The prospect of buying a house in Italy for less than the price of a caffè normale at the local bar caused a sensation back in 2019, when news of one-euro home schemes hit the international headlines. Even sceptics couldn't contain their curiosity.
A few years later, we know that these schemes are legitimate attempts to breathe new life into depopulated areas and unburden local authorities of old, unwanted properties that would otherwise be left to fall apart.
And in some cases, at least, it has worked – and proved very lucrative for the towns involved.
We know most of these houses are in a very poor state of repair, requiring major investments from their new owners. And we know the costs can be high, with reports of some international buyers spending hundreds of thousands of euros on renovations – many times more than the property's potential market value.
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But we've also heard from some readers who tell us that, while these homes do of course cost more than one euro, for a sensible buyer they can be a worthwhile investment.
Not only are Italy's one-euro home offers still going strong in 2026, but new towns are joining the scheme, while others continue to announce similar 'cheap home' projects and rental discounts.
Sicily and Sardinia remain the most active regions. Sicily alone has around 35 towns offering properties, from coastal spots like Augusta and Palma di Montechiaro to inland mountain villages like Troina and Castel di Lucio. Well-known success stories include Mussomeli, Sambuca, Gangi and Castiglione di Sicilia.
Sardinia has around seven villages participating, including Ollolai, Nulvi (close to northern beaches) and mountain communities like Montresta and Bonnanaro.But schemes are available across virtually every region. In the south, Calabria has schemes in towns like Cinquefrondi and Bisignano, while Campania offers them in Zungoli and Teora. Basilicata and Apulia also have active programmes.
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Central Italy has options in Abruzzo (including Casoli and Penne), Lazio, Marche and Tuscany, including Fabbriche di Vergemoli. Northern regions have fewer schemes but still several options in Liguria, Piedmont and the Aosta Valley.
New schemes launched recently include Villa Basilica in Tuscany (opened April 2025) and Petrella Tifernina in Molise (opened March 2025).
As ever, if you're interested in buying a one-euro home you'll need to meet certain requirements which vary depending on the local authority. After all, this is not a nationwide scheme but a series of small initiatives run by local councils in each town or village, so you'll need to carefully check the terms and conditions of every offer you consider.
Generally though, the following will apply:
- Foreign nationals can buy one-euro houses, whether they're EU or non-EU citizens – but remember owning one will not give you any residency rights in Italy, and visa rules will still apply to non-EU nationals.
- The prospective buyer can't just make vague promises about doing the place up: you'll need to present a renovation plan within 2, 3 or 6 months depending on the village.
- Buying a one-euro home to turn into a tourist rental business is generally allowed, but you'll need to let the local authority know your plans when you apply.
- The cost of the house, all renovation costs, and all notary, legal, transfer and other fees are the responsibility of the buyer.
As the popularity of these offers has exploded, the most viable properties in some areas now often become the subject of a bidding war, with the sale price rising from one euro to tens of thousands.
Some towns have also expanded their incentives beyond one-euro homes to offer rental subsidies and more.
Radicondoli in Tuscany now covers half of the first two years' rent for new tenants, while Mantova in Lombardy offers €150 per month towards rentals for one year.
Find a map of the towns currently offering one-euro homes in Italy here.
Have you bought a property through a one-euro home scheme in Italy? We'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch by email or in the comments section below to let us know about your experience.
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