In the Dolomites, the impressive mountain range located in the northern Italian regions of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, there is much to enjoy in both winter and summer. For winter sports enthusiasts, Trentino, Alto Adige (also known as Südtirol) and Veneto have many interesting ski resorts. In Alto Adige and northern Veneto, a well-known ski area is for example that of the Sella Ronda. In Trentino, there are the Brenta Dolomites with Madonna di Campiglio. South Tyrol is Italy's only German-speaking region. Its deep-rooted Austrian culture combined with la dolce vita creates a special atmosphere. Of course, the area is known for its great winter sports facilities, but also in other seasons the unspoilt nature offers many opportunities such as hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, horse riding and even summer skiing on the glaciers. Culture lovers also get their money's worth with interesting cities like Bolzano and Trento and many castles and palaces to visit. In autumn, everyone is under the spell of törrgelen where, after a walk in a hut or farm, chestnuts, Mosto (young wine) and other culinary products of the autumn are enjoyed. Regional cuisine is an interesting mix of Austrian and Italian, and nowhere are there more starred restaurants on the ski slopes than in the Dolomites.
The building style in the villages in the Dolomites is a typical, Austrian mountain village style with chalets complemented by characteristic details from southern Italian building styles. Also characteristic are the use of local materials such as natural stone and respect for the surrounding landscape. Finding good property in this part of Italy is not easy as little new has been developed in recent decades and houses and flats remain in Italian families or are sold privately. Fortunately, regional manager Barry has a large network, enabling ItaliaCasa to be of service to people looking for their own place in this interesting region. Due to the scarcity of new building land, an investment in South Tyrol is very good value. The offer ranges from flats to large farmhouses that need to be restored, in which, with a little work, 3 or 4 flats can be realised. Interesting for investors who want to rent it out, but also for large families or groups of friends who want to enjoy holidays together and rent it out beyond that. The arrival of the Winter Olympics to be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2026 will increase demand for real estate, both for rent and for sale. The area between the Sella Ronda and Cortina d'Ampezzo is now hugely interesting when it comes to real estate investment. Cortina is the place that also hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and has since seen a wealthy crowd flock to its posh hotels in winter. About three-quarters of the La Sella Ronda ski area lies in the more expensive Trentino/Alto-Adige region. The south-eastern part of the Sella Ronda is in Veneto, where prices are more favourable than in South Tyrol. Arabba is the main resort here with direct access to the Sella Ronda's ski lifts, but between Arabba and Cortina is an area with many opportunities. A slightly smaller but also cheaper ski area with lots of interesting offerings is Madonna di Campiglio, surrounded by the stunning Brenta-Dolomites.
The Dolomites are renowned and command high prices. A common rule of thumb is that properties become more affordable the further they are from the ski lifts. Occasionally, reasonably priced homes requiring renovation and not situated on the slopes are available. The price is influenced by size and location, with starting options at €200,000. Post-renovation, the cost is approximately €700,000. Within a ski village, a one-bedroom apartment is priced around €350,000, two-bedroom apartments begin at €450,000, and 'ski-in, ski-out' properties adjacent to the slopes start at €650,000. Detached, renovated homes in proximity to the slopes have starting prices of €900,000.
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