But where are the best places to find such natural beauty when looking for property abroad? Jo-ann Hodgson finds out.

Spain
Spain is one of the most popular destinations for those who want to experience typical Mediterranean scenery. Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada and its several costas enjoy a varied range of Mediterranean climates and landscapes.

Costa Tropical in Southern Andalusia benefits from a sub-tropical climate which enables the cultivation of exotic crops and has been compared to the sunbaked state of Arizona in the USA. The Costa is also home to many pretty Mediterranean fishing towns and houses carved straight from the mountainside.

Costa Calida, or the 'warm coast', also has its own micro-climate. Stretching 250 kilometres from the beach of Carolina to the beach at El Mojon, the Costa is home to Mar Menor, the 'world's largest pool'. South-east of Murcia, Mar Menor is a salt-water lagoon separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow strip of land only 22 kilometres wide called 'La Manga del Mar Menor', a popular holiday resort.

The Costa del Sol, in comparison, has a milder climate but is still warm enough to grow semi-tropical vegetation. In the east, cliffs up to 200 metres in height form the backdrop of an urban landscape surrounded by traditional agricultural land.

On the east coast of Spain, the Costa Blanca is nicknamed the 'white coast' due to its limestone outcrops. Other scenes that characterise the area are those of rugged mountains, pinnacled ridges, shady pines, orange and almond groves, and parks.

Costa Almeria is also home to various parks, which protect areas from overdevelopment. As well as typical Mediterranean beaches and hillside villages, inland the area boasts a desert-like landscape made of sandstone and featuring dried-up river beds. 

One and two bedroom apartments are currently available in the town of Sucina, south of Murcia, for £79,208 to £99,856. The apartments have views from their terraces over the Natural Bird Reserve, Mar Menor and different golf courses.
Villa and Views

Italy
For some, Italy is the epitome of Mediterranean scenery, with rugged mountainous coastlines, miles of striking vineyards, orchards, garden terraces, vast lakes and inviting beaches.

The Amalfi coast, a mountainous coastline south of Naples in Campania, is held as one of the most traditionally Mediterranean areas of the country and has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dotted with picturesque villages and towns which cling to the cliffs over sheer drops, the area is popular with tourists who come to experience the scenery around the coast's main town, Amalfi, and other popular destinations such as Ravello, which is home to beautiful gardens perched high in the mountains.
 
The Isle of Capri is another of Italy's celebrated beauty spots. The island, off the south side of the Gulf of Naples has been a popular resort since the time of the Roman Republic and is renowned for its flower gardens, Blue Grotto – a natural cave – numerous small bays and inlets and olive groves overlooking the sea.

Le Marche, on the Adriatic coast (the name means 'the Marches' in English), is the most agricultural region in Italy. The region is characterised by mountains, grottos, lakes, and the national park and nature reserve in the Sibillinis mountain range. The area also provides habitat for a number of regional parks and Italy's trademark: old villages perched precariously on cliff edges overlooking green valleys and clear blue seas.  

Property: A detached villa requiring some restoration is currently available in the centre of Spinetol in southern Le Marche for £172,000. The villa has 13 rooms over three floors and a large garden. Two-bedroom apartments in southern Le Marche are also available, for £186,000. The properties form part of an old palace and feature two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen.
Casa Travella

Croatia
Croatia is home to three geographic regions: the Pannonian Plains in the north, the lowlands and the central Croatian mountainous Dinara region. As with many Mediterranean countries, Croatia is characterised by mountains and highlands, areas of limestone, rugged coastline and islands and fields of vegetation.

Istria, the biggest peninsula on the Adriatic, is also the largest green oasis of the area and its landscape is often compared to that of Tuscany and Provence. It is home to pinewoods, green macchina and Brijuni Archipelago national park – the home of 680 plant species.

Split, on the Dalmatia coast, is also a haven of greenery, vineyards and low vegetation breaking up the stubbled grey hills of rocks. On the western end of the peninsula is a vast wooded mountain park, the famous Marjan hill.

