1 Euro Houses Have Turned These 10 Italian Villages Into Popular Hotspots

This charming medieval village of barely 2,500 residents in sunny Puglia, with winding picturesque alleys, Baroque-decorated buildings, and arched passageways, has been recently revived following the arrival of over 40 foreign families. Whoever takes up residence amid fields of grazing sheep and crop plantations is gifted with €6,000 if you’re willing to buy or restyle one of the old low-cut dazzling white houses with panoramic terraces and ornate balconies, abandoned in the 1960s. Life is fun here: there are folkloric festivals with dancers dressed in old clothes, spectacular night bonfires, and food fairs of turnip green and snail delicacies.

Set in the deep Basilicata region, once known as a bandit’s lair, this town is an offbeat village nobody would ever think of visiting. But it has several perks, which have drawn foreigners: extremely inexpensive old homes to rent or buy (starting at €10,000) and tax incentives. People who purchase a turnkey former shepherd or farmer dwelling as a holiday home are exempted from paying property and waste disposal taxes for five years. If they also restyle it, the exemption is extended for ten years. That means saving some €2,000 – €3,000 per year. Located inside the pristine Pollino national park and founded by the Ancient Greeks, there are trekking routes, zero pollution, and thermal baths.

Imagine getting paid to live a Renaissance dream under the Tuscan sun amid fountains and waterfalls. No, it’s not a utopia or a scam. This medieval hamlet is renowned for its natural spring pools and the “rental bonus.” Teleworkers willing to relocate and rent a house will be given up to €200 per month (or 50% of the total rent) for long-term stays of two to six months. Local rentals are in the range of €300-€500 monthly, meaning you might end up paying as little as €100 per month. Plus, you’ll get €30,000 to open a B&B, and there’s a baby bonus of up to €1,500 for each newborn.

Troina is dubbed “the balcony of Sicily,” boasting a spectacular view of Etna’s volcanic eruptions. During World War II, American allies fought in the surrounding green fields, supported by villagers. Today, many U.S. citizens and foreigners flock here to grab one euro or cheap upper-level properties within the old center, often elegant palazzos with ancient majolica tile floors and wrought iron balconies. Buyers are given “restyle bonuses” of up to €15,000 plus €10,000 for energy efficiency work. Those who take up residence and buy a turnkey property that doesn’t need repairs can get up to €8,000 and are exempted from paying property and city services taxes for three years.

You’ll love the vibe of this Sicilian village. Colonized by the Arabs, the buildings in the old Saracen district are a mix of golden-colored Baroque lavish palazzos and green-pink Moorish-style round-looking dwellings with inner citrus and palm gardens, terraces, and courtyards. After auctioning dozens of abandoned homes at a starting price of €1,000, hundreds of buyers from all over the world came to snatch up their dream properties. It was a dying town, now all sorts of languages can be heard in the winding alleys. So local authorities are taking it one step further: to lure more ex-pats, they’re granting up to €4,000 in tax bonuses to start a new commercial activity, whether it’s a B&B, bar, or shop.

Hidden in Sardinia’s wildest mountainous heart called Barbagia, once roamed by outlaws, it used to be an unknown spot. But when one euro homes were put up for sale, there was a property stampede from abroad. Everyone wanted to snatch one of those old traditional yellowish dwellings covered in wall paintings. Foreigners opened B&Bs and hotels, reviving the village. Now newcomers get paid to move: families who take up residence get €600 per month for each child for five years, €15,000 to buy or restyle a house, and another €15,000 to kickstart a new commercial business.

Set in the pristine Ciociaria area south of Rome, Picinisco is a village of barely 1,000 locals that has flourished following the comeback of 200 descendants of former emigrés who had moved to the U.K. and Ireland in search of a brighter future. There are no financial lures, just the nostalgia of one’s roots. Here, you’ll come across yellow Victorian-style villas and friendly locals walking their dogs and chatting with shepherds in a mix of Scottish and the local Piciniscano dialect. Ex-pats have opened farms, restaurants, and recovered ghost hamlets.

This tiny hamlet of just 360 residents set high up on Liguria’s untouched hills boasts the highest density of foreigners in Italy: 32%, roughly 116 ex-pats living a happy, quiet life. The place’s popularity grew through word of mouth from tourists who visited the village, fell in love, and decided to settle in. The biggest draws are the cheap homes, even cheaper rentals, and the strategic location of Airole near the Cinque Terre beaches and the Alps for skiing. Ex-pats meet regularly for morning coffee and pizza.