There are few coastlines in Europe more glamorous than Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Stretching from Marina di Cantone to Salerno, some 60km to the east – and taking in world-famous resorts such as Amalfi, Ravello, Positano and Praiano – it is characterised by vertiginous cliffs, picturesque waterfront villages and an azure-blue sea.
It has long been a mecca for the world’s rich, famous and powerful – as well as being immensely popular with many real estate investors, thanks to the sumptuous sea-view villas that adorn glossy brochures and property websites.
However, many overseas house-hunters – especially those who know little of the Italian real estate sector – are often taken aback by the prices: a luxury three- or four-bedroom sea-view villa will often come with a £5million-plus price tag.
Yet while you would struggle to find undervalued cut-price deals here, there are options to suit even medium and modest-sized budgets – as long as you know which areas to head to and which to avoid.
Positano and Ravello probably rival each other for the crown of the coast’s most stylish and in-demand resort, and prices will reflect this.
In Positano, expect at least £475,000-£500,000 for a two-bedroom apartment overlooking the sea. Shopping at the other end of the scale? If you fancy a four-bedroom sea-view home with a pool thrown in, for instance, don’t expect much change from £4million. But in return you get superb rental potential, with top-end villas often fetching up to £15,000 a week in August high season.
Ravello, on a hilltop overlooking Amalfi town, was where US writer Gore Vidal once owned a home, La Rondinaia. Other well-known fans have included everyone from the composers Liszt and Wagner to Vidal’s fellow writers DH Lawrence and Graham Greene.
A one-bedroom apartment here of around 45-50sq m with sea view will probably cost around £250,000. A two-bedroomed one is likely to go for around £300,000, rising to £330,000-£350,000 for three bedrooms.
Praiano, around five miles from Positano, is a lot more understated. Here, budget around £320,000-£330,000 for a two-bedroom property with sea view and around £350,000-plus for three bedrooms. If you’re prepared to take on something needing renovation, around £240,000-£250,000 can get you a one bedroom with sea view.
Amalfi – the town that gives the coast its name – is thankfully among its more affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment of around 45-50sq m likely to cost from £225,000. That’s unlikely to include a sea-view, though. An identical property but overlooking the sea will probably set you back around £300,000.
Just a couple of miles away lie the even affordable towns of Maiori and Minori. Expect to pay around £125,000 for a 35-40sq m studio apartment and £210,000 for a one-bedroom home of around 50sq m. For those prices a sea view is unlikely. If you insist on one, be prepared to shell out at least £250,000.
There are also a few things a buyer coming here needs to be aware of.
Firstly, the dizzyingly steep landscape means access from street level to homes is often via anything up to 75 or even 100 steps – which you will need to bear in mind if you, friends and relatives are elderly or infirm or will use a wheelchair or pram.
Amalfi’s narrow, high-sided streets and alleyways leave most of the town covered in shade, even in high noon.
And finally, the road linking the area’s resorts is narrow, marked by tortuous hairpin bends and becomes very congested in summer. However, it does offer the most spectacular views over the coast, so if you’re a bus passenger, try to grab a seat on the sea-facing side.
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Daniel Peacock