Unhappy that your life has become all work and no play? Then maybe it's about time you got to sample the sweet life - la dolce vita. And nowhere is life sweeter than in Italy - Europe's most sensational and seductive country.

Urbino, birthplace of the painter Raphael.

Medieval walled towns perched like tiaras on hilltops...classic farmhouses set amongst a landscape of vineyards, cypress trees, and fields of nodding sunflowers. Alpine resorts, golden beaches, and sultry volcanoes. Fabulous food and wine. Most people realize Italy is a vacationers' paradise, but owning or renting a home here can cost far less than you probably imagine.

Right at this moment, you can buy your own home in an undiscovered, but stunningly beautiful - corner of Italy's sun-kissed south for less than $100,000. Often alot less. And there's no need to bring along any plumbing tackle, bulldozers or a gang of repairmen. These are homes you can move straight into.

Dear International Living Reader,

Inexpensive properties...affordable living. These aren't the only reasons to get to know Italy's warm and beautiful south. You find yourself in a laid-back land of citrus trees, vineyards, and olive groves...of fishing villages and medieval towns spilling haphazardly down hillsides. A land where dinner with wine can cost as little as $15.

Life is sweet - and it all smells as good as it looks. The aroma of freshly brewed espresso...the whiff of pizza topped with anchovies, tomatoes, and oregano emerging from a wood-fired oven...the scents of bergamot, basil, and other wild herbs overlaying the salty tang of the silvery blue sea.

I should say 'seas'. The toe of Italy's boot is washed by the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian. Even in mid-October, it's still warm enough for swimming.

But the deep south is only one of the great Italian options you should know about...I'm about to let you in on the secret of plenty more.

The Art of Living Well

Come let me take you on a zinging top-to-toe journey to the land of the Medicis and Michelangelo. Along the way, I'll show you numerous enticing places where you can buy a home for $100,000...towns where you can rent for $400 a month...cute hotels that are completely unknown to tourists.

Wherever you decide to live...or take a vacation...you'll discover you've landed in the middle of a masterpiece. From the Dolomites' snow-capped peaks to the clamor of Naples...from St. Francis's Assisi to Sardinia's rose-pink beaches...the entire country is a living, breathing work of art.

Blue skies always lift the spirits but also think of Italy's warmth, style, and wonderful food...its excitable people and their zest for life...the architectural glories of its magnificent past. Imagine spending a whole summer learning to paint frescos, create mosaics or learning to speak the language like a native. Even if it's only for a short while, who wouldn't want to live in Europe's most intriguing and seductive country?

Just imagine being able to marvel at the world's greatest cache of art treasures whenever you choose...or taking weekend breaks amongst the splendors of Rome, Florence and Venice...of experiencing star-lit opera in a 2000-year-old arena under a velvety black sky.

Twenty Regions...a Cornucopia of Opportunities

Some regions we'll visit on this journey are deep in the Mezzogiorno, the name Italians give to the south of their country. It means the Land of the Midday Sun. One of our favorites is Calabria - the toe of Italy's elegant boot. Last stop before Sicily, it's one of the country's least explored regions. One of its warmest and sunniest too.

Mountains, seascapes, tradition: If these things top your 'perfect location' checklist, you'll find Calabria has them all. Encircled by a translucent sea of palest blue on three sides, it offers house-hunters an enticingly affordable alternative to Italy's northern and central regions. And by affordable, I mean habitable homes starting at $100,000.

Most people haven't a clue how astonishingly inexpensive property here can be. But I guess it's understandable why relatively few Americans ever travel as far south as Calabria. Or to the regions of neighboring Basilicata or Apulia which are equally inexpensive.

You see, the big problem with Italy is this: The country has too much to see and savor in one lifetime. Fitting all the thrills into a few vacation trips simply isn't possible. There are so many art treasure cities...so many charming discoveries...so many breathtaking landscapes. Everybody has heard of Tuscany, but Italy has 20 regions. All have great things to offer both the traveler and the homebuyer.

You don't need me to tell you it would be a sin not to explore the watery glories of Venice...or take in the opulence of Rome and Florence. And how can you miss the charms of rural Tuscany with its classic old farmhouses, vineyards, and fields of nodding sunflowers? Then there's Umbria, the green heart of Italy, with its medieval walled towns perched like tiaras on hilltops...

And you've got to experience the heart-rending loveliness of the Italian Lakes, where snow-capped peaks are mirrored in serene, sapphire waters. And visit Liguria's Cinque Terre to marvel at painted fishing villages slotted into the niches of towering cliffs.

