<strong>Cheap and cheerful:</strong> The town of Biccari is the latest in Italy to offer bargain houses for sale in an effort to reverse depopulation trends caused by decades of locals leaving in search of work. Click through the gallery for more photos of the town and countryside:
Cheap and cheerful: The town of Biccari is the latest in Italy to offer bargain houses for sale in an effort to reverse depopulation trends caused by decades of locals leaving in search of work. Click through the gallery for more photos of the town and countryside:
Biccari Archivo Associazione BAI
<strong>Double deal:</strong> Biccari is offering some dilapidated homes for sale for €1, provided the buyers commit to renovation. Others, ready to move into, are being sold from €7,500 ($9,000).
Double deal: Biccari is offering some dilapidated homes for sale for €1, provided the buyers commit to renovation. Others, ready to move into, are being sold from €7,500 ($9,000).
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Perfect shape: </strong>"One day I was wandering through the old center and it struck me how so many cute little homes in a perfect shape had been shut for years, tucked away in silent alleys, with signs 'for rent or sale' that nobody sees," Mayor Gianfilippo Mignogna tells CNN.
Perfect shape: "One day I was wandering through the old center and it struck me how so many cute little homes in a perfect shape had been shut for years, tucked away in silent alleys, with signs 'for rent or sale' that nobody sees," Mayor Gianfilippo Mignogna tells CNN.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>For sale: </strong>There are roughly a dozen €1 and 20 "upper-scale" homes available but potentially more than 100 empty buildings in Biccari are in need of new occupants.
For sale: There are roughly a dozen €1 and 20 "upper-scale" homes available but potentially more than 100 empty buildings in Biccari are in need of new occupants.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Roof of Puglia: </strong>Biccari boasts an impressive location. It straddles the border between three regions -- Puglia, Molise and Campania -- and is surrounded by the Daunia Mountains, thick forests, herd-grazing fields, olive groves and a lake.
Roof of Puglia: Biccari boasts an impressive location. It straddles the border between three regions -- Puglia, Molise and Campania -- and is surrounded by the Daunia Mountains, thick forests, herd-grazing fields, olive groves and a lake.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Slow tourism: </strong>"We're a corner of paradise, ideal for slow tourism," says Mignogna. "The fresh mountain air and natural surroundings offer a detox, unplugged stay far from city chaos, pollution and noise."
Slow tourism: "We're a corner of paradise, ideal for slow tourism," says Mignogna. "The fresh mountain air and natural surroundings offer a detox, unplugged stay far from city chaos, pollution and noise."
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Wild patch: </strong>Biccari is surrounded by a network of old trails and trekking paths winding across hills equipped picnic areas. It's a wild patch of Puglia roamed by wolves, foxes and wild boars.
Wild patch: Biccari is surrounded by a network of old trails and trekking paths winding across hills equipped picnic areas. It's a wild patch of Puglia roamed by wolves, foxes and wild boars.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Old and new: </strong>Biccari's cobblestone alleys are lined with old and brightly colored newer houses. Crumbling stone dwellings with cracked wooden doors, broken window panes and peeling wall paint are juxtaposed with picture-perfect homes.
Old and new: Biccari's cobblestone alleys are lined with old and brightly colored newer houses. Crumbling stone dwellings with cracked wooden doors, broken window panes and peeling wall paint are juxtaposed with picture-perfect homes.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Rooms with a view: </strong>The ready-to-occupy houses are roughly 50-70 square meters spread over two floors, some with views of the green rolling hills dotted with wind turbines.
Rooms with a view: The ready-to-occupy houses are roughly 50-70 square meters spread over two floors, some with views of the green rolling hills dotted with wind turbines.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Good deal: </strong>Biccari's mayor says the cheap houses are already habitable, and perhaps a better deal than those on sale for €1, as their price could be lower than the cost of renovating a more dilapidated building.
Good deal: Biccari's mayor says the cheap houses are already habitable, and perhaps a better deal than those on sale for €1, as their price could be lower than the cost of renovating a more dilapidated building.
Courtesy Comune Biccari
<strong>Ancient roots: </strong>Founded by the ancient Romans on the ashes of a primitive village, Biccari went on centuries later to flourish in the Middle Ages.
Ancient roots: Founded by the ancient Romans on the ashes of a primitive village, Biccari went on centuries later to flourish in the Middle Ages.
Courtesy Comune Biccari