The idea of buying a house for €1 in Puglia, especially near the sea, sounds almost too good to be true. In reality, the region’s one‑euro opportunities are focused inland, in small towns that are keen to bring people back into their historic centres. If you’re picturing a beachfront house for the price of an espresso, that isn’t on the cards in 2026, but there are still some interesting Apulian villages and even a coastal city exploring symbolic‑price regeneration.
How to buy a 1 euro house in Italy
Italy’s 1 euro house schemes are designed to rescue abandoned buildings and repopulate historic centres, not simply hand out cheap holiday homes. The €1 price is symbolic: you’re really signing up for a renovation project with strict rules and deadlines.
In most towns, the process looks roughly like this:
- Respond to a public call published by the local council, usually via a form or formal application.
- Indicate which property (or properties) you’re interested in and submit a basic renovation proposal, often with a sketch budget and timeline.
- Provide financial guarantees, which may include a security deposit or surety bond in favour of the municipality, alongside standard notary fees and taxes.
- Once permits are granted, start the works within the time limit set by the council and finish them within the agreed number of months or years.
- Register for an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) if you don’t already have one, as it’s required for the deed.
Typical 1-euro project costs run well beyond the €1 purchase price, with many buyers budgeting tens of thousands of euros for structural work, utilities, and interiors. For some, that outlay is justified by the chance to create a bespoke home or a nice little investment in a village that would otherwise be out of reach.
1 euro houses by the sea in Puglia 2025
As of 2026, there are no traditional village‑style 1 euro house schemes directly on the Puglian beachfront. The exception on the coast is Taranto, a city on the Ionian Sea that has used the €1 concept within tightly defined urban regeneration projects in its historic districts.
Buying 1 euro houses in Puglia
While Puglia doesn’t currently have beachfront 1 euro homes, you can still find inland Apulian towns taking part in the project. These places share a common goal: to bring life back into old streets that have emptied over time, and to do it by attracting people who are willing to commit to renovation, not just swoop in for a bargain.
In broad terms, buying a 1 euro house in Puglia works like in the rest of Italy. You respond to a call launched by the local council, commit to renovating a specific property within a defined timeframe, and cover all legal and building costs. Each municipality sets its own rules on deposits, deadlines and minimum investment, so the details can vary quite a bit.
It's a good idea to properly investigate how to buy a 1 euro house in Italy so you can see how the paperwork, guarantees and renovation timing work in practice before you start shortlisting towns.
Where to buy a 1 euro house in Puglia in 2026
In 2026, the main Apulian locations to look at are more typical village schemes, while Taranto is a coastal city using symbolic‑price regeneration tools in very specific areas.
Biccari
Biccari sits in the province of Foggia, in the inland Daunia mountains in northern Puglia. It’s surrounded by forests, farmland and rolling hills, a world away from the region’s busier coastal resorts.
Who it suits:
Biccari is a good fit if you’re less interested in the beach and more drawn to clear air, walking paths and a tight‑knit community. It works well for anyone dreaming of a second home or small hospitality project in a quiet corner of Puglia.
Candela
Candela is also in the province of Foggia, perched above the Ofanto river valley. It’s very much an inland hill town, with narrow streets and big views over the surrounding countryside.
Who it suits:
This is one to consider if you want to be in Puglia but away from the main tourist routes, in a place where you’ll quickly get to know your neighbours and daily life is still very local.
Caprarica di Lecce
Caprarica di Lecce lies in the province of Lecce, in the Salento area of southern Puglia. It’s inland, surrounded by olive groves and stone walls, but within driving distance of both the Adriatic and Ionian coasts as well as baroque Lecce.
Who it suits:
Caprarica di Lecce is appealing if you like the idea of Salento’s food, festivals and climate, but prefer a quieter rural base over the busier seaside towns. With a car, both coasts are within reach for day trips.
Taranto
Taranto is a major city in the province of Taranto, on the Ionian Sea. It has a historic island centre, industrial areas and newer districts, and a long, complex history shaped by both its naval role and industrial development.
Who it suits:
Taranto will appeal less to someone looking for a simple holiday bolthole, and more to people or entities interested in urban regeneration, social housing or medium‑scale investment.
What if you only want 1 euro houses by the sea?
If your heart is really set on a 1 euro house right by the sea, Puglia isn’t the easiest place to focus on in 2026. Inland Apulian towns can give you a quieter, more affordable lifestyle with reasonable drives to the coast, and Taranto shows how these schemes can work in a coastal city context. However, none of them is the classic “€1 beachfront cottage” scenario.
If walking to the beach from your front door is non‑negotiable, the better strategy is to look at Sicily and Sardinia, where a handful of coastal municipalities have launched more traditional 1 euro or symbolic‑price initiatives.
1 euro houses in Puglia in 2026: who does it suit?
Puglia’s 1 euro house scene in 2026 is still relatively small and very much inland‑focused. It suits you if:
- You like the idea of quiet hill or countryside towns, with space and a slower rhythm of life.
- You’re more interested in long walks, local food and village festivals than nightlife on the seafront.
- You’re happy to drive to the beach or to larger cities when you need them.
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