Italy famously has some of the most beautiful lakes in Europe: sparkling bodies of clean water surrounded by green hills or plunging mountainsides, overlooked by pretty little towns. The northern lakes Como, Garda and Maggiore are well-known and well-loved by visitors and foreign homebuyers, and have property prices that reflect their popularity. But these are not Italy’s only heart-meltingly gorgeous lakes. Wonderful places such as Lake Trasimeno in Umbria and Lakes Bolsena and Bracciano in northern Lazio have been steadily growing in popularity over the last decade or more, and if you don’t know about these places already then you should definitely start learning more right now. Being further south than Como, Garda and Maggiore, the lakes of Umbria and Lazio enjoy a longer summer season, and warmer weather generally. They have lower property prices than their better-known northern cousins, and also enjoy excellent summer holiday rental prospects.
Let’s take a closer look at one of these lesser-known lakes, delicious Lake Bolsena. Its location could hardly be more enticing. Set in rolling green countryside at the meeting point of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria, Lake Bolsena has all sorts of desirable places within easy daytripping distance. Rome, for example, as well as many classic Umbrian hilltowns and all the delights of central and southern Tuscany. But you’re unlikely to want to leave the Lake Bolsena area very often, as it’s so delightful in itself. Spacious, clean and unspoilt, this area is dominated by pretty hills and truly charming little settlements. Tiny towns full of history are dotted round the lake, populated by contented and welcoming people. Despite the tranquillity of the area, there’s never a shortage of things to see and do. The restaurants are excellent, and the local festivals plentiful. History fans will be tirelessly fascinated: this area was the heartland of the Etruscans, and their relics compete with those of the Romans and centuries of subsequent Italians.
Eight miles wide, Lake Bolsena is Italy’s fifth biggest, and purportedly the cleanest lake in Europe. It offers wonderful, safe swimming and all sorts of watersports. It has long been very popular with summertime visitors from Rome, and has become increasingly so with discerning travellers from northern Europe and further afield.
Property prices in the lake area rose steadily in the decade or so leading up to the international financial woes that began in 2008, and they have remained remarkably stable throughout the recent recession. Some prices are now down on what they were in 2008, so now is a good time to pick up a relative real estate bargain before prices start rising again. Note that the lake vicinity has far-sighted restrictions on new building, which not only preserves the beauty of the area but also has the knock-on effect of safeguarding the value of homes here. The lake remains completely unspoilt by development. Gate-Away.com features a wide range of properties in the Lake Bolsena area. Small village homes can be found for less than €100,000, two-bedroom houses for less than €200,000 and larger villas for less than €300,000. Time to take the plunge!
