About us

Italian real estate takes time. And people who take responsibility.

How it all began – an affinity long before it was about real estate

For me, ‘Dolce Vita’ was never an advertising slogan. It was a feeling. Even before I had ever set foot on Italian soil, Italy was already part of my life: through books, films, music. Visconti, Fellini, De Sica. Mina, Celentano. Stories, images, voices that penetrated cold Germany from the south and triggered a longing that could no longer be shaken off.

When I was finally able to travel to Italy for the first time, I was looking for exactly that feeling. The sea, the air, the promise. At first, I didn't find it – at least not where I expected to. But instead of turning away, I stayed. And returned. Again and again. Because Italy had more to offer culturally, humanly and emotionally than any initial disappointment.

Small moments, deep connection

Italy became my passion early on. As a child, I read everything I could find about travelling to Italy. Later came museum visits, detours, missed opportunities – closed museums, renovated exhibitions, cold winds in Venetian palazzi.

And then those seemingly insignificant moments: a slice of nut cake near the Rialto Bridge. A hissing ‘Mamma mia’. A gust of wind blowing through a room full of old masters.

It's these little things that you can only understand when you really feel Italy. They don't explain real estate – but they explain why you stay.

The step into self-employment

In 1994, the opportunity arose not only to travel to Italy, but to work there. I founded ‘Toskana Feriendomizil leCase’ – initially with a focus on holiday properties. This made it possible to view houses myself, get to know regions, meet owners and develop a feel for markets that you never get from a distance. Over time, the company grew, as did its ambitions. ‘leCase’ became Italica – a shorter, more precise name. Livingart was added for exclusive properties.

Who is behind ItalicaHomes today

ItalicaHomes is not a conventional estate agency, but a small, deliberately manageable family business. For more than three decades, we have been supporting people who are looking for more than just a property in Italy: a holiday home with a future, a retirement home, an investment or a new

Centre of life. In this context, we see ourselves as mediators between international buyers and the reality of the Italian property market – with all its peculiarities, opportunities and risks.

Together with my son Ian, we visit the properties ourselves – regardless of whether it is a simple rustico, a beach apartment, a vineyard or an estate. We do not work with third-party images. We only describe properties that we have seen ourselves. And we only expand our portfolio where real support is possible. We focus on a selection of properties that are truly suitable for international buyers – legally, structurally and in terms of prospects.

Today, we work primarily in Tuscany, with additional activities in Liguria, Apulia, Sicily and Umbria.

The founder: Lenka Fridrich

Lenka Fridrich is the woman behind ItalicaHomes. Her professional background is not primarily in the real estate industry, but in journalism, broadcasting, theatre and translation. For many years, she worked as a presenter, interviewer and assistant director – activities that continue to shape her working style today.

Buying a property is not a purely technical process. It is personal, often emotional, sometimes contradictory. I see my role as ‘deciphering’ customers, identifying their needs – even those they themselves cannot yet clearly articulate.

Our approach: clarity instead of sales pressure

The following are non-negotiable for us:

• Transparency
• Information
• Realistic assessments

We consciously reject pressure selling, whitewashing and cover-ups. We do not include properties with structural or legal problems in our portfolio – even if they are easy to sell.

Our goal is not a quick sale, but a decision that our clients can live with for years to come.

Our role: Mediator, translator and interface

The Italian property market works differently than many buyers expect.

Language barriers, regional peculiarities, different mentalities and bureaucratic processes can quickly lead to misunderstandings.

ItalicaHomes sees itself as an interface between international buyers and the Italian market, between expectations and reality, and between mentalities, authorities and experts. We accompany our buyers through the entire process – and often far beyond: notary, geometra, renovations, utilities, accounts, rentals, staff, taxes.

We also assist clients who have found their property through another provider but need support.

Regional roots

Our focus is on Tuscany, supplemented by Liguria and selected other regions. This deliberate limitation enables genuine market knowledge, local presence and realistic assessments.

We know:

• why sea views are rarely actually achievable
• which locations work in the long term and
• where romantic ideas reach their limits

This honesty saves time, money and disappointment.

What we do specifically

On request, we accompany our clients through the entire purchase process:

• Property inspection and coordination of all parties involved
• Multilingual support at the notary
• Assistance with administrative procedures
• Support with utility transfers
• Account opening, renovations, repairs, letting

Our support does not end with the handover of the keys. We accompany many customers over many years – even if the purchase was made through another estate agent.

Who we work for

Our clients come mainly from Germany, Europe and other countries around the world.

We work with people who:

• Don't expect quick promises
• Are looking for support – not just brokerage
• Value privacy, honesty and substance

The purchase price is irrelevant: a property costing £100,000 deserves the same care and attention as one costing a million.

Success reimagined

We do not measure success by sales figures. Rather, we measure it by whether customers say years later:

‘The others just sent invoices. You took care of us.’ 

That is our success.