Why Liguria? - News & lifestyle in Riviera

Foreign Buyers Spare No Expense in Liguria

From: Italymag.co.uk

Demand for homes in Liguria, Umbria and Tuscany is reaching an all time high among foreign buyers. The competition for Ligurian properties is driving prices up, and attracting homeowners who will spare no expense in finding the perfect Italian getaway.

Expatriates are willing to pay enormous sums for a Ligurian address. According to entrepreneur Martin De Rosa, Germans spend an average of 300,000 Euros and 76% of British buyers look at buildings in the 300,000 to 500,000 euro price range. The Russian buyers put other foreign homeowners to shame, willing to put down over 900,000 for the perfect Ligurian home.

Property values have risen throughout Italy in spite of the global economic downturn, and 61% of real estate agents expect the housing market to get even better in the next two years. The thriving market is attracting buyers who are willing to pay up to 17,000 Euro a square meter for properties in Ligurian towns like Santa Margherita Ligure.

The increased interest in the region may signal a trend of foreign buyers moving away from major cities and preferring to purchase homes in smaller villages.

Record-Breaking Blue Flags

As prices hit record highs, Liguria has achieved a record number of Blue Flag beaches. In fact, the award-winning beaches play a major role in increasing the desirability of property in the region.

Blue Flags are awarded around the globe by the Foundation for Environmental Education. The sought-after distinction is bestowed according to a range of environmental indicators such as water quality and protection of nature.

In 2011, Liguria was awarded the most blue flags out of all the regions in Italy, so those seeking a prestigious coastal location can head east or west to find decorated beaches.

In the Western Riviera, blue flags were awarded to Camporosso and Bordighera in the province of Imperia. In the province of Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, Bergeggi, Celle Ligure, Finale Ligure, Loano, Noli, Spotorno, Savona-Fornaci, and Varazze were the most decorated beaches.

While  in the Eastern Riviera, Chiavari, Lavagna and Moneglia were the recognised coastal towns in Genoa. Lerici and Ameglia-Fiumaretta in La Spezia were also awarded blue flags.

Location, Location, Location

It is unsurprising that foreign buyers are willing to pay high prices given Liguria’s incomparable location. The small region is bordered by the sea, the Alps and the Apennines.

Liguria is home to the famous Mediterranean seaside towns of Cinque Terre and Portofino.

In addition to beautiful beaches, the region is best known for its fresh seafood cuisine and as the birthplace of pesto.

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All the properties on the market in Liguria are on www.liguriahomes.com

Italy’s Blue Flag Beaches: Liguria top region again

Italy has 233 top beaches, two more than last year, in 125 municipalities. The figures emerge from the 2011 Blue Flag table, which certifies the services and environmental friendliness of coastal and lakeside resorts, as well as the cleanliness of the water.

Blue Flags are international distinctions, created in 1987 and awarded every year in 41 countries with patronage and support from UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Tourism Organisation.

LIGURIA’S TOP SLOT – Liguria again tops the regional table with 17 flag-winning resorts. Equal second with 16 are Marche and Tuscany while Abruzzo on 14 has one more than last year. Campania is unchanged on 12 and Emilia Romagna has one more flag this time with nine. But Puglia lost two flags and is now on eight. Veneto has six blue flags and Lazio slips back to four, leapfrogged by Sicily with six and Calabria on five. Sardinia secured blue flags for all five resorts taking part in the scheme. Friuli Venezia Giulia and Piedmont both confirmed last year’s two resorts while Molise and Basilicata have one flag apiece. This year, a resort in land-locked Lombardy joins the line-up, Gardone Riviera on Lake Garda.

In Liguria these are the 2011 Blue Flags: Camporosso, Bordighera (Imperia); Loano, Finale Ligure, Noli, Spotorno, Bergeggi, Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, Celle Ligure, Varazze (Savona); Chiavari, Lavagna, Moneglia (Genoa); Lerici, Ameglia-Fiumaretta (La Spezia)

Blue Flags for Marinas & Small Boat Harbours

The Blue Flagis an annual environment award to Small Boat Harbours or Marinas that have focused on good management of facilities and services regarding the environment and nature, as well as provide information to their users about the environment. To be eligible for this award, the Small Boat Harbour or Marina has to fulfil a number of criteria related to education, information and environmental management, safety, services and water quality.

Even for Marinas, Liguria again tops the regional table with: Portosole in Sanremo, Marina degli Aregai (Santo Stefano al Mare), Marina di San Lorenzo, Porto di Imperia, Marina di Andora, Porto Luca Ferrari in Alassio, Vecchia Darsena di Savona, Cala Cravieu in Celle Ligure, Marina di Varazze, Porto Internazionale Carlo Riva in Rapallo , Marina di Chiavari, Marina di Porto Venere, Porto Bocca di Magra (Ameglia) and Porto Lotti in La Spezia.

The Blue Flag Programme for marinas and beaches is run by the non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). Today, Blue Flag has become a truly global programme with an ever-increasing number of countries participating in the programme.
The Blue Flag programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas.
It challenges local authorities and beach operators to achieve high standards in water quality,environmental management, environmental education and safety. Over the years, the Blue flag programme has become a highly respected and recognised eco-label working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors at local, regional and national levels.

