Below are some photos of the day of filming at the house in Casalanguida.

Below are some photos of the day spent filming in Fossalto, at the house that is now the property of Chase and Sarah Morrill.

 My name is Monia. I am the founder of Abruzzo Rural Property - an international real estate agency based in the region of Abruzzo, in Central Italy.

I have been working as an international realtor since 2011 - that is, for almost 13 years. What do I love most about my job? The chance to enter stunning character properties with incredible authentic details and historic value. Over the years, we have sold quite a few historic buildings. The features, which make these character properties unique, are amazing and have captivated their new owners.

The following are pictures of just a small selection of properties I am referring to.

Historic palazzo, typical early 15th Century Neapolitan architectural style, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2022.

Historic palazzo, dating back to the 1800s in Castelmauro, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2021.

Historic apartment in Agnone, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2023.

Ancient town house with antique features in Acquaviva Collecroce, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2023.

Historic palazzo in Casalanguida, Abruzzo region, Central Italy: sold in 2022, and currently on Instagram as 'Palazzo Abruzzo'.

Run-of-the-mill renovation work, such as a new bathroom, new plumbing, re-wiring, etc., was not the case here. Many of those buildings were also in need of restoration, and in some cases, extensive restoration. Experts, endowed with the relevant set of skills, carried out the work.

As realtors, we know numerous building companies but when we started dealing with properties requiring restoration, we quickly realised we would have to search out artisans/artists with the right skills. It was a difficult task! It is no mean feat restoring a fresco or an ancient stucco, or even upgrading vintage wallpaper without having to remove it completely, and risk destroying it.

Purely by chance, and a great deal of luck, we found a young artist, Ms Lucrezia Lalli, based in Roccaspinalveti, Abruzzo – the main region covered by our agency. Despite her young age she has extensive experience in conservative restoration. Lucrezia was the missing piece needed to complete our puzzle of reliable and competent artisans and builders.

Here below Lucrezia would like to introduce herself and give you a peek at some of the work she has been commissioned to undertake:

Hello! I’m Lucrezia Lalli, a restoration technician and expert in preservation, protection and safeguarding of historic-artistic heritage.

I’m thirty-four years old and I live in Roccaspinalveti, a little medieval town near Vasto.

Restoration is an ancient, handcrafted profession, which moves, as per its nature, between old and new.

As a restoration technician, I take care of ancient pieces of art, restoring their original aesthetic aspect, always being careful to respect both the historical moment of production and the artistical values conveyed by the artist.

My mission is the attentive restoration and the protection of the aesthetic integrity of our cultural heritage.

Soon after graduating in Archeology in 2012 from the university of D’Annunzio Chieti and Pescara, I started studying restoration techniques in Mantua, at the Istituto Santa Paola, where in 2013, I met Mr. Walter Zuccarini and his team “La Casa per le Arti”. This period was full of evolutionary experiences. A period of both professional and personal growth.

In 2015, back in my home region of Abruzzo, I started the Zenor project: a laboratory of applied techniques located in a former school in the hamlet of Roccalspinalveti.

My work is partly done in my laboratory and partly done on construction sites either in or outside Abruzzo. I work on the restoration of canvases, panels, wooden sculptures, furniture, doorways, stone portals, stone surfaces, decorated surfaces, gilding and stucco.

Below, you will find a list of some works accomplished by Lucrezia:

• Facade renovation of the historical building ‘Palazzo de Sanctis’ (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Restoration and preservation of the Cappella del Sacro Cuore (Sacred Heart Chapel), the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major Church) (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Maintenance of the stone altar of the Chiesa Punta Luce (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Facade renovation of the historical building ‘Palazzo Petrini’ (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Restoration of the minor altar of the Chiesa di San Francesco da Paola (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Facade renovation of the historical building ‘Tagliente’ (in the city of Vasto, Abruzzo).

• Restoration of a wooden painted ceiling in Palazzo Boccanelli (in the city of Guarcino, Latium).

• Consolidation and restoration of painted ceilings in the President's Cabinet in the Palace of Macerata District.

• Restoration and conservation of terracotta cornices at the Carthusian Monastery of Ferrara.

