Country guides - Italy
Italy has certainly has a lot of ticks in the box, as a destination, generally it continues to be the less expensive of the four major Alpine countries. The atmosphere is fun, the food and wine excellent, the scenery is breath-taking , the lift systems amongst the most modern in Europe, the snow-making facilities are state of the art, the grooming is extremely professional and on top of this the slopes are ideal for intermediates.
As with many ski destinations, Italian resorts vary widely in both characteristics and location and are spread along the full length of the Italian Border, from Sauze to the Dolomites. At times it seems that each Italian resort has its own individual charm and lifestyle. Take the Aosta valley. The predominant language might be French, but on any given trip you are likely to hear people speaking a dialect of German in the towns of Gressoney and Alagna.
The beauty of a lot of Italian runs, particularly in the north-west, appear to be very easy, in part this is down to the grooming and also because the piste classification appears to overstate difficulty.
On the whole, Italians don’t take their skiing (or boarding) too seriously. They are often seen making a late start, enjoying a long leisurely lunch and finishing early, leaving the slopes wonderfully quiet for those who prefer a longer day on the slopes. Mountain restaurants are very welcoming and this encourages leisurely lunching and prices are reasonable.
One thing that Italian Ski Resorts do have to deal with is the unpredictability of snowfall. While in the northern Alps, the snow tends to come from the west, Italy’s snow tends to arrive as a result of storms in the south. Which means Italy can have great snow conditions, when other countries are struggling, or vice versa. However Italian Resort, as mentioned, do have extensive snow making facilities, which they utilise to good effect.
Italy does appear to be passing a lot of legislation currently, with mixed results. Like many places in Europe, Italian Bars and restaurants are now smoke-free and it is compulsory for children to wear helmets on the slopes. But in addition, many areas have also made it illegal to go off-piste near their pistes or even to go off piste at all, or to go off piste outside defined routes.
The cost of living in Italy is considered to be vastly cheaper than in the UK. Italians maintain that their health service is superior to that of France, which is considered by many to be the best in the world. Life in Italy is a lot more relaxed than it is in the UK, and two-hour lunch breaks are not uncommon. Whilst workers are on a break for lunch, do not expect the phone to be answered. Lunch is far more important than work, which can be completed at any time, according to Italians.
There are now approximately 60,000 Britons living in Italy and because of its approach to property development, there will always be a limit to supply, so it will never attract the massive numbers that Spain and Florida do, but it remains very special, and Italians work hard, to ensure it always will.
In a nutshell what makes Italy so attractive to the overseas buyers?
- Beautiful country, with fabulous food and wine
- Not over developed
- Has an upmarket appeal
- Increased availability in cheaper flights, improving accessibility
- Very good rental market
- Wide and varied culture
- Home to many Designer Houses and Brands
- Secure market – prices rising
- Sound investment