This Gorgeous Italian Town Is Giving Away Free Houses So Now’s The Time To Pack Your Bags
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Most of us have accepted the fact that we’ll probably never own a house in Australia. And you know what, that’s fine, because the Sicilian town of Cammarata is giving away houses to anyone who wants to move there.
The historic village is offering up houses that were left empty when previous residents packed up and moved away to bigger urban areas. The town’s population has been dwindling in the last few years, and the mayor hopes this scheme will bring in new faces.
[related_articles]73328,75561,73328[/related_articles]“I can’t stand to see this gorgeous, old historical centre empty and turn into a ruin. It hurts me,” Mayor Vincenzo Giambrone told CNN Travel. “Newcomers trigger change, innovation, new ideas. They revamp the local economy and can kick start a revolution.”
At the moment there are twelve houses up for grabs, but Giambrone hopes to add more to the list in the near future.
[related_articles]63468,46113,63210[/related_articles]What Cammarata lacks in big city thrills, it makes up for in eye-popping views and historic sights. It’s a 90-minute drive from Palermo and even closer to Agrigento, a popular tourist hub that’s home to the best-preserved ancient Greek architecture outside of Greece itself.
But, most importantly, these interactive maps show how close it is to Italy’s most popular pasta dishes and cheeses. Pasta chî sàrdi and ricotta are local favourites in Sicily.
As always, there’s a slight catch: you’ll need to renovate the house within three years of moving, and cover the renovation costs yourself. You’ll also pay a €5,000 (AU$8,050.86) deposit when you move in, but you’ll get this back as soon as the work’s complete.
Ready to move? The town will prioritise applications from young families, but anybody can throw their hat in the ring. You can find out more about Cammarata and the houses up for grabs on the town’s official website.
(Lead image: Andreas Zerndl / Shutterstock)
www.awol.com.au