Europe is now more accessible than ever. The rise of the budget airline and the success of the train service through the channel tunnel has meant that it is just as easy to get to mainland Europe as it is anywhere in the UK. Holiday destinations like Spain, France , Germany and Italy have continued to attract huge numbers of tourists as a result while at the same time smaller countries like Latvia, Croatia and Poland have benefitted from new tourism opportunities.

European countries offer visitors a warm welcome and are steeped in hundreds of years of history and culture. For UK visitors who wish to experience a different way of life they have almost everything you could wish for, art, landscape, good food and friendly people.

Italy is one of the favourite destinations. Famous for its love of good food and fine wine it is the perfect destination for people wishing to get a taste of the continent. The Italians are passionate people which is reflected in everything they do; food, art, work and play. Everything they do has a unique flair and flavour. It's this mix of congeniality and beautiful surroundings that has made property in Italy such an attractive proposition.

Many people who visit Italy speak of one day going back or dream of one day retiring to their own villa in the Tuscan hills. Actually making that dream come true is another matter. It's a bold move but it is something that is becoming easier to do. Purchasing a property in Italy has generated a lot of interest, particularly from the UK, in recent years and a whole industry has grown up around it. The thought of all that fresh food, wine from locally produced grapes and walking in the beautiful countryside is hard to ignore for some people. The climate is agreeable and the people friendly; what more could you want?

Agencies have seized on the potential of the Italian property market and now many offer a comprehensive service for people looking to relocate to the country or buy a second property somewhere as a holiday home. With some many plus points it's easy to see why buying property in Italy is in the midst of a renaissance.

Aside from the aesthetic reasons for falling in love with Italy there are also lots of more practical reason why people are looking towards the Mediterranean country as a place to live. It has a very high quality of living rating in any major poll or survey you care to mention and its people experience long and healthy live. This is in no small part down to the love of proper, organically produced and well prepared food and drink. As an escape from the pressures of city life in the UK; eating on the run, deadlines to meet, traffic jams, it offers an almost life affirming alternative.

But it's not just the laid back surroundings that are enticing the Brits abroad. The Italian economy is doing well and there are business opportunities for those who seek them out. It's all very well buying property abroad but you need to know that your money is going to be well spent. All the signs are that property in Italy is doing well and will continue to do well for the foreseeable future.

On the back of that it goes without saying that as an investment purchasing property in Italy has many advantages. It can be considered an investment for the future but it can also give you a return sooner than that. A holiday home can be rented out during the times you are not using it and make money for you that way. If you choose the right location it could prove to be a lucrative venture.

With all these benefits and very few drawbacks it's easy to understand why so many people are saying goodbye to the UK and ciao to Italy.