Imagine jetting off every summer to your holiday home in Italy, spending your days exploring the cobbled-stoned streets of a charming medieval town while eating gelato and pizza all day.
Well, dreams may just become reality as Italy continues its ongoing “clearance sale” with houses going on sale for as little as R20. However, there’s a catch – those who manage to snag a property will need to commit to renovating it within three years and fork out a deposit guarantee of €5,000 (R84 000), which will be returned once your renovations are complete.
Located a stone’s throw away from Rome, Maenza is a rustic town that offers plenty for those looking to enjoy the quiet countryside and rich history. It’s nestled high up on the wild Lepini hills, offering exquisite views of the countryside. According to CNN, it’s one of the first in Rome’s Latium region to begin selling property for around €1, with hundreds of abandoned stone dwellings available for eager buyers.
The goal is to breathe new life into the ancient streets and neglected properties, with the town’s Mayor Claudio Sperduti stating that the initiative will help recover crumbling and disused properties.
“Families and youths often leave town to move to larger homes in nearby cities and villas in the countryside, but there’s always some newcomer who takes their place so it’s balanced out. This is not a dying city, people still inhabit the old district but it needs a revamp, fresh oxygen,” Sperduti told CNN.
If the thought of waking up each morning to some fresh Italian air and gorging yourself on authentic pizza sounds incredible, you can visit the town’s website to see which homes are for sale. Despite the deadline being August 28, more properties will be on the market soon!
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Picture: Proloco Maenza