Putting down roots abroad can be pricey - but not if you choose to settle somewhere well off the beaten track.

Scenic sight in Capena, picturesque village in the Province of Rome, Lazio, Italy.

The pretty Italian town is partially vehicle free (Image: Getty)

Wealthy Brits have long enjoyed escaping the reliable drizzle and grey clouds of the UK for the sunnier climes of countries like Italy and Spain - but the southern European housing market can be extremely competitive in its most popular spots. Italy's €1 (85p) scheme continues to be a hugely popular way for foreign buyers to re-do a fixer-upper property in rural corners of the country.  But for those who prefer a ready-made holiday home for a bargain cost would be best placed to look in unassuming towns and villages like Capena, a pretty village under an hour from city life in Rome where houses cost as little as £25,000, according to one travel expert.

"Buyers really need to look into off-the-beaten-track places, far from the touristy popular spots yet close to the main cities, where you can still find great value for money," says Vincenzo de Tommaso, of multi-lingual property platform Idealista.it.

"Most Italians would never search for houses in such places, but to foreigners, [they] have a great appeal and are a much more safe investment than the one euro homes, where the renovation outcome remains uncertain and the paper work is massive," he told the i paper.

Scenic sight in Capena, picturesque village in the Province of Rome, Lazio, Italy.

The small hamlet sits in the province of Rome (Image: Getty)

The small town, which sits just over 30km outside Rome, has a rich history and idyllic surroundings - founded by pre-Roman tribes and dotted with olive groves and grazing sheep - and has a significantly more affordable housing market than the nearby capital. 

While prices in Rome's historic centre hover around £6,752 (€8,051) per square-metre, an apartment in Capena could put you back as little as £25,176 (€30,000), with the town's villas priced around £100,706 (€120,000).

Despite its city links, the hamlet has a quintessentially rural feel - with traditional, pastel-coloured buildings, local cafes and bars and a designated car-free area around its old district.

It also hosts annual festivals including the religious celebration of Saint Luca, which sees residents gathering in the streets and sharing homemade food and wine.

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Capena also has the claim to fame of housing a huge statue by a Hungarian artist in its Piazza del Popolo. The structure, installed in the town in 2018, depicts a nine-metre-tall man leaning out of the square and surveying the countryside beyond.

While a cursory browse through RightMove might immediately uncover wallet-friendly deals on small apartments overlooking the old district's historic square, Mr de Tommaso said would-be buyers should visit the region before finalising any sales to ensure it will be a good fit.

"[It] is vital to have a feel of the place and avoid being sight unseen," the property expert warned.