Italy Property – GaryLucyRealEstate.com

Italy is situated in Mediterranean Europe. Italian is the language for the majority of the population, but there are minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino. We’re here to tell you why Italy is not only renowned for its culture, history, cuisine and romance, but why you may want to have your own small part of it. With almost 40 million visitors, Italy is the fourth most visited country in the world.

Climate in Italy varies from a hot summer on the coast accompanied by cool sea breezes. During the winter it can vary from cold & foggy by the Alps to mild and warm on the Ligurian Coast. In mountain areas, winter is ideal for skiing, and summer for excursions, hiking, etc. Seaside and lake resorts, with their excellent hotel facilities, have an intense tourist season in the summer, while the cities that are rich in art treasures are ideal in spring and autumn.

Facts & Culture:
Italy is renowned for its culture and endless attractions as well as its infamous cuisine art and romance. Italian wines and cuisine are famous the world over. Italy is one of the largest producers of wine. For centuries wine growing has been the cultivation which used most of the labour of the Italian farmers; this is still true today; a large part of the population is engaged in the vine and wine industry. Italy is still one of the top ten economic powers in the world, and even offers free healthcare to her citizens. Another unique facet of Italy is the fact that the country is not powered by huge conglomerates, as is the case in many industrialized nations. In fact, most commerce is the product of small and family run businesses, which have grown and prospered throughout many generations. Italy's major industries include tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, and ceramics. Italy has 16 regions and 4 autonomous regions. The capital and largest city is Rome, with it’s wealth of history and architecture. Milan is a city home to Italian fashion & finance and Florence is home to Italian art. Italy’s currency is the euro and their estimated population is over 58 million. Italy has a long history of welcoming foreign students. The Schools in Italy offer two sites from which to choose depending on the type of environment the student is seeking. Students who choose to study in the provincial city of Ferrara will have little interaction with other Americans or tourists, while students studying in Florence will have a more international experience.

All main centres, most of the provincial cities and many quite small towns have museums. Of all the countries in the worlds, there is none more magical than Italy, a traveller’s dream destination. Ancient monuments and archaeological sites are perfectly preserved; the museums are bursting with the genius of Italy's finest sons: Raffaello, Michelangelo, Tiziano, Canova; contemporary architects are still inspired by ancient buildings and squares (piazze). Italian cities are veritable living museums. Everywhere you look you are reminded of a historical heritage inclusive of Etruscans, Greeks, Normans, Arabs, and Huns, culminating in Roman and Venetian empires, the Kingdom of Italy, and finally the Republic of Italy. Famous Italian explorers include Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, John Cabot, and Amerigo Vespucci. Modern day Italia is proud of this past, and modern Italian culture is steeped in it. Italy, Opera's ancestral home, offers visitors a rich choice of operatic seasons throughout most of the year. The Teatro alla Scala of Milano, the Teatro San Carlo of Napoli and the Teatro dell'Opera of Roma are world-renowned for technical perfection of performances and detailed magnificence of scenery and costumes. The opera season lasts from December to june, as do the seasons at Italy's other major opera houses. In summer, visit the spectacular open-air opera.

Geographical Information:
There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, although it is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines. The former extends over 600 miles from east to west. It consists of great massifs in the western sector, with peaks rising to over 14,000 feet, including Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc), Monte Rosa and Cervino (the Matterhorn). The the chain is lower in the eastern sector, although the mountains, the Dolomites, are still of extraordinary beauty. At the foot of the Alpine arc stretches the vast Po Valley plain, cut down the middle by the course of the river Po, the longest in Italy (390 miles), which has its source in the Pian de Re (Monviso) and flows into the Adriatic through a magnificent delta.The Alpine foothills are characterized by large lakes: Lake Maggiore and the lakes of Como, Iseo and Garda. The Apennines form the backbone of the peninsula, stretching in a wide arc concave to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Corno Grande (Gran Sasso d'Italia) is the highest peak. Central Italy is largely characterized by a green hilly landscape, through which the rivers Arno and Tevere (Tiber) run. The southern section of the chain pushes out to the east forming the Gargano promontory and, sloping down further south, the Salentine peninsula. It then proceeds to the west with the Calabrian and Peloritano massif stretching across the Strait of Messina into Sicilia.The principal islands are Sicilia, rising up to the great volcanic cone of Etna (10,860 feet) and Sardegna.

Opportunities & Property facts in Italy
Buying a Property in Italy will allow purchasers the opportunity to enjoy history, culture and the stunning scenery. As well as having an address in one of the most exclusive countries in Europe.

Property purchasers are attracted by the lack of mass property development in Italy, while smaller developments, existing re-sales and rural renovations form the bulk of the Italian property market.

Renovation of the old properties into new modern ones that will transform them into high value rental properties in peak season and the possibility to cut purchase costs in half by becoming a resident.

Italy is fast becoming an alternative to Spain, France or Portugal and as a result, the Italian property market is entering a growth period.

Prices remain relatively low, compared to many EU destinations. Capital growth of 20% per year in some locations. There is NO capital gains tax on profits from Italian property, creating maximum returns on investment. The Italian government offers investors grants to reform rural. Italy has pioneered property tax reforms, offering great opportunities for the rural renovator, including substantial VAT discounts. And being an EU member country. Offering economic and political security. Only 2 ¼ hours direct flying time from UK, with low cost flights. Click here for a list of Airlines