Beyond Naples lie the Sorrentine and Amalfi peninsulas, more unmissable coastal temptations. Here houses are painted in a sunrise palette of lemon, pink, lilac, and rose. Capri shimmers offshore, and the mighty volcanic bulk of Vesuvius looms in the background. If you're like me, stricken with a lust for ruins and ancient places, just imagine the thrill you'll get from poking about Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Art and archaeology in the mornings, long lunches and siesta-shuttered afternoons. Vineyard visits...shopping for a hand-made Christmas creche or a silk tie...the evening passeggiata where you'll want to join the locals strolling from bar to bar in their finest clothes. The perfect opportunity for you to show off your new purchases from big-name designers such as Gucci, Prada or Armani.

Before you know it, the days have all slipped by. And it's time to exchange color for monochrome...time to return home.

Once smitten...in love as I am...the only solution is to return...again and again as often as possible and, each time, for as long as possible. Maybe you aren't ready to take up full-time residence...but imagine being able to call Italy home for even part of the year...or having an Italian escape all of your own that you could return to whenever your yearnings for this romantic place overcome you... and this is where we at International Living can help.

Insider Information from International Living's Florence Correspondent

Earlier this year we opened our very own office in Italy. Based in Florence, IL's 'woman in Italy' is Carol Milligan, a resident for 32 years. Whether you're looking to rent, buy or take a vacation in the Florence area, Carol has a quiver full of wonderful prospects.

Take in the opulence of Florence

And not just in Florence. Carol introduced me to parts of Italy that I'd never have scouted out without her 'insider' recommendations...delicious towns and villages that remain completely unmentioned in guide books. As so few tourists know about these places, prices remain sensible. Here's one she has in the Lazio town of Civitella d'Agliano: a new small villa over 4,000 square feet of garden, $196,000. Lazio is the province that includes Rome, so you certainly wouldn't be miles from civilization, ancient or modern.

She also proffers lots of invaluable advice...advice you should consider carefully.

Take farmhouses, for example. Admittedly they look gorgeous, but you may find a stone-built casa colonica isn't really right for you. In Carol's experience, when clients start looking for property seriously, they often find they prefer new, modern 'clean' houses rather than something centuries old. Plus there's the price consideration...

''As they are built in brick or cement and not stone, new houses or apartments are often at much more reasonable prices'', says Carol. ''It is often possible to buy a lot with a project or a house or an apartment already in construction in the 'al grezzo' or rough state. This allows you to personalize it - and you can often do so with the same company that is constructing the property at a much lower cost. I have come across some new houses with garden at $100,000 - compared to the same size stone house restored at $205,000.''

Scouting Bargains on Your Behalf

Sounds wonderful, but I recently came across even more affordable prospects. Right at this moment, for instance, you can get a toehold in Italy's south for $108,000.

No, I haven't missed off a nought. Nor am I talking about a restoration project...a timeshare...a place to park your car...or a niche in the murky depths of Palermo's catacombs. This is a genuine property near an attractive seaside town of 10,000 people. What's more, it's a home you could move into today.

$108,000 - I'll bet you're thinking there's a catch. Maybe you're even entertaining the nasty suspicion I'm about to bamboozle you with ancient information dredged up from the International Living archives.

Well, please take the frown off your face. There's no catch. And this is most definitely not a nostalgic look at how Italy used to be.

5 More Great Buys for Pocket Money Prices: All Under $100,000  

We all know that Italy is fabulous--a thrilling escape that's riht at the very top of almost every traveler's wish list. But here's the surprise. When it comes to buying a home, prices are alot more pleasing than you may think.

On the west coast of Calabria ("the toe of Italy") consider these apartments in the seaside town of Scalea. The first is 484 square feet, has a kitchen, living room, and one bedroom; it's partially furnished. The second is a bit larger at 645 square feet, comes with all of the above (except it's totally furnished) and a small garden. Both are available for $27,700.  

• Basilicata is another little known and unspoiled region in Italy's deep south. Here you'll find an 850-square-foot house on two levels. It has a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Price: $46,390

• In Le Marché (not as well known as Tuscany and Umbria but with equally mesmerizing landscapes), Casa Montevecchio is a farmhouse of two floors with approx. 3,875 square feet of living space. It needs restoring but part of the house is livable. The property includes a 645-square-foot annex and a half acre of land. Price: $85,100

• In Liguria-- the Riviera of Flowers--there's a totally reconstructed one-bedroom house with a garden and wonderful views of the Mediterranean. It's in an excellent, ready-to-move-in condition. Price: $89,200

• In Apulia, near the town of Martina Franca and not too far from the Adriatic, $98,000 is the price of a soon-to-be-completed 2,305-square-foot villa with a huge veranda. (Oh, and did I mention the land and 100 olive trees that come with it?)

The lakeside villages girdling Lakes Como and Maggiore are storybook affairs...

Giving it to You Straight

Here at International Living we believe in giving you things straight. If your dream is a restored farmhouse with marble bathrooms and swimming pool in Tuscany's so-called 'Chiantishire', you're going to pay a crazy price. Even ruined farmhouses in this area cost a fortune.

