Italy is in the top three destinations in the world when it comes to buying second homes and as a result there are hardly any affordable houses for sale in the popular regions like Tuscany and Umbria nowadays. Due to old Italian traditions, it is still difficult to split and register a piece of land, which results in only a very limited supply of attractive new locations for property developments.
ITALY’S NEWEST ‘NEXT PLACE’
Small wonder that second home buyers focus on other Italian regions, where affordability and authenticity still go together. Thanks to growing media attention on the central and southern parts of Italy, the property market has been prospering during recent years. Many of those who are looking for a second home are now focusing on the southern regions, of which Puglia, the region also known as ‘the heel of Italy’s boot’, is becoming very popular amongst northern Europeans. The reasons are clear. The Italian federation of professional real estate agents (FIAIP) compared the property market in Puglia with Tuscany in the early ‘90’s. Here we still find a growing market where prices increase between 10 to 12 per cent per year.
Puglia has the longest coastline of any Italian region. The miles of sandy beaches and the crystal-clear turquoise water of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas make Puglia a fantastic Mediterranean destination. Its rich cultural heritage of undiscovered towns, fine examples of Baroque architecture, white sandy beaches and wonderful food and wine make Puglia one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. The world-famous Italian cuisine originates from Puglia, which is a food and wine lover’s paradise. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with long, hot summers (averaging 30°C), mild winters (averaging 15°C), and the lowest rainfall in the country.
With two international airports near Bari and Brindisi, Puglia is easily accessible with a growing number of (budget) airlines from the United Kingdom and many other European countries. Most of the region can be reached from these airports within an hour’s drive.
SHAKING OFF THE SHACKLES OF THE PAST
The poverty that dominated the southern regions for a long time belongs to the past. The labour market has grown rapidly, but the charm and authenticity have remained. Puglia is as big as, for example, Holland but has only four million inhabitants. Highly educated young people are returning to Puglia after their studies in northern Italy and abroad and are successfully reviving the traditional family-run companies. For example, southern Italian grapes were once used to enrich wines from Northern Italy and even France but the new generation is proving that it is much more lucrative to produce wines themselves. Tourism and the second home market are still in an early stage. That is why it is very attractive to invest in a second home here. I’m pleased to say that I’m leading a real estate project located between Fasano and Ostuni in the province of Brindisi.
In the village of Pozzo Faceto, I started a unique project in close cooperation with the previous mayor of Fasano. On an area of 19 acres, just two kilometres from the Adriatic coast, some old buildings with typical local architecture will be restored and combined with new exclusive villas and apartments with authentic as well as modern architecture. Hanns Mommersteegh, a reputed Dutch architect who has also lived in Italy for many years, is in charge of the design of the project, which will be built to northern European standards by local construction companies, with local building materials.
RESIDENZA PARCO DI MILETO
The Mileto estate is unique in the area, offering gently undulating hills and caves on both sides of the land and is surrounded by centuries-old olive groves, where ‘Il Giardino Segreto di Mileto’ (The Secret Gardens of Mileto) will be created.
Residenza Parco di Mileto comprises 26 individually designed villas and 38 apartments, divided amongst six buildings in ‘villa style’ design with only two stories, a main building in typically Masseria style with reception, shared area and guest rooms and an exclusive wellness centre with indoor pool, saunas and a Turkish bath. Parco di Mileto also provides housekeeping services and numerous outdoor sports and fitness facilities and even health care services. The Adriatic Sea, the beautiful beaches of Torre Canne and the prestigious 18-hole San Domenico golf course and the nine-hole Coccaro course are just at a few minutes from the park.
Parco di Mileto will be a typical Italian village, including a central square. Even locals have shown interest in living here. It will be a lively community in which the residents can be part of day-to-day Italian life, with every possible facility and even health care facilities just around the corner. Those who are looking for comfortable and carefree living in the most attractive region of southern Italy should look no further.
Wim Van Gelderen is the director of Puglia Property Development. For more information visit www.pugliaproperty.eu or contact info@pugliaproperty.eu
