Briefly about the main thing
The picturesque Abruzzo region is located in the heart of Italy, about 100 km east of Rome, between the Adriatic coast and the Apennines. This is one of the greenest areas of Italy, with large nature reserves and national parks, thanks to which Abruzzo is deservedly called the "lungs" of the country. Two thirds of the region is occupied by majestic mountains, the highest of which are Corno Grande (2914 m) and Monte Amaro (2795 m). That is why, along with a beach holiday, there are excellent opportunities for skiing.
Anyone who prefers sightseeing holidays, acquaintance with Abruzzo is better to start with the capital of L'Aquila or the town of Campobasso. The Adriatic coast of the region has a developed infrastructure and is suitable for both seasonal recreation and permanent residence.
Guests of Abruzzo should remember that the beaches of the southern part of the coast from Ortona to Vasto are rocky, with dense Mediterranean vegetation, but at the same time well equipped for recreation. For a beach idyll, the cozy Tremoli or Silva Marina is perfect - one of the most picturesque resorts in the region with a 6-kilometer beach, located at the foot of the Gran Sasso Mountain, not far from the famous Abruzzo National Park.
Lively Vasto is a lot of small hotels, private residences, campsites, children's and youth camps. For a measured lifestyle and recreation with children, Montesilvano is a great place – a small town stretching along the coast. Pineto is perhaps the most fashionable of all the local resorts, it has a developed infrastructure and many comfortable hotels. Pescara is the capital of the province of the same name, a major cultural, transport and port center of the region.
How to get there
Travelers mostly get to Abruzzo from Rome. From Moscow and St. Petersburg, regular flights to Rome are operated by Alitalia and Aeroflot. The cost of round-trip tickets is from 13,500 to 22,000 rubles, travel time is 3 hours and 50 minutes. There is an international airport in Pescara, but it is rather a choice for the summer period, when charters from Russia fly here. Transfer from Rome Airport to the coastal Pescara will take about 2.5 hours. Abruzzo has a well-developed network of roads and rail transport, and since the region is located in the center of Italy, it is convenient for trips both to the south and to the north of the country.
Why Abruzzo?
- According to the British newspaper Huffington Post, the Abruzzo region is the fifth in the world in terms of quality of life. The publication's article mentions the golden beaches of Abruzzo, the sea and the mountain slopes, depending on the season, you can ski or relax on the beach here, and in the spring combine both.
- Abruzzo is 240 km of the Adriatic coast, 129 km of which are occupied by wide sandy beaches. The entrance to the water is flat, which is ideal for living and relaxing with children. The Abruzzo coast is the only one in Europe, 12 resorts in one province of which have received the Blue Flag for the purity, transparency of the water and preservation of the natural beauty of nature.
- Abruzzo is one of the most peaceful and safe regions of Italy. There is practically no both large and small-scale crime.
- Abruzzo has four national parks: Abruzzo Lazio and Molise, Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, Maiella and Sirente Velino. The ecology of the region is unique and ideal for the life of everyone who cares about their health and the health of their loved ones.
- Abruzzo is a mild and comfortable climate for living. The average temperature in July-August is about 20°C at night and 30°C during the day. Winter is mild, with an average temperature in January-February of +3 C at night and +10 C during the day. Thanks to this, the tourist season here is very long, from May to early October. But, since the beaches can be crowded in summer, experts recommend a trip to the "velvet season" May-early July, as well as the period from September to October.
- Abruzzo is located in the heart of Italy. From here it is convenient to get to other regions of the country, as well as travel around Europe. Rome is only 100 km away, which means regular flights to every corner of the world. The central location of Abruzzo has a unique effect on the cuisine of the region, which reflects the best traditions of northern and southern Italian cooking. And the so-called "traditional products" of Abruzzo include as many as 144 names of various categories, from soft drinks and wines to sweets. Abruzzo is one of the leading Italian producers of white and black truffles. In L'Aquila saffron is grown and produced – «golden» spice. Beautiful lentils grow in mountainous areas. Red garlic is grown in the Peligna Valley, artichokes in Vasto, potatoes and carrots in Fucino. Herbs and flowers grow in the mountains and foothills, ideal for the production of unique honey. Abruzzo produces an amazing variety of cheeses, including pecorino and ricotta. And, of course, do not forget about meat delicacies: ventricine, mortadella, salami and liver sausages with honey and pepper.
- Abruzzo has four universities and many schools, which guarantees a decent education for children.
- Today, the price-quality ratio of real estate in Abruzzo is optimal and allows you to buy excellent housing at an affordable price. The tourist attractiveness of the region guarantees a stable rental income.
- There are many attractions in the region, including famous medieval architectural monuments, as well as many nature reserves and national parks.
The situation on the real estate market
Today Abruzzo real estate enjoys increased interest from American investors, as well as residents of northern Europe. Experts note that Russians are also gradually discovering this attractive Italian region. In their opinion, one of the main advantages of Abruzzo today is the ratio of the quality of life and the cost per square meter of real estate. Thus, this moment is the most profitable for buying local properties as an investment.
