The municipality of Naro in the Sicilian province of Agrigento has opened applications for the purchase of abandoned houses at the symbolic price of EUR1. The program’s official digital portal began operating in July 2026, while the municipal regulations were approved by the city council on June 4. The program is aimed at restoring vacant properties, preserving the historic center and attracting new residents, entrepreneurs and investors to the town. The municipality does not purchase the buildings or become their owner, but verifies the properties and acts as an intermediary between private owners and potential buyers.
At the time of the launch, two houses are listed in the public catalog. The first property, with an area of about 20 sq. m, is located on Via Vanelle and consists of three rooms. The second house, with an area of 93 sq. m and 5.5 rooms, is located on Via Madonna della Rocca. Both buildings require renovation.
Applications may be submitted by adult citizens of Italy and other countries, including those who do not reside in Italy. The program is also open to companies, associations, foundations, cooperatives and other legal entities. The regulations do not impose any restrictions based on citizenship.
The restored property may be used as a primary residence, second home, tourist accommodation, B&B, artisan workshop, commercial premises or an organization’s office. However, in the allocation of houses, preference will be given to projects involving permanent residence in Naro, the creation of businesses and jobs, and the restoration of the building’s historic elements.
The maximum 30 points are awarded to applicants prepared to move their primary residence to Naro. Commercial, artisan and tourism projects may receive up to 25 points, while using the building as a second home may receive up to 10 points. Additional points are awarded to young couples under 35, families with children, energy-efficient projects and initiatives involving the hiring of local workers.
The symbolic price of EUR1 does not include notary services, registration and cadastral fees, project preparation, obtaining permits or construction work. All costs associated with the purchase and restoration are borne by the new owner.
The winner of the competition must provide a deposit of EUR5,000. It may be arranged in the form of a bank or insurance guarantee. The amount is returned after the work has been completed and verified as compliant with the approved project. If the buyer fails to meet their obligations, they lose the deposit and the right to benefit from the program.
The restoration project must be submitted to the municipality within 12 months after completion of the transaction. Work must begin no later than 12 months after the project is approved and must be fully completed within 36 months from the date of purchase. In the event of technical or other justified circumstances, the buyer may be granted a single extension of up to 12 months.
The restored house may not be sold for at least five years after completion of the work. During the renovation, the owner must also obtain third-party liability insurance. Municipal specialists will inspect the status of the project every six months.
The applicant must select a house from the electronic catalog and specify its assigned unique code. Applicants may submit a simplified application containing basic contact details or immediately provide a complete package describing the intended future use of the property, a preliminary project, a work schedule and the estimated amount of investment.
Submitting an application through the portal does not mean that the applicant will automatically receive the property. The documents and project are reviewed by a municipal technical commission, after which a ranking of applicants is compiled. Preliminary results are published for 15 days to allow for possible comments, while final completion of the transaction takes place after the deposit has been provided.
The official primary source of information is the dedicated portal of the Municipality of Naro and the regulations for the “One Euro Houses” program published there. As of August 6, the portal does not specify a final deadline for applications, while the list of available properties may be expanded after new offers from private owners have been verified.
