Discover Incredible Property in a Secret Corner of Hidden Italy

If I were to tell you that there’s an as yet undiscovered corner of Italy rich in rustic charm, abounding with rare wildlife such as wolves and eagles, where you can buy anything from a castle to a cave and where the weather is incredible, the coastline an affordable competitor to the Amalfi and property prices are unbelievably low, would you believe me?

Probably not!  But I’m telling you the truth…in this article you will discover incredible property in a secret corner of hidden Italy that is so far from the tourist trail and the expatriate beaten track as to be totally untouched and unspoiled - where you can affordably buy anything your heart desires and where you can enjoy an incredibly good quality of life.  Allow me to introduce you to Basilicata…

The Italian region of Basilicata is in Southern Italy, it is bordered by Campania to the west, Puglia to the east and Calabria to the south, it has coastlines on the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts and because it has no significant towns or cities, was relatively difficult to access quickly until recently and has suffered depopulation as workers have migrated away from the rural region to find work elsewhere, very little is known about Basilicata outside of Italy’s own borders.

Now, just because Basilicata is undiscovered and little known, under-populated and under-priced, does that mean it warrants attention or does it just mean it’s cheap? 

Other locations around the world have risen in popularity simply because they are cheap but they have little else going for them…however the truth is Basilicata is an incredibly stunning region of Italy and in actual fact it warrants more than just a closer inspection – in my mind if anyone is contemplating moving to Italy to get away from it all they should be moving to Basilicata. 

Basilicata has mountain, forests, rivers, gorges, extinct volcanoes, national parks, wild boar, wolves, eagles, kites – you can ski in the mountains, sunbathe on the beaches, get lost in the mountains and the forests and in the rural and secluded charm of this part of the world.  You will fall in love with the rustic cuisine, the spicy yet simple traditional dishes, the succulent and fresh, organic, home grown produce and of course the proud, traditional people.

In terms of the property available for sale in Basilicata you will find everything apart from modern villas and high-rise apartment blocks!  This is an area of the nation where you really can buy a castle or a cave, you can buy a farmhouse or an entire medieval village if you want one, you can buy land and build, buy a townhouse or a rural cottage and renovate…but you will not find houses advertised all over the internet or at property exhibitions, you will not be pounced upon by estate agents as soon as you arrive and you will have to tread very carefully and employ the services of a well respected lawyer in Italy to check out the title deeds of anything you’re considering buying - because the property purchase process in Basilicata can be less than traditional! 

While this adds greatly to the Italian property buying experience, it can also add greatly to the stress unless you employ commonsense to the equation and take your time in purchasing and make sure everything goes through the proper channels.  Most likely you’ll be offered a home or land by just about anyone you meet from the hotelier to the barman, from the market stall holder to a farmer in a field – and you’ll be told you can save time and money by not employing a lawyer…which is of course true!  But corruption and greed can sometimes take over even the most honest vendor and mistakes and hot-headed decision making can take over even the most level headed purchaser – which is why you need a lawyer to protect all parties concerned.

In terms of beginning a hunt for a property why not head for Matera towards the Ionian Sea or even better in my mind, Maratea on the West coast – both are ideal places to base yourself for extensive exploration of Basilicata and real estate in the region, and Maratea is so interesting and stunning that surely it’s only a matter of time before it becomes better discovered and represents an investor’s dream come true.

If you’re only just beginning to consider the prospects of buying a property abroad and you’re looking for a challenge, an unusual move, a unique home and a place truly a long way away from the madding crowds then Basilicata has to be high up on your list for consideration for locations offering incredible property in a secret corner of hidden Italy…it truly is charming, unique, affordable and beautiful.