WEEK TWO

This week, we’re back with our regular look at houses and apartments for sale across Italy, and today we’re heading south. From sun-drenched coastlines to historic inland towns, Southern Italy offers some of the country’s most interesting and still affordable, property opportunities.

As always, we’re focusing on genuine listings with real potential, not the “too good to be true” bargains that often come with hidden costs or complications. Each week, we search the country for solid options that are actually worth your time.

If there’s a specific region you’d like us to cover next, just let us know. We’re happy to shape this series around what you find most useful.

Property One

Catania is a good starting point for visiting Sicily. It is the second biggest city on the island after Palermo, and it’s really varied. Here you will find old neighbourhoods, as well as modern flats which are at the centre of the shops and nightlife. There is also a beach at Spiaggia della Plaia near the flat below, which makes it a nice little vacation option!

As a bustling city it’s important to know where to hang out and where to stay away. We wouldn’t recommend the areas of San Cristoforo, Librino and Stesicoro for tourists.

2/3 Bedroom Flat €79,000

Here we have a comfortable three-room apartment located on the second floor of a small building built in the early 1960s. It comprises three large rooms, one of which could be connected to the kitchen to create a living area, and the other two can be bedrooms. There is a large east-facing balcony which provides ample natural light throughout the home. Externally, it is in excellent condition, with the façade and landings redone, while the interior requires some renovation. Read more here.

Property Two

Next up Naples, one of the most requested cities now with people loving it’s slightly chaotic charm. With Neapolitan pizza, rich history (Pompeii/Herculaneum nearby), vibrant culture, Mount Vesuvius as your backdrop. There is so much to see and do in Naples and nearby. My son went and visited the unique underground tunnels last year and they did not disappoint! This is also a gateway to the Amalfi Coast so a bolthole here could give you many different holiday options.

Studio flat in Chiaia area €80,000

You may think this seems expensive for Naples and in a way you’re right, it is possible to buy vacation rental flats for around €25,000. However, usually they come with a catch which is that you are buying into a kind of rental home business and you have to then pay a monthly fee of anything from €400-700. This is where it’s easy to fall into the ‘buy it cheap’ trap.

There great little properties like this one which would be a good investment place to stay if Naples has stolen a bit of your heart. This flat is in the Chiaia area on Via Salita T. Tasso, a few steps from Via T. Tasso and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, served well by the main city services (metro, funicular, supermarkets, schools, green areas), this is a charming studio apartment with kitchenette and bathroom. The apartment is in excellent condition and very bright thanks to an excellent South/West exposure and is also very quiet and already fully furnished.

Perfect to lock up and leave and all the space you need for a city break. Check it out here.

Property Three

Something a bit different now, instead of flats you can leave without much maintenance what about a bigger property with a little romance?

We’re stopping in Puglianello which is close to the border of Molise and Campania regions. Puglianello is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 45 km northeast of Naples and about 30 km northwest of Benevento.

Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and local parkland: Parco Regionale del Taburno-Camposauro it’s great for those who love nature.

Detached house €98,000

In the village of Puglianello a few meters from the Castello dei Baroni, there is an independent house for sale. The house, with a rear courtyard and private garden, is composed of an entrance/living room, which leads to a kitchen, a garage, a storage room, a large cellar and an underground cellar. On the first floor, reached by an internal staircase, a hallway divides the four bedrooms and the bathroom.
The architecture of the main facade on Via San Giacomo is characterized by a loggia balcony, partly with an antique iron balustrade and partly with masonry arches. The exclusive garden, with direct access from the rear, contains a well and storage rooms. If you want a dream retirement home I think we may have found it! See MORE.

Property Four

Lastly we are in Lecce, a great option if you’re looking for a lively city with a vibrant cultural scene, and easy access to some of Puglia’s most beautiful beaches. The cost of living is reasonable, the climate is Mediterranean and warm, and there’s a growing expat community that makes integration easier.

This is known as the Florence of the South as it’s famous for opulent Baroque architecture, elaborate carvings in soft, golden limestone, grand churches, palaces, and an open-air museum feel. The experience is similar to Florence's Renaissance beauty but with a distinct southern Italian Baroque flair.

CRedit: immobiliare Licchetta - idealista.it

Detached house €288,000

This is a bigger budget find to give you some comparison. There are cheaper detached houses in Lecce, however we wanted to share something right in the historic centre.

Just 150 meters from the Basilica of Santa Croce, immersed in the charming alleys of the Baroque city and in the immediate vicinity of the main tourist and cultural attractions such as Piazzetta Greca, Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the Roman Amphitheater.

This historic property, built in 1900 and recently renovated with attention to modern details, is spread over two levels for a total of approximately 110 square meters. It is composed of two independent two-room apartments sold as a single solution. Both units offer independent entrances but also the possibility of being connected internally. Read more.

We hope you enjoyed a our trip down to the south of Italy. We will be posting a selection we find on Italian sites each week so come back for more!

If you want to view more information on each region check out these links: Southern Italy and Italian Islands.