• Consolidation and restoration of wall decorations located in the Sanctuary of the keep, Rocca di Cento affected by the 2012 earthquake.

• Consolidation of painted ceilings in private homes affected by the earthquake in 2012 (in the city of Ferrara).

• Restoration of the 17th Century polychrome wooden sculpture depicting St. Michael the Archangel located in the city of Liscia (Chieti District) in collaboration with the restorer Michele Massone.

• Restoration and consolidation of wall paintings (mixed techniques) inside the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the city of Guilmi (Chieti District).

And presented here are some photos of the completed works by Lucrezia.

Therefore, if your house has artistic details to restore in a conservative way, Lucrezia could be the right person for you.

It is such a pleasure and immensely satisfying to see these abandoned buildings - real gems - coming back to life. I feel lucky to be able to say, that we have taken part, and will continue to do so, in the preservation of a piece of Italy’s architectural history.

Obviously, to achieve this goal, we also need our clients from all over the world, so brave and passionate, to challenge the difficulties inherent in restoring an antique or ancient building. Not only do we need amazing builders and project managers but also artists with experience and talent like Lucrezia.

If you own a historic building with frescoes, stucco, furniture, antique portals and sculptures to restore, contact Lucrezia:

Email: lucrezia_89_@hotmail.it
Facebook: Lucrezia Lalli restauri
WhatsApp: 0039 3665910858

Furthermore, if you love antique buildings, castles, historic palaces, you are in the right place. Although it’s not always easy to find intact gems, unspoiled by the modifications carried out by their previous owners, we continuously seek out this type of building.

We take pride in our commitment to providing our clients with a quality restoration project and feel we can say that we have built up a good reputation in this niche market.

 If you are not an Italian citizen approaching the Italian real estate market for the first time, you don't speak Italian and you don't know the laws, you might want to read this article to get a better idea about Italian Real Estate Agencies and their duties.

First of all, a registered Italian real estate agency must have a license number and a company registration code.

The company registration code is very important and is the most important document your agent must have.

The company registration code is also called R.E.A, this code represents the registration of the company at the local Chamber of Commerce.

The R.E.A. number is mandatory to work as a realtor in Italy.

This code consists in the initials of the province where the real estate agency is based followed by six numbers.

For example, the R.E.A. code of Abruzzo Rural Property SRL is CH – 402525; CH being the initials of the province of Chieti, in Abruzzo region. The agency is registered at the Chamber of Commerce of Chieti.

In Italy, only real estate agencies with an R.E.A. code can trade in a legal and officially authorized way, therefore, when you start dealing with an Italian realtor, the first important thing to ask for is this code.

When a real estate agency has this code, it means that a series of necessary requirements has been fulfilled. In order to grant an R.E.A. code, the Chamber of Commerce requires the following documents:

• Real Estate Agent license that is obtained only after having attended a valid six month course and having passed an exam at the Chamber of Commerce.

• Clean criminal record.

• Valid VAT number (IVA), for tax payments.

• Valid business trade insurance.

• And also an ANTIMAFIA certificate.

Therefore, the R.E.A. code itself is valid proof that some standards have surely been met.

In addition to this, a valid R.E.A. code will enable the real estate agency to open a company's bank account.

The Law in Italy is very clear, only those who obtain an R.E.A. code can operate as real estate agents in the Italian territory and are entitled to be paid a real estate agency fee.

On the Internet there are many websites advertising properties in Italy, claiming the provision of services like those of a real estate agency, offering courses and tutorials on how to buy a property in the country.

When approaching an agency, it is vital to make sure that your realtor has a valid R.E.A. code to be able to trade under the Italian law.

Why should your realtor have an R.E.A. code and why is it so important? There are three main reasons for this:

1. Because if you decide to buy a property you will have to pay a holding deposit to your agent and also the amount necessary to register your preliminary contract. Obviously if the agent has an R.E.A code, the bank account you send the money to will be the company’s and not simply a private account number.
2. A realtor with an R.E.A. code means that the business is insured and that there is a clean criminal record.
3. The R.E.A. number is also a guarantee that the company is not under bankruptcy.

R.E.A. code and VAT number are two completely different things. The VAT number is related to tax payments, an interpreter or a translator will need a VAT number to issue an invoice, but a real estate agency must not only have this but also an R.E.A. code.

