamed of buying won’t, in the end, cost just $1. Re-imagining the stones and timbers first assembled about the time Shakespeare put pen to paper can’t be rushed. It will likely take some deep thought. Some espresso. More thought. More espresso. Meredith Tabbone admits there are frustrations that come with buying a...

With remote work becoming the norm the thought of owning a home in Italy is becoming ever more plausible. While it can be tempting to bow down to city life in Rome, Milan, and Florence we suggest diving a little deeper and discovering one of Italy's more hidden corners. For those looking for a true escape from their daily life, might we suggest exp...