But delectable though it is, Tuscany isn't the only part of central Italy we think you should consider. One of my favorite places is Le Marche, a region of glorious hill-towns where the scenery gets more beautiful at every turn. It's often described as Italy in a nutshell: live here and you can take your pick of attractions - summer opera festivals, churches bursting with Lottos and Giottos, lazy-day seaside resorts and the wild Sibellini mountains.

What's more, although Le Marche shares the same luscious Renaissance landscapes as Tuscany and Umbria, its farmhouses and village properties are much more sensibly priced.

A Fairytale Farmhouse to Make Your Friends Green with Envy

I realize it's hard to shake off the romantic farmhouse dream. So let me tell you about one Le Marche property on the market right at this moment. It's not a wreck, but a large farmhouse ready for immediate occupancy.

Priced at $335,700, it's a straight-from-a-fairytale classic: a three-storey casa colonica with wooden beams and cotto floors, built of soft rose-pink stone in the shape of a tower. On a hilltop overlooking a medieval township, it has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two kitchens, and it's own courtyard.

Views all around are splendid. You can see the emerald green waters of the Metauro river plunging through steep rocks...Rocca Malatesta with its ruined 12th-century castle...soft green hills topped by villages, fortresses, turrets, and towers.Step out of the back door and you're in a National Park - acres of woodland with rare plants, mushrooms and flowers. Follow the contours of the hills for 10 miles and you come to the famous university town of Urbino, birthplace of the painter Raphael.

The English-speaking agents who are selling this property have a number of good quality farmhouses at similar prices. And I'll give you contact details in the latest edition of Italy: the Owner's Manual. You can order your copy here.

And lots more too. For instance, if you don't know the difference between a casa colonica and a casa padronale, help is at hand.

You'll soon be knowledgeable about the main types of rural property in Italy's central regions...and be familiar with the Italian-language terms and phrases used in the real estate business. (This puts you ahead of the game immediately.) Plus you'll get a full breakdown of the costs involved in restoring farmhouses that remain in a fairly raw state.

The Road to Rome

But my colleagues and I haven't spent all our time delving into Italy's famous (and not-so-famous) central regions. We've also explored Italy's north, south, and islands. Nor will we only give you the lowdown on rural and seaside hideaways. We can give you comprehensive details of what it's like to live in Venice, Florence, Milan and Bologna...about how much it will cost you to buy, rent or find good value vacation properties in these major cities.

And, of course, there's a whole stack of useful information on Rome, the Eternal City. Doesn't it send shivers down your spine simply to imagine being here? To visit the Coliseum where baying mobs urged on gladiators? Or the Forum whose very stones are the same that the Caesars walked among? All of Rome is like a stage-set and its cast of characters makes your head reel. St. Peter, the Borgias, Michelangelo, Fellini...

Rome is irresistible, but quality homes are expensive. We won't pretend otherwise. But how about a rental? We've identified a source where you can find very affordable properties. For example, a furnished apartment in the heart of the historic center for just $1500 per month.

Or you could consider buying a home near Rome rather than in the capital itself. For example in Sutri...only 32 miles from Rome. A citta of medieval houses, narrow streets and a Roman amphitheater, Sutri takes its name from the Etruscan settlement Sutrinas. (Sorry, you can never escape history in Italy!) Its 7th century church was actually built on an Etruscan tomb. A lovely 1,872-square-foot apartment in a new building, with one bedroom, living room, eat-in kitchen, bathroom, terrace, wooden/cotto floors, and an 860-square-foot garden is $192,800.

Rent Long-Term...for Under $403 Per Month

Not everybody may want to buy an Italian home right at this moment. But there's nothing to stop you renting for a week, a month, or a year. We're eager to show you how.

Santa Maria, Maddalena Islands... even in mid-October the water is still warm

Long-tern rentals can be surprisingly inexpensive...even along the coast. In a small town near Sorrento, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for less than $480 monthly.

We make no bones about it...a quality rental in one of Italy's major cities or top resort towns costs substantially more than that. The least expensive rental we could find in Bolgna was $600 per month; in Rome $780;and in Milan, bijou studio apartments begin at $890.

But we're not talking exorbitant amounts in every city. And some cities may even surprise you. A tad over $720 per month doesn't seem unreasonable to us for a small, furnished apartment in Florence. After all, this is arguably the world's most famous art city.

This particular apartment couldn't be more central--almost beside Piazza San Lorenzo. And can't you just picture yourself meandering beside the Arno river on a perfect spring evening when all the terracotta roofs and ancient palaces are bathed in that special Florentine glow?

How to find a rental property? Easy. In Italy: The Owner's Manual, I give you all the necessary information...for both long-term rentals and short-term vacation lets too. You can order your copy here.

