If lockdown 3.0 has made you want to pack your suitcase and ditch dreary England, then listen up because you could be sat in sunny Sicily with a Margarita in no time!

A town in Sicily, Italy, is selling houses for the bargain price of just €1 or 90p in Pound Sterling – we know what you’re thinking, it’s too good to be true?…

…And you’d be right to think that!

But it’s very real… What’s more, you will also be given money to renovate the property and make it your very own luxury holiday pad.

Troina is the latest tiny town in Italy to jump on the bandwagon, selling super cheap houses in a bid to entice people into an area.

Mayor Sebastiano Fabio Venezia wants to bring back what was once the ‘Norman capital of Sicily’ and restore a tiny population to its former glory. 

Despite its run-down buildings, known as the ‘Balcony of Sicily’ this pretty little town is home to amazing panoramic views that look over the stunning mountain ranges, ancient architecture and beautiful cobble walkways – sounds like heaven to me!

The homes sit in 4,000 hectares of forest, with peaceful paths perfect for long evening strolls.

If that wasn’t good enough, you will also share the estate with donkeys, have access to fresh farm produce and be able to stargaze into the clear night skies.

The houses on offer, of which there are around 30 to choose from, are fairly run-down and in need of a bit of TLC. That’s why anyone who’s wanting to buy a home will be given additional funds of up to £22,000 to renovate the building.

You will need to pay a €5,000 (£4,385) deposit, but refunded once the renovation work is all finished. 

However, if you’re not a DIY god/goddess and are just looking to purchase a luxury Italian villa,  houses that don’t need upgrading will also be on sale for around €10,000.

Mayor Venezia told CNN: “I want to save our old district from the grave and recover its lost grandeur when it was the Norman capital of Sicily. ‘The ancient urban setting must be restyled in its entirety, and I intend to do so quickly.” 

While lockdown restrictions mean we can’t head over to Troina to get started on transforming a new home, applications from the UK are still welcome.

Interested buyers can look at the properties on-site and email their vision for the renovation to casea1euro@comune.troina.en.it. 

The project will initially work on a first-come, first-served basis, but if the offer ends up being massively popular, the team will have to judge applicants on their restyle plans – so get sketchbook and pencils out!

Although it might be easy to rush into the excitement of buying a sunny holiday retreat for less than a Greggs pasty. We recommend thinking about what you would do with said home first before making any rash decisions.

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