Dozens of homes are being put up for sale in southern Italy’s beautiful island of Sicily for a jaw-dropping 90p.
Sambuca is a beautiful hilltop town which has stunning views over the Mediterranean and beaches.
The homes are being marketed at €1 in an attempt to revive a community which has suffered from depopulation in recent years as residents flock to bigger cities.
Dozens of homes are being put up for sale in southern Italy’s beautiful island of Sicily for a jaw-dropping 90p. Pictured, a view of Sambuca
Sambuca, pictured, is a beautiful hilltop town which has stunning views over the Mediterranean and beaches
According to CNN Sambuca is removing red tape to ensure anyone interested can more or less make their purchase right away.
It’s not the first town to offer up such a lucrative deal to lure in potential homeowners, say local officials.
Giuseppe Cacioppo, Sambuca’s deputy mayor and tourist councilor, said: ‘As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all €1 houses on sale.’
‘We’re not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, you’ll get it no time.’
The catch is that new owners must cough up a €5,000 (around £4,500) security deposit.
They must commit to refurbishing their choice of the crumbling 40- to 150-square meter dwellings within three years, at a cost starting from €15,000 (about £13,000).
Once the restyle is complete, they will be refunded the security deposit.
Cacioppo said ‘buyers won’t be disappointed’, adding ‘Sambuca is known as the City of Splendor.’
He said: ‘This fertile patch of land is dubbed the Earthly Paradise. We’re located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It’s silent and peaceful, an idyllic retreat for a detox stay.’
Cacioppo said the town needs outsiders to prevent it falling into ruin as a result of the dwindling population.
Sambuca was founded by Ancient Greeks and later conquered by Saracens who transformed it into trade center which was flourishing.
The town boasts splendid patchwork of contrasting architectural styles, including churches with round Arab-looking domes.
The churches sit next to Baroque palazzos with glazed tile floors, decorated with statues including smiling cherubs and fearsome gargoyles.
The town boasts splendid patchwork of contrasting architectural styles, including churches with round Arab-looking domes
Most of the two-story houses on sale are located within the ‘Saracen District,’ – a kasbah maze of arcaded stone portals and winding narrow alleys (less than a meter wide) through which people squeeze.
The Moorish dwellings, are built with pink reddish stones that glow at sunset.
They have inner courtyards, lavish palm gardens with orange and mandarin trees.
The homes have arcaded entrances, flowery majolica staircases, typical Sicilian tile roofs and terraces overlooking the stunning scenery.
Part of the town lied underground in it’s ‘sunken city’ which holds the labyrinth of purrere – holes and caves of old sandstone quarries
The ghosts of Saracen soldiers slaughtered by the Christians are said to haunt the caves and district at night.
Sambuca was founded by Ancient Greeks and later conquered by Saracens who transformed it into trade center which was flourishing. A monument in the town is pictured
Sambuca is located on the north west tip of Sicily. The town boasts splendid patchwork and contrasting architectural styles, including churches with round Arab-looking domes
Most of the two-story houses on sale are located within the ‘Saracen District,’ – a kasbah maze of arcaded stone portals and winding narrow alleys (less than a meter wide) through which people squeeze
Ten of the homes have already been sold.
Cacioppo said ‘foreigners are flocking here, flabbergasted by all this beauty’.
He said: ‘Dozens of others are available but badly in need of a makeover. We’ve been contacted by people from Switzerland, France and Spain and are receiving many requests.’
One of the new owners is Susanna Heinson, from Germany, who is currently refurbishing the homes.
‘I can’t wait to spend next summer in Sambuca,’ she says. ‘It’s a lovely, special place. The people are very open-minded and friendly. Good restaurants, great wineries. We feel at home.’