Buying a house in central Italy

The favourite destination for Britons and Americans wanting to buy property in Italy has - for decades now - been Tuscany. A specific part of Tuscany at that, with Chianti being dubbed Chiantishire, such are the numbers of relocating Brits. Tuscany provides our textbook views of Italy - pretty hill towns and hill tops farms gazing down upon rows of vines and olive groves, a line of cypresses breaking the azure sky. Of course Tuscany is also very expensive now: searching for a ruined farmhouse to turn into a dream home is likely to end in disappointment. But there are still very good deals to be had by buying property in Florence, Pisa or Lucca … cities might be your best target.

Many have turned their attention to property sales in neighbouring Umbria, the 'green heart of Italy'. Stunningly pretty, it has rolling hills, valleys, streams and woodlands of oaks. And this is the region of the classic walled hill-town. You could look for a house to buy in Gubbio or Assisi, or you could head for less discovered mediaeval towns such as Narno.

Marche, or the Italian Marches, is often described as 'the new Umbria' by those desperate to snare a bargain property in Italy. Nestling between the Apennines and the sea, it has fine mediaeval towns such as Urbino and - crucially for those looking to buy property in Marche - abandoned farmhouses and castles at still-affordable prices.

And Lazio, the region that contains Rome, offers plenty of choice for home hunters. Rome itself is still cheap compared to northern cities such as Milan and Florence - whether you're looking to buy an apartment in Rome itself or one of the many country villas in the Lazio countryside, built by rich Romans escaping the city.

Abruzzo isn't big with foreigners buying Italian property yet, but it has a lot in its favour. Depopulated over the last century it offers wide open, unspoiled spaces and the cottages and farmhouses abandoned by the emigrating Abruzzi. As well as an Adriatic coastline it has a growing number of ski resorts on the Apennines. This is a region for the adventurous property buyer, but with huge potential for growth.

As for Abruzzo so for Molise, with a huge stock of abandoned properties - including farmhouses, monastries, even castles. And yet Molise has a growing holiday coastline and ski business.

Sardinia is very popular with Italian holidaymakers but relatively undiscovered by the rest of us. That makes its beautiful and clean beaches uncrowded for most of the year and prices - except for the most chi chi resorts - surprisingly affordable. A beautiful island.