<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If you're worried that there are no more towns in Italy left selling homes for one euro, or a little over a dollar ($AUD 1.70), don't be.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One town that's been low key selling homes for the price of a coffee is about to release another tranche of real estate — and the process is even better for buyers than what you might be used to.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No deposit guarantee is needed as downpayment to secure a dilapidated dwelling. All that's required is your commitment to restyling it.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-wanted-to-sell-dead-mans-toes-found-in-dog-vomit/24684ed8-6b34-4903-871a-03c906bff57e" rel="" target="" title="Woman planned to sell dead man's toes found in dog vomit, court hears"><strong><span>Woman planned to sell dead man's toes found in dog vomit, court hears</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Penne, located in Italy's central region of Abruzzo, midway between the Adriatic coast and the Gran Sasso mountain range, is selling off abandoned homes for the price of an espresso in an attempt to stop depopulation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since the program began in 2022, six homes have been sold, mostly to Italians. The next tranche of "a handful" of properties will soon be up for grabs "in the next couple of weeks" according to the mayor — and it looks like there'll be more to follow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are potentially over 40 empty buildings in town looking for new owners, and they're all located in the historical center which has been declining since families started emigrating decades ago," Penne's mayor Gilberto Petrucci tells CNN Travel.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/europe-another-italian-town-gears-up-to-sell-dollar-homes/7512e783-0706-4048-a17e-1db00e9d51b9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Although our total population is roughly 1200 inhabitants, there are only 1000 people left living in our gorgeous old district, which risks becoming a ghost town."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/north-macedonia-nightclub-fire-dozens-killed-in-massive-fire-in-kocani/f10d5a4a-0263-4861-92c0-e2e028045d77" rel="" target="" title="Fifty-nine dead and 155 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia"><strong><span>Fifty-nine dead and 155 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/national/2015/10/23/17/09/iconic-narrow-west-end-property-up-for-auction"><img alt="&lt;p&gt;A narrow West End property hemmed in by apartment blocks will go to auction next month, after its owners previously refused to sell to developers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Click through the gallery to see more images of the narrow home.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/W44yuoc8ufpkOviFggkm98c9MR4=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2015%2F10%2F23%2F17%2F14%2F151023_house6.jpg" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/W44yuoc8ufpkOviFggkm98c9MR4=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2015%2F10%2F23%2F17%2F14%2F151023_house6.jpg 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/fkH5SpnOBp3uE14P6h3isBfP6og=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2015%2F10%2F23%2F17%2F14%2F151023_house6.jpg 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">IN PICTURES: Preservation or demolition? Iconic narrow West End property up for auction</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/national/2015/10/23/17/09/iconic-narrow-west-end-property-up-for-auction">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Rehabilitating the abandoned homes</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Born and raised in Penne, Petrucci felt he had to do something to breathe new life into the ancient heart of his hometown before it was too late: "It just hurts me so much to see these houses just lying there abandoned. It's a like a wound."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first three one-euro homes were sold in 2022. The second batch of three went at the end of last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The latest tranche is composed of the same kind of houses as those that have been sold before: mostly old, some dating back to medieval times with further improvements made during the Renaissance, says Petrucci, although two recent examples that were sold were both built in the early 1900s. They're up to three stories and range from around 750-1300 square feet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Petrucci most of these old homes once belonged to local farming families who fled in search of a brighter future elsewhere — particularly after World War II, when bombings destroyed a large chunk of the town's architectural heritage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a further wave of emigration in the 1970s when families left for the US, Belgium and Venezuela, and to nearby larger towns and cities to work in factories.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The historical center of Penne is located in a panoramic position spread across two hills, and is made of a maze of arched stone portals and lavishly decorated monumental fountains.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-orders-strikes-on-iranbacked-houthi-rebels-in-yemen-and-issues-new-warning/e4f5d8ba-7c3b-4474-b728-37b0bfb0b97d"><strong><span>Trump pledges 'overwhelming lethal force'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The one-euro home rules</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Unlike most towns selling homes for a song, Penne has introduced more lenient rules for buyers, says Petrucci.