One enduring appeal of Italy to tourists is its diversity. Each town boasts of a culture and a way of life all its own. This diversity renders each region of Italy unique with varied things to offer. Southern Italy is beautiful and its people are : friendly with the scenery and the beaches simply amazing. The North boasts of more cities and more English-speaking people. The shops are fantastic and the architecture simply magnificent with beautiful churches and delicious food.

Because each town, each city is different, the things one can do in each city is unique as well.

Rome

Wandering around Rome for hours is never a boring chore with all the amazing fountains, parks and architecture one can see. The most famous of these fountains is the Trevi fountain, the subject of the song “Three Coins in a Fountain” in which a person can throw in two coins and make a wish. The coins also ensure that the person throwing the coins will return to Rome. Other amazing tourist sites to behold are the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps.

Venice

Venice remains true to the Venice as we know it and the Venice that is pictured in the movies. Spend as much time as you want trekking down the meandering streets, over bridges, across canals and past all the beautiful shops and cafes. Be careful though and make sure you don’t sit down in the cafes as you will be charged double. There are also other sights to behold like the famous Venetian masks which are amazing during the festival.

Verona

If you are a Romeo and Juliet fan or if you remember this Shakespearian tragedy well, then Verona is the place to visit. There are lots of allusions in the story made to actual places there including Juliet’s ‘grave’, Juliet’s house, and so on. Verona is quaint in the strictest sense of the word and gives one the true feel of Italy. There is also the Arena, which is like a mini version of the Coliseum.

Pisa

This wonderful piece of architecture known as the leaning tower of Pisa is worth seeing. It offers you an experience you are not likely to forget when you go on top of it and see the great view from the top. The presence of a number of tourist markets also make for an interesting walk through. The town itself is near the sea giving the town itself a dreamy ambience.

Florence

If art and shopping is what you are after, then Florence is the place for you. The sight you definitely shouldn’t miss here is the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.

Milan

There’s a lot more to Milan than shopping! It’s a beautiful city with lots of parks and great architecture including the Duomo (a cathedral) and a castle.

The Lake Area

The Lake Area in the north is beautiful especially Lake Como where actor George Clooney owns a villa.

The Alps

If going from one lovely Italian city to the next is not enough for you then check out the other adventure activities Italy has to offer — the Alps. With its beautiful ski resorts and amazing scenery, the Alps gives one the reason for wanting to stay in Italy forever.

When purchasing a piece of property especially in Italy, it is important that you carefully consider the manner in which you conducted your purchase. This includes the choices you made in terms of the who, how and why of your purchase. The why is determined by the purpose of your property. Is it a rest house, a farm you will convert to a bed-and-breakfast business, or simply a home in which you plan to relocate your family. The answer to this question is determined immediately after you have made your choice on which property to buy.
The how is decided upon by you, your lawyer and your real estate agent and refers to the manner by which you intend to pay the fees for the purchase. Do you open a client account? Do you write a cheque directly or do you issue a power of attorney for your lawyer to conduct the sale on your behalf?
The who is therefore the next thing that needs your attention and decision. It is important for you to know beforehand in whose name you will be buying the property as this will have an impact on potential tax savings that can be made later on. There are various ways to purchase an Italian property and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
You can buy a property in your name, in your and your spouse’s name, in the name of your legal heirs or in the name of a limited company. The method you choose will depend on your own personal circumstances. Whatever your choice is, it must be discussed with your lawyer.
There are points to consider about the Italian taxation system which have an impact on your choice of how to purchase a property.
The first is the Italian system of Inheritance and gifts on death. While right now these are still tax-free, there may come a time when these types of gifts can incur extremely high rates of taxation. There is no guarantee that the Italian government will not re-introduce inheritance tax. You must therefore bear this in mind when you purchase your property.
The second refers to the taxes incurred by property transfer: Certain taxes become due when a property changes hands. Minimising the number of times a property changes hands, therefore diminishes its tax liabilities — another important consideration when deciding on how to buy your property.
It is always good to have a solid knowledge of the taxation laws of Italy prior to making your purchase and it is the duty of your lawyer to keep you current and up-to-date on this. The tax saving processes that work for you right now may no longer be in place in the future. You and your lawyer should therefore have a good assessment of the situation so that you do not enter into a purchase agreement that will prove disadvantages to you in the future.

There are certain things you need to consider before you plunge into your plan to buy that dream home in Italy.
The first is to choose a location. Italy is a seller’s market as more and more foreigners are swooping down this ancient and beautiful land eager to be part of its breathtaking natural beauty, delicious food and anthology of artistic treasures. It is important for you to be able to identify the property you want immediately before doing anything else. This entails concentration and on-the-ground research of vital factors such as proximity to shops, schools, and so on. Do your homework.
Once you have made your choice, hire your real estate agent and make sure the one you choose – whether he be an Italian or a foreigner – is the one who understands your needs and knows exactly what you want.
Then hire a lawyer to help you with the legalities of your purchase. Surrounding yourself with as many professional resources as possible will be beneficial to you. Enlist the help of a Notary Public who will check for liens and encumbrances on the property you are intending to buy.
Once you and the seller agree on a price, make him or her an offer (proposta d’acquisto) and sign a document known as the compromesso or preliminary sales agreement along with a caparra or down payment representing 20% of the agreed price. The compromesso lists the date by which the purchase will be completed and the change of ownership will take place.
The notario or Notary Public will prepare the compromesso as well as the next document known as the rogito. The rogito is the final deed and marks the official change in ownership. It also records the sale price of the property as agreed by both you and the seller. The reason a future date is specified for the completion of purchase is to give the seller a chance to vacate the place and the buyer to raise the necessary funds.
Once the rogito is signed several months after the compromesso, the buyer pays the balance and the sale is consummated. If the seller backs out he must return the caparra. If the buyer changes his mind, he forfeits the down payment