The idea of buying a property for just one euro may sound unlikely, unless you are familiar with a scheme that has been running in many Italian villages for several years. The Case a 1 euro initiative began in Sicily in 2008 and has gradually spread across the country.
€1 houses in Puglia are now an established part of the scheme, intended to tackle the depopulation that has emptied the historic centres of small towns across the region for decades. Here is the Puglian village taking part in 2026, along with the conditions involved.
The €1 houses scheme in Puglia
The Case a 1 euro scheme in Puglia, as in many other Italian regions, has two aims. It seeks to bring historic centres back to life, many of which lie outside the main tourist routes, while also helping to slow the population decline seen in areas that have lost a large share of their residents in recent decades.
There are no income or wealth thresholds for taking part. Eligible applicants include Italian private individuals, foreign nationals and sole traders, and properties may be used for tourism, accommodation or residential purposes.
This broad eligibility sets the Case a 1 euro initiative apart from many other subsidised property purchase schemes, which tend to favour specific categories of buyers.
Where to find €1 houses in Puglia
In 2026, just one village in Puglia is participating in the Case a 1 euro initiative: Biccari, in the province of Foggia, which has been part of the project since 2021. This year, the comune (local council) has revived a format that achieved reasonable success last year and differs in a few respects from that used by most Italian villages involved in the scheme.
Biccari
Biccari is a village of around 2,600 residents in the Dauni Mountains, 450 metres above sea level and roughly 30 km from Foggia. It belongs to the Borghi Autentici d’Italia network, which brings together Italian towns with a strong local identity. The surrounding area includes Monte Cornacchia, Puglia’s highest peak at 1,151 metres, and Lake Pescara, both suited to walks, cycling and horse riding.
In Biccari’s historic centre, with its many historic buildings and narrow stone lanes, visitors can see the Byzantine Tower, the village’s symbol, as well as noble palaces and churches dating back to the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
For Biccari’s Case a 1 euro project, mayor Gianfilippo Mignogna previously chose not to include only properties requiring complete renovation. The catalogue also contains homes that are already partially habitable, with prices ranging between €1 and €30,000.
This change of approach came about through experience in previous years. Many foreign buyers were interested in the village but felt discouraged by the prospect of managing building work remotely, including planning permissions, communication with technical professionals and administrative procedures. Expanding the range of properties has therefore widened the pool of potential buyers.
The catalogue created by the council was also featured on CNN, with the stated aim of reaching an international audience. The project’s results speak for themselves.
Since its launch in 2021, when 20 properties were included, sales have generated around €650,000, while completed and ongoing works are worth €1.3 million. The overall economic impact has exceeded €2 million.
There is also no obligation to renovate or establish residency for houses in Biccari bought through this initiative. Each buyer is free to decide whether to live in the property permanently, rent it out or use it as a summer second home.
How to buy a €1 house
The €1 price is only the starting point. The real cost of the transaction becomes clear afterwards, and understanding the main expenses is essential for accurate planning.
In most comuni taking part in the Case a 1 euro project in 2026, buyers are generally required to:
- renovate the property within 365 days of purchase, at an estimated cost of €20,000 to €25,000;
- begin the building work within two months of receiving planning approval;
- cover notary fees for registration, transfer of ownership and cadastral registration;
- pay the council a €5,000 surety bond, held as a guarantee for three years.
Foreign nationals interested in a property can take part provided they have an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). Anyone in Italy can request this document from the Agenzia delle Entrate, Italy’s Revenue Agency. It can also be obtained through Italian consulates abroad, which issue it relatively quickly.
Once the work has begun, certain tax deductions may be available. The renovation bonus allows buyers to reclaim 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of €96,000, if the property becomes their main home, or 36% if it is a second home. In Biccari, where no building work is compulsory, these tax breaks can still be useful for buyers who decide to renovate.
Living in Biccari
Moving to, or investing in, a property in Biccari or elsewhere in Puglia is also possible outside the Case a 1 euro initiative, as the area has a range of properties for rent and sale. The latest listings can be found on idealista.
