Italian ‘ghost town’ selling houses for one euro

An Italian village is offering homes for less than £1 in a bid to avoid becoming a “ghost town”.

Ollolai is a picturesque red-roofed mountain town on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, “famous abroad for its beaches, wine, and the locals' longevity”, says news website The Local - and for one euro (88p), a home there can be yours.

There is no catch, beyond agreeing to renovate the property into good condition within three years - an endeavour which CNN estimates would cost in the region of $25,000 (£17,500).

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The town’s council has come up with the radical plan to save Ollolai from extinction after decades in decline.

Since the 1980s, the town’s population has almost halved, dropping to 1,300, says The Local. The decline has left many of Ollolai’s historic stone houses in disrepair.

“Once buzzing, its maze of alleys and mural-covered piazzas are now silent, as younger residents have been lured away to bigger cities,” says CNN.

Ollolai’s mayor, Efisio Arbau, described the plan to bring the town back to life as a “crusade”.

“We've always been tough people and won't allow our town to die,” he said.

The council offered its first one-euro house in 2015, following a handful of other shrinking rural villages in Italy who have tried similar schemes.

The first buyer did not come far - the house was snapped up by a retired Sardinian builder - but Ollolai is ready to welcome overseas arrivals.

As of the New Year, the town has received 120 enquiries from as far afield as Russia, Poland, Australia, and the USA, says The Local.

Those who do take the plunge can enjoy the rich cultural heritage of the area, whose remoteness has allowed locals to preserve ancient traditions like cheese-making and basket-weaving.

On special occasions, women can be seen in the traditional costume of red skirts, embroidered jackets and lace caps, while men might give a demonstration of s'istrumpa, an form of wrestling unique to the island.

There is one small obstacle - the region’s unique dialect. “Our language is hard to understand, even for Sardinians,” Arbau admits. “But we know foreigners love to mingle.”