What People Say About Living in Tricase

Puglia is one of the top choices for expats looking to move to Italy – and it’s easy to see why. Beautiful beaches, affordable living costs, and great weather year-round. Most people gravitate toward Bari o Lecce, but there’s another option worth considering: Tricase, a town of about 18,000 residents sitting just 50 minutes south of Lecce. It’s managed to stay authentic and quiet, which is exactly what’s drawing more expats to the area.

There’s another bonus too: Tricase qualifies for Italy’s 7% flat tax scheme for foreign retirees. If you’re retired and considering a move to Italy, this could save you a lot of money (we have a complete, free guide on how it works if you want to dive deeper).

Sounds pretty good so far, right? But before you get too excited, let’s look at both sides – the pros and the cons – to understand what it’s actually like living in Tricase all year round. We talked to people who live there and dug into the data to find out.

Life in Tricase: What People Say

Secondo i residenti, Tricase works well if you’re looking for a quiet base in Salento that still has what you need day-to-day without the tourist chaos. You’ve got your dentists, gyms, pharmacies, supermarkets – and most importantly, the beach is just a couple of minutes away. People seem to appreciate that it’s small but not dead. There’s enough going on that it doesn’t feel isolating, and the infrastructure is solid for a town this size:

“It’s a lovely area and the infrastructure is great. The cardiology department at Tricase Hospital is really good too.”

One thing that comes up repeatedly is how well Tricase works as a base for exploring the rest of Salento. You’re positioned perfectly for short trips along the coast – whether it’s the Adriatic side toward Castro and Santa Cesarea, or heading down to Leuca and the famous beaches of Pescoluse (the so-called “Maldives of Salento”):

“Tricase is a fantastic starting point if you want to explore the Adriatic coast. You’re close to your own beaches, plus you can easily reach Andrano, Castro, and all the way down to Leuca and Pescoluse on the other side.”

Il natural areas around Tricase are also a highlight. There’s Monte Orco, which hosts one of Italy’s most beautiful living nativity scenes every December, the Vallonea forest, and coastal trails like the one leading to Torre del Sasso. Plus, residents say the local restaurants and pastry shops are just amazing (which is not that surprising, right?).

Transport and Connectivity in Tricase

The closest airport is in Brindisi, about 1 hour away by car. It’s a decent-sized airport with good European connections. But if you need more international options, Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport is around 2 hours north.

Tricase has its own stazione ferroviaria, but it’s only served by regional trains, which means you can’t really depend on it for anything beyond nearby towns. Even destinations that are just a few kilometers away can take twice as long by train compared to driving. For example, you’re looking at about 1 hour to Maglie, and nearly 2 hours to reach Lecce o Otranto.

Trasporto pubblico works for getting to Lecce or nearby towns and districts (like Marina Serra, Lucugnano, or Depressa), but it’s not frequent enough if you want real flexibility. For this reason, most residents strongly recommend having a car or scooter, especially if you want to explore the coastline and surrounding towns freely:

“If you rent a car, that’s ideal. You’ll have way more freedom to move around, and honestly, this part of Salento isn’t too crowded. You can easily hop from one town to another and really enjoy the area.”

Where to Live in Tricase: Housing & Cost of Living

Prezzi degli immobili in Tricase are definitely accessibile considering that you’re just a few steps from the beach, near other beautiful parts of Puglia. We’re talking about an average of €972/m² for buying, which works out to around €97,200 for a 100 m² home. Same for rent, which is equally reasonable at about €4.76/m², so roughly €476/month for a 100 m² place.

To put this in perspective, here’s how Tricase compares to some of Puglia’s most popular destinations:

Dati elaborati da Immobiliare.it

As you can see, Tricase is significantly more affordable than the big-name destinations. Lecce costs 70% more, Otranto is double the price, and Bari is more than twice as expensive. If you’re looking for another affordable option in the area, Galatina (just 40 minutes away) is even cheaper.

