Sicily Is Selling Homes Near Vineyards At Only €1 To Fuel Your Nomadic Dreams
Image via Shutterstock
Being able to work in a new scenic environment sounds like a dream, now more so than ever. Now, imagine if that dream were steeped in history and heady notes of wine.
If you’re genuinely up for a change, this vision may not be too far. To grow its population, the small town of Salemi in Sicily, Italy is giving up an array of homes for a wee price of €1 (US$1.17). The houses, which date back to the 1600s, will go on sale through an auction in the coming month, as reported by CNN Travel.
According to Travel + Leisure, Salemi is just 30 to 40 minutes away from Marsala’s famous vineyards by car. On top of that, Salemi won’t be a ghost town when you get there. The village’s mayor, Domenico Venuti, told CNN Travel that old architecture and services “from roads to electric grids and sewage pipes” had been revived ahead of this program to welcome its next residents.
The town is taking on the project decades after an earthquake struck Sicily’s Bellice Valley in 1968, forcing at least 4,000 residents to evacuate the district. Since then, Salemi’s population numbers haven’t lived up to those from its prime.
The €1 houses are built from sandstone that derived from surrounding caves. Since they’re over four centuries old, many of them need to undergo major restorations. Dwellings in better conditions will likely warrant a higher starting price.
Given the persisting COVID-19 situation, interested buyers won’t have to make an offer in person, but they’ll have to present a detailed renovation plan for the house—proving its urban potential—to be evaluated by a committee.
They can also purchase more than one home, though every property will require a deposit of €3,000 (US$3,500), which will be returned to them if they finalize restyling work within three years. Applicants who intend to turn the property into a business establishment, such as a bed and breakfast, will score higher points and tax credits.
You can find out more about the initiative here.
[via Travel + Leisure, cover image via Shutterstock]
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