When Tony Grimshaw found himself starting a new chapter in life after separation, he made a bold and inspiring choice โ to buy and renovate a house in Italy.
Tony Grimshaw had long toyed with the idea of owning a place in Italy. A seasoned visitor to the country, he knew the charm it held, but it wasnโt until later in life that he decided to turn the dream into something real.
Having separated from his wife, Tony set on the path to something different: a new life and a new home, in Italy.
His destination was the lesser-known western stretch of Liguria, that slice of Italy tucked between Genoa and the French border. โItโs between the big resorts, so itโs quieter and less touristy. For me, thatโs nicer.โ
Finding the right village
Tony didnโt rush into anything. Over the course of a year or more, he visited Liguria regularly, gradually narrowing down where he might want to live. He eventually settled on Ceriana, pictured above, a hilltop village above Sanremo with a strong sense of community.
โThere are only a thousand people but it has three bars, two restaurants, three grocery shops, two butchers. Itโs unbelievable, but it works. Everyone from kids to ancients uses the bars. Itโs the culture.โ
Spending time in the village before buying turned out to be essential. โDonโt buy blind or from a brochure,โ he says. โSpend a week there, see how it all works, where youโll park, how youโll shop, how the streets are laid out. Thatโs not always obvious at first.โ
A home with potential and purpose
Initially, Tony had his eye on a rustic country property, a classic rustico surrounded by land and olives. โI quite fancied one of those, a little plot to fix up,โ he says. โLuckily, my brain kicked in and said, โNot at your age, thatโd be stupid.โโ
Instead, he bought a solid village house with structure and promise. It cost just โฌ60,000 and came with multiple floors, a garage and views of the river. โThe upper floor was completely empty, but the roof had been done. I could imagine three or four bedrooms up there. I can live in it while the workโs happening. Itโs a proper project, but a doable one.โ
Working with a local geometra and a team of trusted tradespeople, Tony is overseeing a gradual renovation.
Despite its low cost the property is large and has a good-sized garden overlooking the river. Tony also wants to buy a patch of land next door: โItโs the kind of thing you could never do in England, but in Italy itโs possible. If anything itโs too cheap โ being only worth โฌ1,000 or so the landowner isnโt motivated to sell it.โ
Creating a family base
The house isnโt just for Tony. Itโs also meant as a base for his children and grandchildren, somewhere for family and friends to visit. Though he and his wife are separated, they remain close, and she has visited several times. โItโs going to be a family home for the grandkids, for after me,โ he says.
Heโs already planning extra bedrooms upstairs to make the home more accommodating for visits.
Heโs also hoping to buy a plot of land behind the house to create a proper garden. โItโs only worth about โฌ1,000, but the landowner doesnโt see the point in selling. Iโm working on persuading them.โ
Managing the practicalities
Tony has applied for Italian residency to make day-to-day life easier. โYou even need to be a resident to buy a car,โ he says. Though heโs not applying for citizenship, residency gives him freedom to spend extended periods without worrying about visas.
He also set up an Italian bank account and uses Smart Currency Exchange for transfers. โIโve found them very efficient,โ he says. โItโs been beneficial. Iโm funding this from the sale of the family home, so Iโve had the capital available.โ
Living the Italian lifestyle
Life in Liguria suits Tony. โThe weatherโs better. Itโs a short drive to the beach, you can get a boat, go cycling. Itโs freedom.โ
Heโs an avid cyclist, and the surrounding hills provide the perfect terrain. โThe ride from Sanremo to the village is about 300 metres uphill. I havenโt done it yet. Itโs not that I canโt, I just donโt want to pedal uphill all that way.โ
Heโs also been eyeing the boats in Sanremo harbour and debating whether to try sailing.
Tony has also made new friends. โThere are a few English, Polish, Dutch, but itโs mostly Italians, which is great.โ His Italian is improving too, though he admits itโs a work in progress. โI understand most things, but speakingโs harder. I already speak some French, so I get a bit mixed up. But itโs not a barrier.โ
Property and practical thinking
Ceriana, like many Italian villages, has its quirks. โSome houses donโt have vehicle access, which might not be obvious when you first visit. I bought a place with a garage and access from the road; that made all the difference.โ
And while Liguria isnโt as hot as parts of the south, climate still factored into his decision. โIโm up at about 300 metres, so even in summer, itโs five or six degrees cooler than the coast. That really helps.โ
The final word: just go for it
Tony is clear about his advice to others considering a move like his. โYouโve got to do it. Donโt be afraid. The problems are solvable.โ
But heโs just as clear about the importance of research. โGet to know the area first. Walk the streets. Sit in the cafรฉs. Figure out how life actually works. Then, if it feels right, go for it.โ
He doesnโt worry about resale value. โIt probably wonโt be worth what I spend. But who cares? If the family enjoy it and it becomes what they need, thatโs what matters.โ
Thinking of buying in Italy? If youโre feeling inspired by Tonyโs story, youโre not alone. Whether youโre ready to explore properties or just starting to consider your options, Your Overseas Home is here to help.
