€1 villas for sale in a wine-producing town in Sicily

A small Sicilian town with a rich winemaking history is offering homes at knockdown prices to boost its dwindling population.

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The small Sicilian town of Sambuca is reportedly selling villas for as little as €1 (£0.88) in the hopes of bringing the town back to life after the depopulation it has suffered, as reported by CNN travel. Many small towns across Italy are suffering as their residents move to bigger cities, and a few have turned to unusual tactics such as selling properties for less than the price of your morning coffee.

There is a slight catch though. After you have paid €1 for the villa, you will be expected to invest at least €15,000 (£13,270) restoring the property over three years, as well as paying the local council a €5,000 (£4,423) security deposit, which is refundable once the restoration is complete.

Despite its name, Sambuca is not named after the anise-flavoured spirit but is well known locally for its wine. So if you’re thinking of moving abroad, Sambuca could be the perfect place for wine-producers and drinkers alike.

With wine made in the area since Ancient Greek times, the town is now covered in vineyards. Red grapevines, especially Nero d’Avola, grow around the town’s lake, Lago Arancio. More recently, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay grapes have been planted, and are used to produce premium bottles that are exported internationally.

Giusseppe Cacioppo, the deputy mayor and tourist councillor told CNN: “Sambuca is known as the City of Splendour. 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.”

Any interested parties will have to move quickly though, as Cacioppo said: “Foreigners are flocking here, flabbergasted by all this beauty. Some 10 houses have already been sold. 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.”