Private Island for Sale: How to Buy Your Own Piece of Italian Paradise

After more than a year of virtual school/work/happy hours, most everyone in the world is long overdue for an escape from it all. For those dreaming of a secluded paradise where limoncello and sunshine are in endless supply, RE/MAX agent Shijia Ding may have the perfect listing.

The agent with RE/MAX Associati Real Estate in Milan, Italy, just listed a 60-square-mile private island on the coastal boarder between Italy, Croatia and Slovenia for €11,000,000 ($13,375,835.00 USD). (Fortunately, if that’s out of your price range, daydreaming of owning an island remains free.)

According to Ding, the island’s location near one of Europe’s top destinations is a major selling point.

“The island is not far from Venice,” Ding says. “Thanks to its excellent location and wonderful views of the sea, I think the island has the potential to become a premiere tourist attraction.”

The island offers both seclusion and convenience. The area has a road connection to the mainland, which provides easy access to grocery stores and even a hospital in the event of an emergency.

There are currently two hotel buildings, one restaurant, a bar, and supermarket already built on the island. The more adventurous will appreciate its dense forest, ready for exploration. Although in recent years the island has been used for everything from camping to tourism, Ding says it could benefit from some redevelopment. In fact, some potential buyers have considered turning the island into a luxury villa community.

“The island provides the opportunity for someone to invest in the future, so it’s ready when travelers are able to return,” Ding says.

But before trading in their SUV for a Vespa, potential buyers should know that purchasing an island comes with complicated paperwork that can take more than a few months to process.

“The process to purchase an island is in some ways similar to buying an apartment,“ Ding says. “The difference is you will need to work with the Italian bureaucracy to make sure any redevelopment plans follow all of the government’s regulations and requirements. That process might be very time-consuming, and patience is needed.“

Potential global buyers should also keep in mind current travel restrictions in Italy – which is currently closed to nonessential travelers from outside the EU. They also will need to sign a nondisclosure agreement before being able to visit the island.

For those with a flexible timeline and unafraid of paperwork, the island provides a blank canvas. Whether it becomes a private escape or luxury resort is up to the future owner.

And for those who are looking for a more immediate upgrade to their casa, global.remax.com offers plenty of properties to peruse that are sure to satisfy anyone’s wanderlust.

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