Residents suggest considering the different districts depending on what you’re after. If you want to be near the water, Tricase Porto and Marina Serra are the obvious choices. For something more residential and quiet, Tutino or Lucugnano might work better. The main town center offers the most services and a bit more activity, especially during the summer months.

Challenges of Living in Tricase

First off, assistenza sanitaria is a bit of a mixed bag. As other expats have mentioned, the local hospital has strong cardiovascular care – response times for heart attacks are good, and readmission rates are low. However, other services like bone fracture management and breast cancer surgeries could be better. The overall healthcare score sits below the national median, so if you have specific medical needs, it’s worth researching what’s available locally versus traveling to Lecce or Brindisi.

Second, connettività could definitely improve. For daily life, you can find everything you need in town. But if you want to explore nearby places, having a car is essential. Otherwise, you’ll lose hours dealing with trains, buses, and multiple stops – journeys that take 20 minutes by car can easily stretch to an hour or more by public transport.

Third, if you don’t speak Italian, integration might take some effort. This isn’t a tourist town with English everywhere, even though the expat community around the area is growing. Some people love that authenticity; others might find it isolating at first.

Finally, local opportunità di lavoro are scarce. If you’re moving here and need to find work locally (rather than working remotely), options will be limited.

Tricase by the Numbers: Key Data

• Punteggio della qualità della vita: Very Good (79/100) - infrastructure, economy, and amenities considered
• Qualità dell'aria: Eccellente (80/100)
• Assistenza sanitaria: Giovanni Panico Hospital (2 minutes)
• Sicurezza: Rischio sismico da moderato a basso
• Velocità Internet: Pretty good (average 99 Mbps download)
• Trasporto: Car/scooter recommended, but public transport exists
  • Aeroporti: Papola Casale, Brindisi (63 min), Karol Wojtyla, Bari (115 min), Lamezia Terme (207 min)
  • Stazioni ferroviarie: Tricase (3 min.), Andrano-Castiglione (6 min), Miggiano-Specchia-Montesano (6 min)

For more detailed information about Tricase and its services and infrastructure, visitare il profilo della città Magic Towns.

Is Tricase Right for You?

✅ Choose Tricase if:

• You qualify for Italy’s 7% flat tax scheme for foreign retirees – this could mean serious savings
• Vuoi affordable coastal living in an authentic southern Italian town – property prices are significantly lower than Lecce or Otranto, and you’re just minutes from the beach
• Sei un remote worker or retiree looking for a quiet, peaceful base with great weather and access to beautiful natural areas
• You have (or plan to get) a car and want to explore Salento freely – Tricase is perfectly positioned between both coasts, with easy day trips to Castro, Leuca, and Pescoluse

❌ Think twice if:

• You need specialized servizi sanitari regularly – while the local hospital has strong cardiology care, other departments are below the national median
• You depend on trasporto pubblico – it exists but is infrequent and slow, making daily life without your own vehicle quite limiting
• Stai cercando local employment – job opportunities are very scarce unless you work remotely
• Non parli Italiano and aren’t prepared to learn – this isn’t a tourist town, so integration will require a bit of effort

Pensieri finali

At the end of the day, if you’ve fallen in love with Puglia and are considering Tricase among your options, it could work really well as an affordable and peaceful base. The connections to major cities could definitely be better, but with a car and the willingness to travel a bit for flights or faster trains through Lecce, it’s totally manageable.

The cost of living is reasonable, you’ve got clean air and a pleasant climate, beaches are right there, and you get a genuinely authentic southern Italian experience. The hospital is close by even if some services could be stronger, and having Lecce just down the road means you can always head there for shopping, dining, or entertainment when you need a change of pace.

Just factor in things like healthcare quality, internet speeds, and the limited job market before you commit. And if you’re serious about it, spend some time learning Italian – it’ll make all the difference in feeling at home here.

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