International Living gets so many inquiries about Italy, we thought it was time to research and write a brand-new edition of Italy: The Owner's Manual.As I'm passionate about Italy, I jumped at the chance to pull it all together. I fell madly in love with this wonderful country when I was twenty years old...and I've been faithful ever since. You can order your copy here.

And so, during the last few months, my colleagues and I have been revisiting a number of old favorites...and discovering some fabulous new locations.

What we found is this: Outside the big cities, Italy is far more affordable than you probably imagine.

Apulia's Itria Valley...a languid land of olive trees

For example, Apulia is another sun-baked region of the deep south, a languid land of olive trees fringed by the turquoise Adriatic. Here you'll come across habitable homes...often just a stone's throw from golden sand beaches...for $60,000. Stone-built trulli homes...architectural curiosities with cone-shaped roofs - can also be had for $25,000. That's unrestored price, but they usually come with a couple of acres of olive grove...you'd only have to spend around another $25,000 to have the perfect vacation home.

In northern Italy, you still find restored village houses in an idyllic wine-producing region for under $70,000. Look to the hills of western Liguria, the stunning Italian Riviera, and you'll come across ready-to-move-into properties for under $85,000.

Know Before You Go

If you enjoy the good things in life, you're doing yourself a great disservice if you don't take a look at what Italy offers. And that applies whether you're considering starting a new life or buying a vacation home. And honestly, for anybody who loves art, history, and culture, Italy is the perfect place for enjoying extended adventures. Stay a month, stay a year, stay for ever...

Italy: The Owner's Manual contains a wealth of in-depth information about our favorite regions, the kind of properties available...and how much they cost. You'll also obtain contacts for immobiliari (real estate agents) and comprehensive details about renting long-term.

Plus you'll get invaluable advice from Carol Milligan and other expert contacts on the ground. The kind of advice that it's impossible to put a price on.

I'd never be so bold as to say ''live here - this location is exactly right for you''. What I aim to do is fan out the options...point out the advantages of different locations. And if there are disadvantages, I'll tell you about them too.

Before stepping foot off the plane, you'll have a good inkling about whether you'll want to live in a major Italian city. The manual contains comprehensive coverage of Rome, Florence, Venice, Bologna, and Milan.

And there are sections on the regions of Lazio...Tuscany...Umbria...Le Marche...the Northern Lakes...Liguria...Emilia Romagna...the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Campania...Apulia...Calabria. Plus the islands of Sardinia and Sicily.

Learn to Sing like Pavarotti...and See the Snakes

Ever wanted to learn how to make gnocchi...create a mosaic...apply gold leaf...sing like Pavarotti? Italy has a host of wonderful workshop options. I'll point you towards some of the best.

In our dedicated Travelers' Section, you'll also find plenty of information about vacation lets, ideas for hotel stays, and great value restaurants. Oh, and Italy's most memorable festivals.

As you may know, I have a deep interest in folklore and tradition. Might not be for everyone, but the May-time festa of San Domenico Abate is one I would love to see...unfortunately it's never coincided with a trip. This is a saint's day festival with a difference...and it may qualify as the most peculiar festival in Europe, never mind Italy.

A statue of San Domenico is carried from the local church covered in snakes...live snakes collected from the surrounding countryside. The snakes serve as auguries, if they wrap themselves around the saint's head, it's regarded as good news. Up until the 1940s, after the snakes had served their divination purpose they were burnt in a pyre outside the church...these days they're released back into the wild.

Where's the venue? Well, I won't tease you...it's Cocullo, a village in the lonely highlands of the Abruzzo region. But for dates and venues of other unusual festivals, you'll need a copy of Italy: The Owner's Manual.

A Complete Guide to La Dolce Vita

But this is so much more than a property guide. We don't believe in laying out a feast, and then neglecting to provide you with any cutlery. The practicalities of relocating are addressed in full, the legalities and procedures associated with purchasing Italian property, how to obtain a residency permit, negotiating the tax system, taking care of your health, putting your kids through school. And much more...the investment climate, employment considerations, resources for learning the language. You've got the questions...I can assure you we've got the answers.

Wherever you choose to live...or visit...you are going to be surrounded by so many good things you'll find it hard to imagine how you've done without them for so long.

Yours sincerely,

Steenie Harvey
IL Roving European Editor

P.S. As a way of keeping you up to date with the real estate opportunities available right now around the world, we're going to send you our exciting new monthly eletter, Your Own Second Home in the Sun. This publication is your guide to waterfront deals and good-value coastal properties in friendly, safe, sun-splashed locales.With first-hand discoveries from our roving property scout Dan Prescher, Your Own Second Home in the Sun gets you that much closer to having your own special place by the sea, a retreat to call your own a few weeks or months a year...maybe even full-time...