Houses for winter and summer
How to have two houses in Italy, at the price of one.
If you are looking for a home in Italy to be enjoyed all year round, this article is for you. You will discover that, by choosing the right location, you will be able to buy two homes in one.
There are people who associate Italy with our sea, the Mediterranean, imagining a home on the beach, a gentle breeze, and the colours and fragrances of the Mediterranean bush. Then there are others who think of the world-famous Italian Alps. A chalet in Italy immersed in nature, surrounded by mountains and lush green valleys.
Now, close your eyes, and imagine a home that can be transformed. A beach house in the summer and a house located close to the ski runs in the winter. Hard to imagine, isn’t it. Let us try and help you.
Sicily: the sea and the volcano
Everyone knows, quite rightly, that Sicily is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Mediterranean. Sicily is a true expression of everything Italian.
Beautiful sea, fringed with coves and long beaches. Culinary traditions dating back thousands of years and based on fish, citrus fruits, Mediterranean flavours and sweet delights. Now imagine a house looking out over the sea of Sicily; every morning you will be able to enjoy the sea breeze. You will enjoy mild weather all year round. In the summer, you can sunbathe without suffering the heat, thanks to the constant breeze and the occasional dip in the sea or in a pool.
But what about in the winter? There is no winter in Sicily! You will be delighted to discover that you can have breakfast outdoors even in December, strolling along a romantic winter seafront. And if you want to go skiing? You may think this is impossible. You would be wrong. By choosing the best location for a home in Sicily, you will be able to go skiing in one of the most particular resorts in the world, on Mount Etna.
You will enjoy the experience of knowing that the bubbling magma of an active volcano is flowing under the ice beneath your feet.
Etna is 3,343 metres high, and its conformation allows various skiing opportunities on all its faces. You will be able to choose between two ski resorts: Nicolosi, to the South, at an altitude of between 1,910 and 2,700 metres, and Piano Provenzana, on the north face of the volcano, at an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,317 metres. Imagine going skiing in one of the few resorts in the world that offers you the chance, as you descend the snowy slopes, to admire the bright blue of the sea below you. A unique experience; skiing with a sea view.
If you thought that a seaside home in Sicily wouldn’t give you the chance to go skiing in the winter, we have made you think again.
Calabria, the scent of the sea and of snow.
Anselmo Bucci once wrote “If you go to Calabria, you will realise that Calabria has a scent, just like the snow and the sun have a scent”. There is no denying this.
800 kilometres of coastline, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Calabria offers an incredible variety of beach resorts that let you enjoy the Mediterranean climate all year round. From the beginning of spring until well into the autumn, you will be able to relax on the beach and enjoy the beautiful Calabria sea.
Even during the winter, Calabria is characterised by mild temperatures that invite you to spend hours outside, breathing the healthy sea breeze. For many, a home in Calabria is a home in one of the greenest and wildest locations in the Mediterranean.
So, what if we were to tell you that just over 1 hour’s drive from the sea will take you to as many as 4 ski resorts? It’s hard to believe... but keep reading. The Aspromonte is the mountain range that overlooks Calabria from north to south, bordered to the east by the Ionian Sea and to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The highest peaks reach almost 2,000 metres. You will have access to more than 50 km of ski runs at all skill levels, ideal for families with children eager to learn to ski. Just imagine telling your friends at home that you used your seaside home in Southern Italy to go skiing over Christmas. Everyone will want to know more.
Lake Garda: under a sunshade on the beach, surrounded by the Italian Alps.
A small, calm sea is one way of describing Lake Garda. The local climate and the surrounding vegetation leave no doubts. Lemon trees, vineyards, oleander, and olive groves... it will feel like you are in Tuscany or a Southern Italian region, but instead you are one hour from Milan.
In the summertime, you will feel like you have a house at the sea: sunsets on the beach, sunbathing on the shore, refreshing swims in the clear waters and romantic evening walks. Buy a house on Lake Garda and you will be rewarded with unforgettable summers with the whole family. However, not many people know that Lake Garda can also serve as a winter holiday destination, letting you have fun in the snow.
Lovers of skiing and snowboarding, as well as children who want to learn to ski, can find beautiful ski resorts and well-equipped, modern ski schools just a few kilometres from Lake Garda. Again, in this case, we are not talking about any old ski resort, but rather true treasures nestled in the Italian Alps. Here are a few examples.
Monte Baldo, 2,218 metres in height, is a very popular destination in the winter for those looking to spend a day in the snow without straying too far from the Lake. In general, the skiing season begins around Christmas and ends at the beginning of April.
The ski runs at S. Valentino - La Polsa (1,200 - 1,500 metres) look out over Lake Garda and offer a wonderful view. This resort offers 24 snow-covered runs and 9 lifts, suitable for both beginners and experts. Children can use the conveyor lift, while the four-seater chairlifts take more intrepid skiers up to the steeper peaks. Once again, we have shown you how buying a house on Lake Garda will give you two homes in Italy for the price of one.
Now you know that by choosing the right location, you can enjoy your home in Italy all year round. Have fun with family and friends on the beach in the summer, and on the ski slopes in the winter. Everything is in reach.