The islands of Hvar and Korcula in the Adriatic Sea have their fair share of Mediterranean flora, too. Hvar is blessed with fields of marajoram, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender – lavender oil being a major export of the island. At certain times of year visitors describe the scent on the island to be similar to that of a perfumery. The island's neighbour, Korcula is also bright with flora but is home to a dense dark forest as well, giving it the nickname 'Black Korcula'.

Cavat, a town and port in the southern part of Zupa Bay, 20 kilometres south-east of Dubrovnik, is another Mediterranean gem, rich in luxuriant vegetation and beautiful shores of pebbly beaches and palm-lined promenades.

Property: A four-bedroom house in Istria is currently available for 350,000 euros. The house has two bathrooms, a covered terrace and a pool. One to three bedroom apartments are also available on the island of Brac, from 90,000 euros. The Calico apartments in Spilitska face the sea and have two large terraces.
Daft

Montenegro
Montenegro, meaning 'black mountain', takes its name from the dense black forests which cover the country's vast mountainous alpine regions. The country's landscape ranges from high peaks along its borders with Kosovo and Albani to a narrow coastal plain that is only one to four miles wide. The plain stops in the north where Mount Loucen and Mount Orjen plunge into the inlet of the Bay of Kotor.

The south-west of Montenegro has 293.5 kilometres of coastline bordering the Adriatic Sea, including 52 kilometres of beaches. The Adriatic coastline enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is made up of beaches, bays and coves. The Bay of Kotor is Europe's southernmost fjord. The town of Kotor itself was built in the Middle Ages. This natural harbour with narrow cobbled streets was an important artistic and community centre with its own famous school's of masonry and iconography. A large number of the town's monuments were seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1979, but the town has been restored with UNESCO's help. There are also many interesting fishing villages along the Adriatic coast, including the old walled town of Budva, a trendy beach resort with pristine beaches featuring old churches, galleries and traditional markets.

In the west of Montenegro is the city of Niksic. Built in the 4th century the remains of this old city are today cultural and historic monuments. In the high cliffs surrounding the city sits the great spiritual centre, the Monastery of Ostroy.

Property: A two-bedroom house is currently available overlooking Budva and St Nicolas Island for £179,269. The house is set on two levels with two bathrooms, a large terrace and a garden.
Montenegro Properties

A development of one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses is available in Kotor from £98,000. Mimosa Park is set on landscaped gardens with three swimming pools. Top floor apartments have roof-terraces.
Emerging Real Estate

Greece
Four-fifths of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe – and one with lots of typically Mediterranean scenery.

The island of Kefalonia is a typical example of this, with vast tracts of forest cloaking the rugged limestone landscape and ten peaks topping 5,000 feet. Once voted 10th in a World Scenic Beauty League, Kefalonia's coast is dotted with hundreds of secluded white limestone coves, caves and steep cliffs. Against the white glow of the coast, many inland areas of the island are blanketed by green plains, Kefalonian fir, olive groves and vineyards.

Rhodes, on the southern end of the Dodocanese chain of islands, is also fertile and forested, many inland areas displaying lush flowered landscapes at certain times of the year. The island's coastline is also indented and embellished with golden sands, multicoloured pebbles and cystalline waters and Rhodes' citadel one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and a UNESCO world heritage site.

The island of Zakynthos, the most southerly of the Ionian chain, is another great place to experience Mediterranean flora. The island is so fertile that in spring and autumn it's named the 'blossom of the east'. The north of the island is the best place to get away from the tourist crowds and experience the beauty of the often inhospitable mountains. The south-east penisular also offers some great scenery, surrounded by the quieter resorts.

Crete, a long, narrow and very mountainous plateaux of gorges, fertile valleys, rocky shores and sandy beaches is also home to some Med-scenery hotspots. The secluded coves of Rethymno, vast natural parks of Chania, gaint central lagoon on Santorini and rich underwater landscape of Paros make the cluster of islands the perfect place to experience traditional Mediterranean landscapes.

Property: Properties in Lahania on the island of Rhodes are currently available for 167,000 euros. The properties are located in a hillside village and incorporate traditional features.
Cybarco

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Article published on 16 May 2007