Many Italian municipalities have adopted the initiative of selling properties at symbolic prices in an effort to increase their populations and revive local social and economic life. €1 homes are often found in villages in Italy’s inland areas.
There are, however, a few examples of towns that have published public calls and put properties on the market near seaside destinations, including small places in Sicily and Calabria.
€1 homes near the sea
The format of the public calls through which Italian municipalities sell €1 homes is broadly similar across the country. The local authority identifies abandoned homes and contacts their owners, proposing a symbolic-price sale instead of leaving them to cover refurbishment costs themselves. Buyers, in turn, must guarantee that safety works are carried out within a set period.
Buyers often come from outside the province or region, and many live abroad. Buying a €1 home near the sea appeals to plenty of people and can be a good opportunity to acquire a second home for holidays. Money saved on the purchase can then be put towards the refurbishment needed to bring the property back into use.
Houses for 1 euro in Calabria
In Calabria, the municipality of Platania has also launched a €1 homes project, involving the symbolic-price transfer of old, abandoned properties in its historic centre. As with other schemes, purchases are tied to required renovation and safety works.
Platania is not directly on the coast, but it is well placed for reaching Calabria’s seaside resorts. The closest sea is along the Tyrrhenian coast, specifically Gizzeria Lido and Falerna Marina, around 21–25 km away. New owners of €1 homes could reach the beaches in roughly 30 to 45 minutes by car.
Houses for 1 euro in Sicily
Mussomeli, in the province of Caltanissetta, is one of Italy’s best-known municipalities for €1 homes. It is in Sicily and, helped by the appeal of the surrounding area, the project took off quickly, attracting investors from around the world.
Further inland in Sicily's 1-euro network, in the province of Enna, lies Piazza Armerina. €1 homes are also sold here to support the town’s tourism revival through the regeneration of its historic centre, while making safe and restoring the appearance of the many abandoned and dilapidated properties within the town, best known for its mosaics.
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