Buy a house or apartment in Trapani, western Sicily

The old town runs along a narrow spit with baroque churches, a fish market and seafront promenades. Trapani has a port, a railway line and a small airport at Birgi, though flight options are seasonal and limited, so test your route before buying. Nearby are salt flats, beaches and Erice on the hill above. Summers are hot and winters mild.

Palermo and Agrigento are separate markets some distance away, not neighbours. See Palermo, Agrigento and Messina for comparison.

Italy lets most foreigners buy, with reciprocity rules for some non-EU nationals. You need a tax code (codice fiscale), and the sale is completed before a notary. Registration tax is typically about 2% on a primary residence and about 9% on a second home, based on the cadastral value, plus notary and agent fees; verify locally. Check for building compliance, mortgages registered on the property and heirs' rights on inherited homes.

Start with the Italy buying guide and financing for foreign buyers, and browse the wider Italy market.