I bought my house in a small mountain village in Abruzzo 12 years ago but I still can’t get enough of the views that I see from my balcony: in the south, majestic snow-capped peaks of the central Apennines, to the east – a turquoise stretch of the Adriatic Sea, in between – olive groves and picturesque old towns scattered over the green hilltops. 

I feel lucky to live in Abruzzo, an Italian region, which remains unspoilt by mass tourism and remains true to its traditions. It is not just the views that make this corner of Italy attractive. Life here is comfortable and affordable.