Buying a property for a symbolic price and bringing it back to life is an idea that has existed in Italy for more than 15 years. The initiative began in Salemi, Sicily, in 2008 and has gradually spread across the country, reaching mountain villages and small rural comuni, or local councils.
€1 homes in Emilia-Romagna are among the latest examples of this trend. In 2026, a municipality in the province of Piacenza officially joined the scheme. The aim is to curb depopulation, bring unused buildings back into use and attract new residents or investors prepared to put money into these areas.
The 1-euro house project in Emilia-Romagna
The €1 homes initiative is designed to turn run-down housing stock into an opportunity, attracting people willing to invest in areas that are often overlooked. Owners of abandoned or dilapidated buildings hand property over to the local council, freeing themselves of tax liabilities and maintenance costs. The council then makes them available to new buyers for the symbolic price of €1, in return for a formal commitment to renovate the property within a set timeframe.
The real cost of the project is, of course, higher than €1. Renovation work generally costs between €20,000 and €25,000, on top of notary fees, ownership-transfer costs and cadastral registration of the property.
Anyone who already owns a main home in Italy will be taxed on the purchase as a second home. Foreign buyers should also factor in legal and commercial advice, which can cost more than €1,000.
As for tax relief, anyone carrying out renovation work may benefit from the 2026 renovation bonus, which provides a 50% tax deduction on main-home expenditure up to €96,000. The furniture and household-appliance bonus also allows the same percentage to be recovered on eligible purchases of furniture and appliances for the home.
Where to find €1 homes in Emilia-Romagna
Unlike other regions, especially in southern Italy, where similar initiatives have been running for longer, Emilia-Romagna joined the €1 homes scheme in 2026.
The region is represented by an Apennine village with partly unused housing stock, in a notable rural setting and within easy reach of northern Italy’s main cities: Farini.
Farini
Farini sits in the upper Val Nure, around an hour’s drive from Piacenza. In March 2026, the municipality in the province of Piacenza joined the €1 Homes scheme, with plans to make between seven and eight properties available.
The village has just over 1,000 residents and is surrounded by chestnut and beech woods, with ridges reaching 1,300 metres above sea level.
The Municipality of Farini acts as an intermediary between people wishing to give up a burdensome property and those interested in bringing it back into use.
The available buildings can be used not only as homes but also as accommodation businesses, commercial premises or operational bases for associations. Several types of applicant can submit a bid for the available properties:
- private individuals from Italy, the EU and outside the EU, provided they have an Italian tax code;
- sole traders, agencies, companies and cooperatives whose aims are compatible with the scheme;
- artisan and commercial businesses intending to use the property as business premises;
- cultural, sporting and non-profit associations looking for a base.
Farini is an area with considerable historical and natural interest. Among its hamlets, Groppallo is the most visited, with the remains of the Nicelli Tower and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.
How to buy a €1 home
The route to buying a €1 home starts by contacting the relevant local council, expressing an interest and gathering information about available properties. In Farini, Emilia-Romagna, the contract must be signed within three months of approval of the council’s documents once the property has been assigned.
This is followed by a series of practical deadlines that must be met to avoid losing the guarantee provided:
- the renovation project must be submitted within six months of signing the contract;
- work must begin within three months of receiving planning permission;
- the building work must be completed within two years of the work starting.
To guarantee these commitments, a surety bond of at least €5,000 is required, valid for three years. In the event of non-compliance, the council retains the amount and may act independently, including by demolishing the building.
Assessing the property’s condition in person and seeking advice from building, legal and tax professionals before signing any documents can make the difference between a sound investment and an unexpected expense.
Living in Emilia-Romagna
Beyond the €1 Homes scheme, Emilia-Romagna also has a range of property opportunities for people interested in moving to the region or investing in a home there. Updated property listings on idealista provide a useful overview of what is currently available.
Stay in the know about living in Italy as a foreigner—get our weekly newsletter for the latest travel, legal, and lifestyle news.
