A dream house in Italy for one euro?
Michal Bardavid
["europe"]
Ever dreamed of having a vacation house in a remote location, away from all the stress of city life? Italy may have the solution for you.
Several towns in Italy have launched a unique campaign to revitalize their communities. Some houses have been put up for sale for a shocking price of one euro. Fabbriche di Vergemoli is one of the towns participating in the "buy a house for one euro" campaign in Italy. The town is surrounded by picturesque mountains and beautiful forests as well as a peaceful lake.
Fabbriche di Vergemoli is located within a UNESCO Global Geopark. Though it may seem remote it's actually just a 20 minute drive to the cities of Lucca, Pistoia and Pisa, home to the world famous leaning tower. It's also just an hour away from Florence, the capital of Tuscany.
 One euro house in Fabbriche di Vergemoli /Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

 One euro house in Fabbriche di Vergemoli /Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

At first sight, it may seem like the town has been abandoned, with businesses closed and few people on the streets, but that is part of the problem. Over the years, young local residents have moved to metropolitan areas and that resulted in the decrease of the population.
The one euro houses on sale have decayed and require renovation. Some don't even have a roof. But since it's prohibited to build new houses in Tuscany, renovating an old cottage house is an opportunity.
Buying a house here doesn't come with the ability to become a resident but the properties can be used as vacation houses. The buyer must pledge to renovate his or her home, which experts say could cost between 50,000 - 100,000 U.S. dollars depending on the state of the building and the choices of interior design. 
Lake on the way to Fabbriche di Vergemoli / Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

Lake on the way to Fabbriche di Vergemoli / Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

Adriano has lived in this town all his life. He is one of the sellers and said that he is selling the house because he is "sorry to see it fall and I hope it will be recovered."
Marco is the happy buyer of Adriano's house and is also the manager of a local construction company. He has been involved in renovating several houses in the area. He said there are many ways to create a dream house here.
"The house can be a very warm house inside thanks to the use of materials such as wood and stone which make the house warm and welcoming. Outside, we can also create small pools recreating the style of a river, and we can build panoramic terraces to be able to admire the surrounding landscape in silence."
Fabbriche di Vergemoli /Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

Fabbriche di Vergemoli /Photo by Miguel Angel Sanchez

The mayor of Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Michele Giannini, emphasized that everyone is welcome, no matter their country of origin, their race or religion. He vowed to support any buyer during the bureaucratic process and said their office "will support you in everything you must do. We just go to a notary and do the contract and for every step the office of the municipality and the Italian institutions will be next to you to do what is necessary."
Though life in an Italian town may not be for everyone, for the price offered – especially with the costs of restoration – it certainly seems like a great opportunity for those who can afford it.