Why Umbria is a Top Choice For Italian Real Estate by:Adriana Giglioli
There have been many colourful descriptions of the beautiful Italian region of Umbria
. Like Cumbria in England but without the C, goes one play on words. Like a new Tuscany but without the hordes of tourists and the sky-high property prices, goes another description.
In truth, to compare Umbria to its more famous neighbouring region is to do it a disservice. Like Tuscany, Umbria boasts a stunning array of medieval towns separated by lush green olive groves and countryside.
Yet it has perhaps lain too long in Tuscany's shadow when it boasts numerous delights of its own. This landlocked region makes up just three per cent of Italy's landmass. It's most beautiful three per cent, many Umbria-lovers would tell you. And on visiting here you would be hard-pressed to disagree.
There is its sheer beauty. It may not have Tuscany's beach resorts such as Forte dei Marmi, San Vincenzo, Viareggio and Castiglione della Pescaia, but it more than makes up for that with its magnificent landscape dotted with fortresses, castles, beautiful hills and its alluring hilltowns such as Perugia, Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto, Spello, Todi and Narni.
Conveniently, these unspoiled medieval havens are near enough to one another to be explored in one fell swoop, even on a relatively short break. Add to all this a booming property sector and it is easy to understand the growing appeal of owning property in Umbria. And whether your interest is in a holiday home or an Umbrian property for investment, real estate here remains highly affordable and certainly more so than Tuscany.
The conversion in 2006 of Perugia's airport into international level has seen an increase in prices around the city and surrounding areas, such as those near the Tuscan border, but venture slightly further away and there are fantastic real estate opportunities that need not break the bank.
In areas such as the beautiful walled town of Spoleto, it is possible to find an 80sq m two-bedroom apartment for just Euro70,000. Or if you are prepared to renovate, how about a 100sq m house in Gubbio for just Euro75,000?
Property near Lake Trasimeno, in the north-west corner of Umbria, is immensely popular, especially as the lake is a mecca for water sports enthusiasts. But even here there are very affordable opportunities.
On the southern shore, in Citta della Pieve - which has the ambience of a Tuscan town but without the prices - expect to pay around Euro150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. On the opposite shore, in, for example, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, budget from Euro100,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and an additional Euro20,000 for a new-build two-bedroom apartment.
But it is the south of Umbria that is full of real bargains, with property values frequently less than 50 per cent of what you would face elsewhere in the region. In Amelia, expect to pay around Euro120,000 for a three-bedroom apartment while in nearby Narni budget Euro150,000 for a two-bedroom house.
If this is your first visit to Umbria and you want to get a good feel for the place, use Assisi or Orvieto as a base. Must-sees include Assisi and other art cities such as Perugia, Spoleto, Gubbio and Orvieto; Lake Trasimeno; and Italy's most stunning waterfall, the Cascate delle Marmore. If you are here for more than a week, then try to take in any of Todi, Narni, Citta di Castello, Spello, Trevi, Bevagna and Norcia.
About the author
Adriana Giglioli works for
http://www.homesandvillasabroad.com which offers more than 2,500 Italian homes for sale and she offers expert advice on purchasing property in Italy. Her specialist area is Umbria property and her tips can be viewed here:
http://www.homesandvillasabroad.com/umbria-property/http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_10080.shtml
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