Italy’s one-euro-home sales have captured the attention of many in recent years, with numerous individuals seizing the opportunity to purchase abandoned properties in some of the country’s depopulated towns. While places like Mussomeli in Sicily and Zungoli in Campania have successfully sold off numerous deserted dwellings to foreigners eager to embrace the Italian lifestyle, certain towns have faced difficulties in finding buyers for their empty homes.
One such struggling town is Patrica, a secluded medieval village with a population of just 3,000 residents, situated south of Rome. More than 40 properties that were abandoned in the early 1900s have been left to deteriorate in this picturesque location perched on a rocky plateau overlooking the Sacco valley in central Italy. Despite its charm, life in Patrica has not been easy for its inhabitants in the past.
In an effort to revitalize the dying village, Mayor Lucio Fiordaliso has been attempting to replicate the success of other Italian towns by offering abandoned homes for sale at one euro, or just over a dollar. However, his efforts have been largely unsuccessful. “We first identified all abandoned houses and issued a formal call to the original owners to encourage them to relinquish their decaying family properties, but we were only able to sell two homes for one euro,” Fiordaliso tells CNN.
Unlike towns affected by earthquakes or other natural disasters, where local authorities have the power to sell abandoned homes without owner consent, Patrica and similar towns face a different challenge. “We require the cooperation of owners, or their heirs, to dispose of their old houses,” explains Fiordaliso. “Only then can we proceed with selling these properties with their approval, making the process incredibly complex. Almost impossible.”
The mayor reveals that after issuing a “public call to engage them in our one-euro-homes project,” the town received a “positive response” from 10 owners, but they ultimately backed out, while others did not respond at all. The intricacies of Italian inheritance law, where abandoned homes may be divided among multiple heirs, often hinder the sale of these properties.
In some cases, disputes among family members or the absence of clear ownership records have made it challenging to determine the rightful owners of these abandoned homes. Fiordaliso highlights the difficulty of tracking down descendants of owners who migrated overseas, possibly changed their last names, or passed on their property to foreigners without informing the town hall.
While a few abandoned homes in Patrica have attracted interest from potential buyers, many properties are in such a state of disrepair that they are not viable for sale, even at a nominal price. Despite these obstacles, the town is exploring new strategies to attract newcomers and rejuvenate the local economy, including tax incentives for those looking to start businesses or renovate properties.
Ultimately, the future of Patrica’s abandoned homes remains uncertain, but the mayor and local residents remain hopeful that with perseverance and innovative initiatives, the village may one day see a resurgence in interest from both locals and foreigners alike.