<strong>Carrega Ligure:</strong> This mountain town in northern Italy has been selling off cheap houses for several years to try to reverse a depopulation trend and keep the community alive.
Carrega Ligure: This mountain town in northern Italy has been selling off cheap houses for several years to try to reverse a depopulation trend and keep the community alive.
Valentina Bozzini
<strong>Old schoolhouse:</strong> Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old car and motorcycle fanatic from Oxford, England, bought this disused former schoolhouse for $16,000.
Old schoolhouse: Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old car and motorcycle fanatic from Oxford, England, bought this disused former schoolhouse for $16,000.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>New home:</strong> After some largely cosmetic repairs, including a fresh coat of paint for the walls and shutters, Patrick now visits his Italian home regularly.
New home: After some largely cosmetic repairs, including a fresh coat of paint for the walls and shutters, Patrick now visits his Italian home regularly.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>'Dreadful' kitchen:</strong> The interior needed some work, including the removal of what Patrick said was a "shockingly dreadful" old kitchenette.
'Dreadful' kitchen: The interior needed some work, including the removal of what Patrick said was a "shockingly dreadful" old kitchenette.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>Wooden walls:</strong> Patrick says he has a love-hate relationship with the building's dated pine walls, but decided to keep them as they offer a sense of warmth.
Wooden walls: Patrick says he has a love-hate relationship with the building's dated pine walls, but decided to keep them as they offer a sense of warmth.
Courtesy Comune Carrega
<strong>Do it yourself:</strong> Patrick says he carried out many of the repairs himself, including replacing the "Italian village" electrical wiring and upgrading the plumbing and heating.
Do it yourself: Patrick says he carried out many of the repairs himself, including replacing the "Italian village" electrical wiring and upgrading the plumbing and heating.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>'Nirvana':</strong> Patrick says he's delighted with his purchase, describing it as "my personal Arcadia, my Nirvana, therapeutic place."
'Nirvana': Patrick says he's delighted with his purchase, describing it as "my personal Arcadia, my Nirvana, therapeutic place."
Valentina Bozzini
<strong>A piece of history:</strong> A mosaic on the doorstep dates the building to 1930. Patrick says he found lots of vintage school equipment in the attic, including desks, books and inkwells.
A piece of history: A mosaic on the doorstep dates the building to 1930. Patrick says he found lots of vintage school equipment in the attic, including desks, books and inkwells.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>View from the top:</strong> Patrick says his house offers him beautiful views over the village and surrounding countryside.
View from the top: Patrick says his house offers him beautiful views over the village and surrounding countryside.
Courtesy Comune Carrega
<strong>Eclectic tastes:</strong> He scoured local flea markets for eclectic items to furnish his new abode.
Eclectic tastes: He scoured local flea markets for eclectic items to furnish his new abode.
Courtesy Roy Patrick
<strong>Remote location: </strong>Patrick says while the house is in a peaceful spot, that also means there are no shops, bars or restaurants for miles.
Remote location: Patrick says while the house is in a peaceful spot, that also means there are no shops, bars or restaurants for miles.
Courtesy Comune Carrega
<strong>Summer fun: </strong>The community does, however, come alive in summer months, when visitors flock to the region and departed former residents return home.
Summer fun: The community does, however, come alive in summer months, when visitors flock to the region and departed former residents return home.
Valentina Bozzini
<strong>Snow days:</strong> Heavy snowfalls in winter mean it's often necessary to clear a path to the front door -- and the old building takes a while to heat up after being empty for any time.
Snow days: Heavy snowfalls in winter mean it's often necessary to clear a path to the front door -- and the old building takes a while to heat up after being empty for any time.
Courtesy Roy Patrick