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The only requirement is that buyers commit to restyling these houses in three years, but we ask for no downpayment guarantee to start the works. We really want to encourage and support those who come to revive the ancient neighborhood," he says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most one-euro homes programs require buyers to pay a deposit of between 2,000 to 5,000 euros (AUD $3,400 to $8,900), which is returned if and when the works are completed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another winning asset of Penne's program is an agency that helps buyers throughout the restyle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a team of architects and experts who may advise and support in the renovation works, finding builders and surveyors, showing buyers through renderings what their home will look like once fixed and advising throughout the renovation stages," says Petrucci.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The starting cost for a basic restyle of a small-medium size house is in the range of 20,000 euros (AUD $34,200), according to the mayor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If there's a scramble for the homes, with multiple buyers interested in the handful of houses for sale, the properties will be sold to the person with the best — and fastest — renovation plan, he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And if you're not in the mood to plan renovations, there are plenty of turnkey homes on the market, as well as those in need of minimal work. Already inhabitable houses start from 40,000 euros (AUD $68,000).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/vatican-releases-first-photograph-of-the-pope-in-a-month-as-he-celebrates-mass-in-hospital-chapel/8c13af0b-8b25-42d3-96fe-65d6e957cfac" target="" title="Vatican releases first photograph of the pope in a month as he celebrates Mass in hospital chapel"><strong><span>Vatican releases first photograph of the pope in a month as he celebrates Mass in hospital chapel</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Past meets present</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Petrucci defines his hometown's old district as "an open-air museum" where the architecture is a mix of medieval, gothic and renaissance styles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a glorious past," he says. "Penne boasts millennial roots which have left signs on its landscape. The first traces of prehistoric settlements date back to the Oschi, an Italic population that lived in the highlands to defend themselves from their enemies."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under Roman occupation, Penne was called Pinna. It was a vital point in the communication and goods exchange networks of the time, as proven by Roman sculptures, jewelry and chairs still on show in the local museum.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Its hilltop location makes it close to both Abruzzo's Adriatic beaches and gentle slopes for skiing amateurs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The town holds a yearly picturesque Palio, a horse race through the alleys, which recalls the more famous event in Siena, Tuscany.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All sorts of cereals are grown in the surrounding countryside: spelt, corn, barley and the renowned durum wheat to make pasta. Foodies love the local extra virgin olive oil and wines like the rosé cerasuolo and white trebbiano d'Abruzzo.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Traditional dishes include the pie-style timballo (which slightly resembles a lasagna), maccheroni alla chitarra, a special type of handmade pasta shaped like guitar strings, and savory arrosticini, grilled skewers of mutton and kidney.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/north-macedonia-nightclub-fire-dozens-killed-in-massive-fire-in-kocani/f10d5a4a-0263-4861-92c0-e2e028045d77" target="_blank"><strong><span>'I don't need my life anymore': Nation rocked by worst tragedy in memory</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Where else to find a one-euro home</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Italy is of course arguably the world hub of one-euro homes programs, largely in the south of the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sicily is the epicenter, with some of the longest running programs. Perhaps most famous of all is Mussomeli, in the center of the island. The town has seen a huge influx of foreigners since it launched the scheme, with Argentinian doctors filling the hospitals, and some people loving the experience so much that they've bought another property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Across the hills from Mussomeli is Cammarata, where a one-euro sale program is run by young locals who returned home during the pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sambuca, also in Sicily, is another town loved for its one-euro houses, which put up another batch for sale last year. Now even Italians are getting in on the act.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many potential buyers would be concerned about spoiling Sicilian culture. Here's how to buy a home responsibly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And if you're curious about what happened to buyers once the media spotlight had faded, we've spoken to a few here and here.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile another one-euro home program can currently be found on another Italian island: Sardinia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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