After the global economic crisis, from which Italy is currently gradually emerging, the cost of housing here has fallen markedly. In addition, Abruzzo, according to experts, has not suffered from mass tourism, so at the moment it offers excellent opportunities for obtaining a stable income.
Prices
The average cost of real estate in Abruzzo is €1550 per square meter. This is 43% less than the average prices in the Liguria region, 80% lower compared to Tuscany and 50% cheaper than in Umbria.
The average cost of apartments is not very uniform and differs for individual municipalities of the region, although in most cases it is from 1300 / 1 sq. m. The cheapest apartments are sold in the province of Chieti (1300 per square meter), and the highest prices are observed in the province of Pescara (euro;1700 / 1 sq. m). A prestigious apartment in a new house on the first line of the sea with excellent finishes can be bought on average for €3000 per square meter.
Experts note that today Abruzzo is an unlimited choice of objects. So, in the province of Chieti, a rural house under renovation with an area of about 500 square meters, with a plot of land of more than 17,000 square meters. m with vineyards and olive groves, can be purchased for just €220,000. Given its advantageous location, this makes it ideal for use for tourist accommodation. Beautifully restored country house in Elich, 15 km from the sea,with an area of 120 square meters, it costs about 135 000 euros. In a small historical center, you can buy a townhouse for €50,000.
Plus, for the reconstruction and repair of houses in Abruzzo, you can use tax incentives, which is an excellent opportunity for savings and profitable investments.
Rent
Large settlements with a high population density are ideal for long-term rental of real estate, towns on the coast are for seasonal rental, and the presence of a university nearby allows you to get high profitability from renting real estate all year round. So, many people rent apartments to students in winter, and in summer to tourists coming to the sea.
As for the tourism industry, agrotourism and B&B are very popular now, they are a significant competition to the traditional hotel business.
Sights of Abruzzo
Abruzzo's convenient location in the heart of Italy makes it a popular starting point for excursions to Venice, Florence, San Marino, Rome, Naples and Pompeii. Of course, the pearl of these places is the Abruzzo National Park, a must-visit. An indispensable point of the excursion program is also a rest on the picturesque lakes that lie near the cities of Compotosto, Barrea and Bamba. Scanno is a high-altitude lake located in the province of Aquilla, and one of the main attractions of the region. A few kilometers from the lake there is a medieval town of the same name, famous for its masters of jewelry and fantastic delicacy of lace. There is also a modern ski resort equipped with lifts and everything necessary for a comfortable winter holiday.
In the remote corners of Abruzzo, in the lost shady valleys, you can visit medieval hermitages cut right into the rocks. Of course, this is, first of all, the monastic hermitage of San Bartolomeo, located in the silence of the forests of Maiella and Morrone, in the Roccamorice municipality of the province of Pescara, and dating from the XIII century. It is literally carved into the rock, "hanging" over the sea at an altitude of 650 meters. This is a truly unique place that combines the beauty and majesty of nature and a man-made architectural object.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila was built in 1200 and is a mandatory point on the map of exploring the region. Grotte di Stiffe are truly phenomenal karst caves formed in the Neolithic era and located in the town of San Demetrio ne Vestini. An excursion with a review of unique stalactites and stalagmites runs along an underground river, periodically "breaking" with picturesque underground waterfalls.
Piccolomini Castle is an amazing creation of the Middle Ages, offering fantastic views of the Fucino Plain. After visiting the castle, you can go to the canyons of Celano, one of the largest canyons in Italy, carved in a very deep valley of the La Fos River. It is surrounded by picturesque rocks, the height of some of them exceeds 200 meters.
Abruzzo is a region that does not know boredom and allows you to combine a variety of "vacation scenarios" into one fascinating journey. The potential of Abruzzo as a tourist destination provides a lot of opportunities for investors, and the magnificent climate, ecology, developed infrastructure and relatively low housing prices are the choice of those who decided to stay here longer.Five expert tips for property buyers in Abruzzo
- First of all, clearly define the purpose for which the purchase of real estate in Abruzzo is carried out: for conducting a tourist business, renting or permanent residence. The immediate choice of the object will depend on this.
- Remember that the most important role when buying is played by the choice of the location of the property, as well as the availability of infrastructure and convenience from the point of view of logistics, the proximity of transport interchanges and road and railway communication.
- Do not delay the purchase: today Abruzzo prices are the most attractive for making a bargain.
- Optimize the deal: real estate in Italy can be purchased in installments or with a mortgage loan. Professional realtors will tell you how to get an Italian residence permit when buying a home in the country.
- Be sure to contact the services of a reliable real estate agency specializing in objects in this particular region. This will allow you to make the most profitable and reliable choice.
Portal HomesOverseas.ru thanks Elena Grigorieva and Nina Volkova for their help in preparing the article (NV-Company).
photocredits: flickr / dmitry kruglyak / overseaspropertyalert
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