Sign up to the Italian Newsletter of CNN for travel tips, recipes, and other insights on Italian culture. In this eight -part guide, pack the bag immediately.
CNN
–
In recent years, many people have passed the Italian town to release a bargain home scheme, and no one has succeeded as Sicily Sanbukadi Sicily.
There is a great demand for Sambuka’s home cell -off, and US buyers are rushing to snap a hill side town discounted house in 2019 and 2 euros in 2021.
It was rarely known before, but for some Italians, Sambuka has welcomed many Americans, so it is called “small Italian American”.
However, according to the mayor of the town of Guszeppe Casioppo, the trend of the US buyer has changed, at least decelerated. Now, Italians are shooting abandoned houses in the town.

“Something strange happened in this third batch in the auction, so we were surprised that we were the first Italians all over Italy because we thought more Americans would apply. Cacioppo tells CNN.
Sambuka has led dozens of housing for many years to revive the community, which is suffering depopulated as residents move to a large city.
In both past editions, the number of requests from the United States was very high to buy ignored houses, so local governments had to place old abandoned property at auction.
Some bidder chose to take a traced archeological site, but more than 100 Americans buy houses that can be occupied immediately from locals, and revitalize the real estate market that is declining in that area. It has been converted.
Therefore, when the town was auctioned out a new batch of an aging house in November for a symbolic three euros, CACIOPPO hoped that hundreds of bids from the US buyers again. 。 But he was surprised.
This time, only 15 bidders participated in the auction, and only six were successful, providing 12,500 euros ($ 12,837) to € 500 ($ 513).
And for the first time, the Italian was the biggest bidder who succeeded in buying one house. The rest were from other European countries, including three Italians, except for one American buyer.
CACIOPPO claims that Americans are still gathering in towns to search for their homes because they have a small number of US bidders.
“The Americans have begun the resurrection of Sambuka,” he says. “They purchased 18 easy -to -break houses at the auction in the first two rounds and personally purchased more than 100 turn key properties.
“Now, they are increasing the number of games, and they are looking for a house that may cost more, but don’t need lesslilles.
Sambuca made a global headline in 2019, when CNN caused a stampedians of real estate mainly composed of American buyers, and CNN broke the first round news of a euro Holmes.
Mayor CACIOPPO believes that the Italian eventually recognizes what the bargains can do and are finally starting to participate.
“The Italian buyers are all young. This is also a big surprise. They are not pensioners, but those who can work remotely,” says the mayor.
“They ultimately thank the beauty and charm of Sicily.
Paolo Morabit, a 25 -year -old Financial Advisor from Messina, Northeast Sicily, and his friend Bruno Sulfalo, a 28 -year -old architect from the Karabria area in Southern Italy.
The two who bid for the lucky numbers of 2,222 euros (about $ 2,281) are small 35 -square -meter stone owners with panoramic terrace.
They plan to spend about 30,000 euros (about $ 30,810) and change their real estate into a hideaway and rental for vacation.
The rules of the scheme stipulate that buyers must have completed their home renovation work within three years, or that there is a risk of losing deposit guarantee.
Morabit, a fan of the old town, says he has never been to Sambuka until he learned its recent popularity.
“I’m a Sicily, I live just a few kilometers away, but I was ashamed of not visiting that place,” he said.
“So when I did,” why do you leave such an opportunity to foreigners? “We, Italians, are often lazy and have to wake up and buy these properties.

“We have been blind in a place like Sambuka, which is full of Sambuka in an abandoned empty house. All of these towns are in the backyard.”
Christian Salci (47), an Italian bidder from the northern city of Romagna in the Emilia Romagna, spent a 1,000 euros ($ 1,027) in a 70 -square -meter house.
“I saw an investment opportunity and a close recession for my wife and my son’s vacation.”
According to Salci, his job as a construction project manager all over Italy has helped to realize that Sambuka’s housing scheme offers many things about the revitalization of rural towns.
“I don’t think Italians are aware of the possibility of a new life into a 1 euro house.”
Paul Kanitora, a 45 -year -old civil servant from New Jersey, was the only US buyer in the third auction.

Kanitora’s Great grandparents migrated from Sambukady Sichilia for New Jersey in the late 1800s, leaving a family’s house in the old district of the town in search of a bright future.
He purchased severely damaged property to reconnect with the Italian roots and is now facing severe renovation.
“The three Euro programs have given my wife and me a little return to my ancestors and have the opportunity to re -establish a little existence,” he prefer not to clarify the amount he’s bidding. Kanitra says. 。
“All my parents, Relative, are all shared in small projects and are very excited.”
The roof in front of the site is partially falling into a cave, but Sambuka’s stone collection is just outside the town, and the construction cost is very low.
Once the renovation work at home is completed, Kanitra will use it as a private vacation retreat for him and his wife, and some as a non -profit center that fosters immigrants between New Jersey and Sicily. 。
“It’s our way to return to both sides of the sea,” says Kanitra.