Where can you go now to live like the characters in Ripley?

[Ursulla]

Not to murder each other, but to live in a cheap, slightly dilapidated but charming picturesque European setting, maybe with sea?

My first thought is Bosnia but that's obviously mostly inland.

No one?

I'm guessing it's not Doncaster.

Interesting question! I imagine some hidden villages and towns that arnt fashionable are still cheap in Italy

Croatia! The less travelled areas of coastline give decadent, artistic vibes..,

Or like the Durrells in Greece? Or whatever her name was in Mama Mia? If only these places were really full of characterful friendly English speaking locals just happy to help out with every need.
There are places throughout Europe. Learning the language is key and integrating with the community. You have to go find them - if known they probably aren't going to be cheap.

Croatia is not cheap though, I think. Not for crumbling grandeur.

Albania?

Albanian coastline

Was it cheap in Ripley, or are they just rich, making them able to rent impressive properties?

Possibly less fashionable parts of Spain, where there isn't really any mass, northern European tourism.

Not on the coast, but I've just come back from the Alpuljarras region where there were traditional Spanish properties in white villages or in the countryside but in commuting distance of Granada for well under 100k euro.

I suspect the modern version of that is North Morocco.

But Sicily has plenty of coastline, crumbling historic buildings and impoverished population willing to work as cooks or gardeners.
If you watch a few episodes of Inspector Montalbano you’ll get the vibe; that series has done a lot to boost Sicilian tourism.

Well, I'd expect a lot of areas on the Mediterranean coast have this sort of thing. Southern Italy will, as will Greece, Albania, Montenegro, North African coast.

If this is a fantasising thread then go for it, if it's an actual plan, then go in slowly, be prepared to not be in any way prepared or in control of how things turn out.

If you’re not going for the murdering is there any point, look how bored Marge is.