Property Bargains in Italy’s New Hotspot

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Pescara, Italy

Read more about affordable Italy in International Living Postcards—your daily escape

I’m in Pescara on the Abruzzo coast. Bombed during World War II, it’s now a mostly modern city with sandy Adriatic beaches, excellent shopping streets, and an airport with direct flights to the U.K. and Germany. Train and bus services are good, and it’s a great base to explore Abruzzo and farther south down the coast into the Molise region.

For most foreign home buyers, Pescara lacks romance, but I like it. After all, a modern city is as authentically Italian as a medieval hill town. But with prices generally over $3,000 per square meter ($278 per square foot) for quality properties, it’s not true bargain-hunting territory. That said, nearby beach resorts can be quite affordable. On via Regina Elena, local agent Casa Mercato has a 40-square-meter (430-square-foot) studio at Montesilvano with sea views for €65,000 ($100,000).

I went through Francavilla al Mare, and this looks a cheerful resort town. The sandy beaches and dramatic mountainous views on this Adriatic coast draw local holidaymakers in summer. A 100-square-meter (1,076-square-foot) apartment here is €170,000 ($261,000).

Beyond the estate agents on via Regina Elena, the heated terrace of Birreria del Corso looked promising. It was warm enough to take off my new €40 ($61) leather jacket from L’Aquila’s market. The food in Birreria del Corso isn’t fine dining, but there was nothing wrong with my €6.50 ($10) pizza. Or the half-liter carafe of red wine for €4 ($6). What was wrong was the bill. I was charged for a full liter of wine and a non-existent bottle of water. In Rome, Naples, and Genoa, I was overcharged too often for coincidence. I’ve learned to always write down the price of menu items before ordering. And also add up hand-written calculations for myself.

Thanks to Ryanair's flights from the U.K., Pescara is now a destination for many Europeans. And where tourists venture, scamming often follows. I love Italy, but not the habit of “creative” billing some big-city restaurants tend to have.

Steenie Harvey
Roving Europe Editor, International Living

Editor’s note: Imagine visiting romantic destinations such as Italy and not spending a cent…but instead getting paid to travel to faraway lands, meet new people, and experience different cultures. It’s easier than you think…here’s how.

Read related articles:

- Money-saving Tips When in Rome

- Buy a Home for $27,000 in a Secret Pocket of Italy

- Oodles of Property Bargains in This Corner of Italy