<strong>New deal: </strong>The town of Maenza is joining Italy's €1 house sell-off to breathe new life into crumbling old buildings. It's the first community in Rome's Latium region to offer the deal.
New deal: The town of Maenza is joining Italy's €1 house sell-off to breathe new life into crumbling old buildings. It's the first community in Rome's Latium region to offer the deal.
Comune Maenza
<strong>Town with a view:</strong> On clear days the view from Maenza stretches to the coast, and beyond to the Pontine islands.
Town with a view: On clear days the view from Maenza stretches to the coast, and beyond to the Pontine islands.
Courtesy Proloco Maenza/Giulia Ciotti
<strong>On the market: </strong>Sale signs have been attached to numerous properties throughout the town as officials try to match buyers with ideal homes.
On the market: Sale signs have been attached to numerous properties throughout the town as officials try to match buyers with ideal homes.
Courtesy Proloco Maenza/Giulia Ciotti
<strong>Born again: </strong>Mayor Claudio Sperduti describes the deal as a "pact for the rebirth" of his hometown. "We're taking it one step at a time. As original families get in touch and hand over to us their old houses, we place these on the market through specific public notices on our website to make it all very transparent," he tells CNN.
Born again: Mayor Claudio Sperduti describes the deal as a "pact for the rebirth" of his hometown. "We're taking it one step at a time. As original families get in touch and hand over to us their old houses, we place these on the market through specific public notices on our website to make it all very transparent," he tells CNN.
Visit Lazio
<strong>Small print: </strong>Anyone who manages to buy a property in Maenza must commit to renovating it within three years and cough up a deposit guarantee of €5,000 (about $5,840) to be returned once works are completed.
Small print: Anyone who manages to buy a property in Maenza must commit to renovating it within three years and cough up a deposit guarantee of €5,000 (about $5,840) to be returned once works are completed.
Visit Lazio
<strong>'Fresh oxygen': </strong>Sperduti says the town is selling off the cheap properties to revitalize the town and prevent property developers swooping in to make money. "This is not a dying city, people still inhabit the old district but it needs a revamp, fresh oxygen," he says.
'Fresh oxygen': Sperduti says the town is selling off the cheap properties to revitalize the town and prevent property developers swooping in to make money. "This is not a dying city, people still inhabit the old district but it needs a revamp, fresh oxygen," he says.
Visit Lazio
<strong>Tax breaks: </strong>Tax deductions for environmentally friendly restyles and earthquake-proofing updates mean, according to Sperduti, costs start at €100 per square meter. So prices for bringing a dilapidated home back to life should start at about €5,000.
Tax breaks: Tax deductions for environmentally friendly restyles and earthquake-proofing updates mean, according to Sperduti, costs start at €100 per square meter. So prices for bringing a dilapidated home back to life should start at about €5,000.
Comune Maenza
<strong>First wave: </strong>Applications for the first few houses on sale close on August 28 but the mayor reassures people who miss out that more will go on the market as talks are underway with their original owners.
First wave: Applications for the first few houses on sale close on August 28 but the mayor reassures people who miss out that more will go on the market as talks are underway with their original owners.
Comune Maenza
<strong>Fishy miracle</strong><strong>:</strong> The town's castle is said to be the location of a fishy miracle performed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, turning sardines into herring.
Fishy miracle: The town's castle is said to be the location of a fishy miracle performed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, turning sardines into herring.
Comune Maenza
<strong>Cobbled streets: </strong>The old district is a maze of winding arched alleys, narrow passageways and steps with huge cobblestones and thick stone portals decorated with friezes.
Cobbled streets: The old district is a maze of winding arched alleys, narrow passageways and steps with huge cobblestones and thick stone portals decorated with friezes.
Courtesy Proloco Maenza/Giulia Ciotti