An increasing number of Britons are said to be looking at a property in rural Italy as low prices combined with a strong pound make the country more attractive. One area that is said to be enjoying a particularly high level of interest is Calabria, located at the Southern tip of the Italian 'boot'. According to the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP), "the attraction of Calabria in Italy's market is cheap prices".

The area, just to the south of Naples and home to around two million, is one of rich contrasts. Parts of Calabria are mountainous and experience below-freezing temperatures in the winter, yet the region also has miles of beaches and records summer temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius. It has also been famous for its vineyards since the time of the ancient Greeks - the area was first occupied by a tribe known as at the Oenotri, which literally translated means 'vine growers'.

Calabria has largely escaped the over-development that has marred some other Italian beachfronts and on the whole the coastline is unspoiled. This is a major attraction for tourists, but the region is also steeped in history which in itself brings visitors from the all over the world. Reggio Calabria is the oldest city in the region - founded more than 3,000 years ago - and some important exhibits are contained in its Greek Museum (Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia).

For instance, the museum houses the Riace Warriors, a pair of full-size and free-standing bronze statues of Greek warriors that are thought to have been lost in a shipwreck off the Calabrian coast. They were found in 1972 by a student diving off the coast and spent nearly ten years being restored. Once the process was complete they were taken on a tour of Italy and the exhibition in Rome was described as "the cultural event of the year".

These statues are now a major attraction, not just for the domestic audience, but for international tourists with an interest in history - aside from the statues, Calabria offers them ancient castles and temples, plus several archaeological sites that are currently being excavated and a national park.

Calabria is well served by transport links, having three international airports and a multitude of seaports, one of which is the second-busiest in the Mediterranean, all of which bring a steady stream of visitors to the area all year round. The property market offers good prices to British investors and according to the AIPP, there is not "anything particularly difficult" about buying here, although the body advises buyers to use a local, independent lawyer, the same as for a property transaction in any other country.