Italy’s property market continues to attract attention from abroad. In 2025 and into 2026, a growing number of international buyers are shifting their focus. No longer do most foreign buyers only look for vacation homes. Now many want a new life in Italy, whether that means moving permanently, spending extended periods here, or living a more relaxed lifestyle.
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From Holiday Houses to Life Projects
Traditionally, many foreign buyers came to Italy to buy a second home just for holidays. Today, the trend is deeper. Many international buyers already know Italy as tourists. Now they want to settle here, work here, retire here, or immerse themselves in Italian culture. They value places with authentic daily life, good services, and more affordable prices outside of big cities.
This shift is important because it shows how the market has matured. Buyers seek real communities and lifestyles, not just holiday addresses. Rural towns, historic centers, and smaller cities are often more interesting and affordable than large tourist hubs.
Top 10 Most Searched Towns by Expat Buyers
Data from Gate-away.com, a website that promotes Italian homes to international buyers, reveals which Italian towns attracted the most search interest in 2025:
- Ostuni (Apulia/Puglia)
- Santa Maria del Cedro (Calabria)
- Caltagirone (Sicily)
- Noto (Sicily)
- Scalea (Calabria)
- Rome (Lazio)
- Carovigno (Apulia/Puglia)
- Nizza Monferrato (Piedmont)
- Todi (Umbria)
- Fivizzano (Tuscany)
This list spans North, Central, and Southern Italy, showing that foreign demand has become geographically diverse. Some places are seaside towns, others are historic hilltop communities — but most share charm, scenery, and a pace of life that many foreigners find appealing.
What Kinds of Places Are Foreign Buyers Choosing?
Here’s a glimpse into what kinds of properties international buyers search for most often.
Ostuni is known as the “White City” for its limestone buildings, this town in Puglia attracts interest for villas, renovated historic homes, and estates near the coast. Average searched price here is about €313,900.
Santa Maria del Cedro and Scalea, Calabrian towns, offer lower-priced options, sometimes under €100,000, and charm near the Mediterranean.
Noto and Caltagirone are two beautiful Sicilian towns with baroque architecture. Noto attracts buyers seeking higher-end properties, with average interest up to €497,000.
Italy’s capital remains popular with buyers looking for historic apartments and centrally located homes, although prices here tend to be much higher, over €1.1 million.
Nizza in Monferrato, Todi and Fivizzano are scenic historic towns in Piedmont, Umbria, and Tuscany. There buyers look for houses in landscapes and villages with good connections to culture and slow-paced living.
Why Italy Is Still Attractive
Italy combines culture, climate, food, and history in a way few countries match. Many foreigners see Italy not just as holiday land but as a place where they can live — permanently, part-time, or for retirement. Reports suggest nearly half of foreign home buyers choose Italy with retirement in mind.
Another attraction is value: while luxury markets like Rome or Tuscany can be expensive, other regions like Calabria or rural Sicily still offer much more affordable entry prices — sometimes a fraction of what similar homes cost in Northern Europe or North America.
Tips for International Buyers
If you’re thinking of buying in Italy you should research the area well. Small towns have different services and access than big cities, as we have explained in this article.
Understand Italian terms before you buy. For example, “borgo” means a historic village or hamlet, a type of property native to Italy and often highly desirable.
Consider lifestyle as much as investment. The reason many foreigners buy here isn’t just property value — it’s the quality of life.
