Z crowns as far as the eye can see. Almost a cliché, here in the country, where they are known to bloom and Goethe was raving about their sight. Although it evokes romantic feelings in the viewer, as the citrus garden extends picturesquely down to the sea – it should pay off above all else. Because he belongs to a four-hectare estate in Acireale, located on the east coast of Sicily, looking for a new owner. “Here you earn twice: on the leasing and sale of lemons, they are even organic!” Luca Venora praises the property while walking through the fields, which he on behalf of the estate agent Engel & Völkers (E & V) to the man should bring.
Ever since the poet-lord lyrically ennobled Sicily as the culmination of his “Italian Journey”, many Germans felt a yearning for Italy – especially strong in the fifties to the eighties of the last century. But the days when the fully loaded VW Beetle fought its way across the Alps with the whole family are long gone. The enthusiasm of the German tourists and buyers for Bella Italia has abated. Only around 8 percent of those seeking relaxation in this country are drawn to the regions south of the Brenner. 14 percent of Germans want to spend their holidays in Spain, according to a survey of the Kiel Institute “Research Association Holiday and Travel”.
At the same time, the longing for the holiday home in Sicily could be awakened again. As the largest island in the Mediterranean, it has beautiful stretches of coastline and has a lot to offer culture lovers – it houses five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with Roman, Greek and Arab influences intersecting each other. Catania, the economic hub in the east, is busier than in wild Palermo, the capital of Sicily in the northwest, or in Messina. Catania’s airport, the third most used in Italy, offers good direct flights from Germany during the high season, but less in low season. Further north, built on a steep slope, the tourist stronghold Taormina. Through narrow, narrow streets you pass baroque buildings and villas in the Sicilian style. The city is dominated by the ancient theater, which overlooks the volcano Etna and the sea. Only parking spaces are in short supply, they value a holiday apartment properly.
Over many cities lies the faded splendor of bygone days. The decades-long rule of Cosa Nostra has played its part in liberating public funds for tourism; not only on the infrastructure has left its mark. Nevertheless, the island southwest of the boot tip is an attractive holiday destination, which impresses with its mild climate, culture, good food and beaches.
The cheapest time for the holiday home purchase is approaching
And attractive prices. In the past decade, Italy’s real estate had lost 20 to 30 percent of its value, even in Sicily, between 2006 and 2014, the number of property sales declined. Recently, however, the market has stabilized and, according to the Italian tax authorities, Sicily is increasingly attracting international buyers. In 2017, prices for holiday homes fell only slightly by 1.7 percent. “Sicily’s real estate market has not fully recovered from the European financial crisis and the Italian debt crisis at the end of 2011,” says Antonio Carnazza, who is the licensing partner of E & V for the east of the island. “Prices are still low, though the number of sales has been picking up since the end of 2013.”