To know more: www.blueflag.org/

Skiing in Riviera: Limone Piemonte

It is amazing to know that just 50 min drive from Sanremo, you can find one of the most fascinating ski resort of North Italy: Limone Piemonte

80 km of runs, 16 ropeways, a wonderful conch which links the 3 valleys and offers both begginers and experts the chance to choose their level of difficulty: this is the Riserva Bianca’s visiting card in Limone Piemonte province of Cuneo.
This ski area, already gives the so called “Regione delle Alpi del Mare” (low Piemonte, Liguria di Ponente and Costa Azzurra) a decidedly convenient and easy tourism: obviously close at hand for the three above stated areas, it gives people the chance to ski in a resort at competative prices and where the runs (although some ski lifts are still to be totally completed), give great satisfaction for those who love skiing in a place where the environment is both fascinating and wild.
There is no doubt about the beauty of the scenery at the Riserva Bianca: all you need to do is spend a day in the conch of Limone Piemonte to realize the uniqueness of the place. In winter it nearly always has natural snow and a temperature which allows you to ski in comfort, unlike some of the other known resorts in the Alps.

As far as the quality of the runs is concerened it has been approved not only by the fact that the Isolde Kostner, Olimpic Champion national French and Italian teams trained at the Riserva Bianca last year, but also by a statement made to the papers by the champion Isolde Kostner after training: «The impression I have after these days of training is unquestionably positive. Even though the runs are not yet at the level of the major national and international ski resorts, Limone offers extraordinary runs which can easily compare with first class resorts such as val d’Isère. I really believe that if Limone adapted their structures to the modern skiing and snowboard demands of the times it would be in the running to compete with even the most established resorts ».

www.riservabianca.it

Britons: Where to buy in 2010

Where to buy in 2010

From: Primelocation newsletter
Author: Alexander Garrett is a freelance property writer who contributes regularly to The Observer and British Airways’ Business Life.

After a dreadful 2009, this could well be the year when Britons’ interest in buying abroad is re-awakened. But which countries should you be looking at? Here are our top five selections, balancing perennial appeal with a couple of emerging hotspots.

France. Any further weakening of the Euro will provide a green light for Brits to resume their love affair with France. The attractions are obvious: gastronomy and wine, uncrowded towns and countryside, and a better climate than at home – especially in the south. On top of that, France has one big advantage over all other destinations: accessibility. Security checks and airport congestion have taken much of the gloss off flying; but to France you can travel in your own car, or increasingly, by high-speed train. The choice of properties and locations in France is virtually unparalleled, from a run-down farmhouse in Normandy costing €30,000 to a super-villa in the playground of the Cote d’Azur costing millions.

Croatia. 2010 could be the year it finally happens for Croatia, a country that has unparalleled attractions for buyers of holiday homes, with 1,800km of unspoilt coastline, and more than 1,000 islands in the Adriatic Sea. What’s more, it is set to join the EU in 2012, less than two years time. The country promotes itself as “the Mediterranean as it once was”, reflecting the unspoilt character of the coastline, with low-key development. It’s already a favourite among the sailing fraternity and while Dubrovnik is a world-famous heritage site, the peninsula of Istria is just coming to the fore as a rival to Tuscany with its olives, truffles and wine. Central Dalmatia, around the second city Split, is ripe for discovery. In the medieval town of Trogir, a three-bedroom house would cost you around £350,000.
Turkey. The hit destination of this latest recession, Turkey offers fantastic coastline properties at bargain prices. Being outside the Euro has made it even more attractive to British buyers, while the prospect of eventual EU accession enhances the overall investment proposition. Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is arguably one of the best value locations you could find a holiday home anywhere in Europe. And Kalkan is the most sought-after spot on this coastline, a former fishing village now bustling with restaurants and gift-shops, with boat trips readily available. Here you can buy a high-quality villa with fabulous sea views starting from around £200,000 – a fraction of what it would cost on the Costa del Sol. Prices still have some way to go as Turkey catches up with the western Mediterranean.

Barbados. There has to be one exotic inclusion in the list, and Barbados has shrugged off the recession to reinforce its position as Britain’s favourite Caribbean island. Rum punch, palm-fringed beaches, a vibrant nightlife and plentiful flights are among the plus factors. Barbados goes from strength to strength with ongoing development attracting high-profile buyers such as Wayne Rooney in the last 12 months. Knight Frank estimates that prices have fallen by an 22 per cent over the last two years; nevertheless, property is among the most expensive in the Caribbean, starting at around £150,000 for a one-bed seafront apartment and heading quickly up into the millions for properties at exclusive estates like Royal Westmorland or Sandy Lane.

Italy. While prices plummeted in Spain over the last two years, on another Mediterranean peninsula – Italy – property has held up fairly well. The simple reason is that Italy has never participated in the wholesale over-development that took place in Iberia, a policy that is now paying some dividends. Now other Italian regions are encroaching on the radar: Liguria, Puglia, Abruzzo and Piedmonte to name a few. As a brand, Italy has class and is likely to prove an investment that holds its value.

Cycle from San Lorenzo al Mare to Ospedaletti

Once upon a time, an unsightly train line ran on the sinuous coastline between San Lorenzo al Mare and Ospedaletti, looming large and metallic over the cobalt sea. Several years and an enlightened administration later, the railway line has been moved inland, and the former tracks have been turned into a 24-km route open to ramblers and cyclists.

The views along the way are enchanting, with verdant trees and pretty villages on one side and wavelets lapping the foot of the trail on the other. Four large terraces allow visitors to rest and make the most of the panorama. Bikes are available to rent at either end of the track, making it perfect for families and occasional cyclists. Die-hard ones, though, can continue on to the 2,000 km of the Alpi del Mare route, which starts from sea level and climbs all the way up the mountains.

Riviera Airport (Albenga): new flights to Switzerland

Following the meeting yesterday at the airport of Villanova d’Albenga “Clemente Panero”, was drafted a new version of the project for tourist flights to Switzerland.

The proposal concerns the possibility to activate for at least five months, starting from next spring, a weekly round trip flight on the route Villanova d’Albenga-St Gallen (Switzerland). The connection would be provided by an ATR 42 (48 passengers) made available by the French-Italian ATR consortium, which put the airplane at Albenga (ready then to other internal connections for 6 days a week).

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