The VAT number is not enough to trade as a realtor.

Important documentation of reliability and professionality to look out for is the adhesion to some professional business association related to the real estate market.

In Italy the two most relevant associations are FIMAA and FIAIP.

If your realtor is associated to one of these two, it means that the business complies with Italian laws as mentioned above.

Penalties for those acting without the above requirements are severe and expensive. Unfortunately there are still unlicensed realtors out there, dealing especially with international clients who are often unaware of Italian laws.

To summarise, when you contact a real estate agency in Italy always ask for the R.E.A. code. The VAT number is not enough and not proof of valid registration.

You can also ask the realtor to show you their business badge issued by the Chamber of Commerce which shows the name of the agent and the R.E.A. code.

If your agent is without an R.E.A. code or a business badge, start looking for a licensed one. There are many honest, fully registered realtors in Italy, so why trade with a fake one?

If on the other hand, you are dealing with a realtor but you feel uncomfortable or something is not 100% clear, then contact a lawyer.

Italians don't hire lawyers to buy / sell a house, because the notary is the legal representative to supervise the entire purchase.

However, a foreigner who doesn't feel sure about their realtor and doesn't have contacts with an English speaking notary, should feel free to hire a lawyer.

This will be more expensive, but it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially in a foreign country where you may not be aware of the laws and may not speak the language fluently.

There is a part of Italy that has still to be discovered by the outside world, with its charming and unspoiled regions steeped in history, where mountains, countryside and coastlines offer a great diversity of natural beauty.

This is where you can find the authentic Italy. Where time stands still. A slice of this authentic Italy can be very affordable. In many rural areas low real estate prices allow the dream of owning a home in Italy to come true.

This is the case of Abruzzo, so it is important to understand how the real estate market in this region has evolved in recent years.

Table of contents

1. A little bit of history from the past decade
2. Nowadays in Abruzzo
3. The real estate market in the past few years
4. Is it better to buy a house to renovate or a move-in ready one?
5. Local vs International property market
6. Is buying a house in Abruzzo a good investment? Can properties be rented to tourists?
7. What is new on the horizon?

A little bit of history from the past decade

I started working in the international real estate market in September 2010 and everything was different. Foreign interest mainly came from Britain and the Netherlands, and even though there were also enquiries from other countries, it was not enough to make for a real market case. Clients were looking for houses to renovate, old buildings or ruins in the countryside in need of a total makeover, many of these clients wanted to renovate the houses themselves without hiring contractors.

Abruzzo was not famous abroad, not as a tourist destination and certainly not as a hotspot for property investments.

Twelve years ago the Internet was already widely used, but in a different way compared to nowadays. Websites such as TripAdvisor, Booking, Airbnb were not massively used back then, Instagram wasn't even born and Facebook was not used as a marketing tool.

The Abruzzo region has started to be widely advertised on the Internet only in recent years especially in the English language to promote the region abroad, in Europe and overseas. In the past few years important press such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian, Forbes, BBC and many other outlets wrote about the area. Abruzzo was often described as the unspoilt Italy, the region to discover, the authentic Italy and so on…

Not only private companies, but even local authorities have increased their efforts in promoting the area. New accommodations have started to sprawl on the web, as well as new restaurants, wine bars, businesses and entertainment venues.

Nowadays in Abruzzo

The results of these advertising campaigns have been beneficial. Abruzzo has started to receive many visitors from all over the world but without being overwhelmed, thereby dodging the annoying effects of mass tourism.

In Abruzzo tourists can have a full-immersion experience of the real Italian lifestyle and feel part of it all, amongst local people who mostly only speak Italian and a few words in English (if any). You won't come across restaurants for the locals and restaurants for the tourists, like in Rome, Venice, or Florence… . In this region you can easily visit a village where you are the only tourist in town and everyone gives you a warm welcome with open arms. This unspoilt corner of Italy offers authentic real–life experiences and not just crowded sightseeing.

The region is perfect for year-round tourism, both in winter, thanks to the fully-equipped ski slopes and the seasonal outdoor activities promoted by the National Parks, and in the summer when the 130 km of beautiful, pristine sandy beaches can be enjoyed to the fullest.

