Celebs can afford to be picky about their second homes, where they go to unwind and enjoy the local lifestyle. Which means that Italy’s Puglia, with its growing fan club of celebrities, must have something special. We take a closer look…
Article written by The Overseas Guides Company
What do Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Suggs from the band Madness, and Gerard Depardieu all have in common? Answer: a home in Puglia, not to mention a huge fondness for the fantastic lifestyle offered by the southern Italian region.
In recent years, the ‘heel’ of Italy’s boot has gained a reputation as a hangout for celebrities looking for a bolt-hole that blends rustic surroundings and wonderful, locally sourced food, with stunning beaches and architecture. The region’s attraction is both coastal and inland, where buyers can choose between a house with land in the countryside, a village home, an apartment within one of the historic towns or cities, or a place by the sea.
Helen Mirren opted for a 16th Century ‘masseria’, a type of large country house with land, not far from Otranto, near the southern tip of the heel. She and her husband have restored the property and now the couple spends a number of months a year there. The garden is a big passion of theirs and they now produce their own pomegranate juice! Similarly, Meryl Streep has bought a masseria, not far from Mirren’s, but next to the sea in Tricase. Meanwhile, French actor Gerard Depardieu owns an apartment in the beautiful historic city of Lecce.
Despite Puglia’s popularity with a discerning group of the rich and famous, prices there are very competitive. In the countryside in the Itria Valley and around the famous white town of Ostuni, character stone homes called trulli are a popular choice, with prices ranging from circa €50,000 for a ruin in need of restoration to €500,000 for a beautifully converted property with a pool, and everything in-between. Or for a villa, €200,000 will buy you a detached property with land, such as the one below.
“In the latest OverseasGuidesCompany.com quarterly analysis, interest in Italy during the first half of 2015 surged more than any other of our top five destinations,” said Angela Lyons, author of ItalyBuyingGuide.com. “I think more foreigners are discovering the affordable property prices and quality, and the Mediterranean lifestyle on offer in Puglia, which is helping to drive Italy’s popularity. Puglia has a laid-back, earthy feel, different to other parts of the country – I just adore living down here.”
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