The miracle of Italy is that all the world’s treasures come packaged into this one beautiful country, including magnificent mountains, serene lakes, heavenly islands, fabulous cities, and wonderful walled villages. These attractions combined with a favorable climate and warm, friendly people make Italy a perfect destination for any kind of vacation. Italy has become an even more attractive option due to its extremely undervalued real estate. Thus, purchasing a vacation home in Italy may be a terrific investment.

Interested in discovering the unparalleled artistic legacy of Italy? Consider investing in a Tuscan villa where you can enjoy the beautiful countryside, only a short drive away from the most beautiful and art-filled cities in the world. Florence has been the active art center of the world dating back to the Italian renaissance. This comes as no surprise considering it has been the home to world renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Filippo Brunelleschi, all of whom helped during the renaissance design many of the magnificent museums and palaces that now stand in Florence today, including both The Uffizi Gallery and The Galleria dell'Accademia, two of the most famous museums in the world. Another city worth visiting, if interested in the arts, is Siena, located about an hour south of Florence. For centuries, Siena was Florence’s number one rival politically, economically, and most importantly, artistically. Both the cities can attribute its most beautiful structures including both the cities “Duomo’s” to the rivalry between the cities and the unspoken competition to be the “city of the arts.” A walled city, Siena has not lost its medieval touch, despite the fact that it is a fully modernized city.

Both these cities are easily accessible from anywhere in Tuscany, making a Tuscan villa a great investment. For about $100,000, one can buy one of the many fully modernized villas that are for sale, which include three bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. These are incredible deals, and are available throughout the Tuscan region. The tourist season in Tuscany is from around April through September with March and October being relatively popular as well. Therefore, approximately 26 weeks throughout the year, vacationers will be looking to rent villas in the Tuscan region. The going rates for a one week stay in a Tuscan villa similar to the one described ranges from about $1000 to $3000, resulting in at the very least a 26 % return on investment in the first year of owning a villa. Even after considering property taxes and other legal fees, within four years of investing, you could be earning pure profit, something that is hard to come by these days.

The Amalfi Coast is another location in Italy, where travelers from around the world flock during the spring and fall. The 50km of coastline from Sorrento to Salerno is one of Europe's most beautiful. A narrow and winding road, which perilously clings to cliffs, affords spectacular views over blue waters. The road winds through numerous villages with white stucco houses and ceramic church domes nested amongst terraced vineyards and orchards. Among these villages, the three most notable are Positano, clambering down a vertiginous slope to the sea, Amalfi, with its remarkable Duomo, the once rival of Venice for maritime power and now a popular resort, and Ravelo, a hill town with the best views on the coast. The beautiful beaches should also be mentioned with their black sand and warm waters.

A villa in Amalfi is an investment that virtually anyone could benefit from. Aside from having a beautiful vacation villa to flee to anytime you want to practice your Italian, a villa in Amalfi would provide you with a substantial return on your investment with pure profits in the very near future. Rentals in Amalfi go for around $200 a week for a 2-3 bedroom villa with 1-2 bathrooms, a kitchen and living room, and of course, a gorgeous view. For around $80,000, the villa can be bought and that rental money is now yours to make. Amalfi is full of tourists for at least 30 weeks out of the year and sometimes even more depending on the weather; therefore, there is potential for a 40% return on investment in the first year with an investment in an Amalfi villa, even after paying legal fees and property taxes.

There are real estate deals throughout Italy similar to those that can be found in both Tuscany and on the Amalfi coast. Property taxes and other taxes that are imposed when purchasing real estate do need to be considered; however, the Italian taxation system is often changing and can be relatively complicated so it is best to consult a lawyer who is familiar with the system. With its rich culture, beautiful beaches, magnificent churches and museums, as well as the mountains in the north and the canals in Venice, Italy is a place where everybody wants to visit and is great for real estate investments. Property is sure to appreciate as people from abroad continue to buy up the real estate that’s available.