The real estate market in the past few years

With the area becoming more popular and more advertised worldwide, the real estate market has also started to change.

Since 2018 we have started to receive more clients from the USA and over the past two years the trend has been completely overturned, with 60% of buyers coming from the USA, 25% from the UK and the rest from other countries.

The type of properties requested by international clients are no longer ruins or rundown country houses in remote locations, but nice readily habitable houses, or important historic buildings with valuable details worthy of large restoration projects.

This new trend is, in my opinion, very wise and in the next paragraph I will expand on this particular point.

Is it better to buy a house to renovate or a move-in ready one?

For sure it is much more convenient in terms of budget to buy a house that is ready to move into or in need of very light cosmetic works. This is true for several reasons:

• In the past few years several grants have been provided by the Italian government for the renovation of old buildings (110% ECOBONUS, SISMA BONUS, 50% DISCOUNT ON RENOVATION, just to list a few…), and consequently workforce has become much more expensive and difficult to find. This is for an obvious reason: when demand is very high, prices increase.
• During the Covid-19 pandemic the costs of materials have increased due to limited availability, and the current Ukraine/Russia crisis is causing prices to go up even further. Therefore, if five years ago the costs of raw materials were affordable now they are expensive and the waiting times to get such supplies are often long.
• The cost of a total restoration can be as high as 1.000,00 euro per square meter, or in some instances even more.
• The price of habitable homes is generally pretty affordable, it is possible to find one bedroom townhouses for just 20.000,00 euro, and even two bedroom houses for as little as 25.000,00/30.000,00 euro. With some light revamping, decoration, new furniture and lots of love, these houses can become little gems.
• It is therefore easy to understand that buying a house which is in good shape is economically more convenient than embarking on a restoration project, unless the building offers unique historic value, like some precious antique property.

Local vs International property market

There are two property markets in Abruzzo, one for local families and one for international buyers.

The market aimed at local families is centred around large settlements and towns along the Adriatic Coast, as families need to live close to schools and workplaces such as factories or offices (obviously large towns offer more work opportunities and facilities than small hilltop towns). Furthermore, the real estate market in such places generally offers new buildings, normally condo apartments ideal for families who intend to take out a mortgage.

The market for international buyers is more focused on small towns, generally further inland, 30 minutes or more away from the coast. In fact, such towns are often very picturesque with beautiful panoramic views while real estate prices in such places are incredibly affordable.

When young couples move to large towns, these smaller villages become increasingly less populated, houses remain empty, and prices drop. For a young Italian family it is not convenient to drive 30 or 40 minutes every day to go to work, take the kids to school or simply reach a large shopping centre.

But for tourists this is not a real issue. When they want to reach larger towns for shopping or to spend the day out, they can simply drive or get on a local bus, in what becomes a sort of little, pleasant day trip.

Moreover, the difference in property prices between a large settlement on the coast and a small hamlet on the hills can be remarkable.

Is buying a house in Abruzzo a good investment? Can properties be rented to tourists?

A house by the beach can be very expensive, it can be rented to Italian holiday makers during the busy summer months at very high prices. Same for a house in the most popular ski resorts.

But a property on the hills is different as it can be rented all year round to occasional tourists, house hunters or internationals who want to try the lifestyle in Abruzzo for a little while before deciding where to retire. Such properties are not rented at very high prices like a flat on the beach, but can produce a small regular year-round income.

On the other hand, the initial investment for a house on the hills is generally moderate therefore, it is easy to get a quick return on the investment.

What is new on the horizon?

As Abruzzo is becoming famous abroad and more international people are moving permanently to the area, the neighbouring Molise region is starting to become well-known too.

In Italy, Molise is sometimes ironically referred to as “the region that does not exist”: IL MOLISE NON ESISTE (or “Molisn't”). Being the second smallest region in the country, it is surely not a hotspot destination and is seldom advertised online or abroad.

But Molise nowadays is similar to Abruzzo 12 years ago. Nonetheless something is changing and in 2021 The Guardian wrote a beautiful article about Molise. We have started to receive more requests from clients focusing on the region… I feel this is the sign that Molise has all the potential to grow like its neighbouring Abruzzo.