DOLCE VITA

Italian Town Offers $1 Homes to Lure Americans Upset Over Election

“We can’t specifically mention the name of one U.S. president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now,” the mayor said.

An Italian village is hoping to attract Americans upset over Donald Trump’s re-election by offering houses for one euro (94 U.S. cents), CNN reported Tuesday. The town of Ollolai, located in the mountains of Sardinia, first started the scheme in 2018, but only 10 homes have been bought so far. Ollolai’s mayor, Francesco Columbu, told CNN the town created a website advertising the houses specifically to lure Americans. “Are you worn out by global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities?” the website reads. Columbu said, “of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one U.S. president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country.” He said the town hall has recently received 38,000 requests for information on the houses, mainly from the United States. The town offers three different packages for possible expats: free temporary accommodation for digital nomads, the one euro homes, and ready-to-live homes for $105,000. Columbu said that while they can’t exclude any specific nationalities, they are hoping Americans in particular will revitalize the town, which currently has just over a thousand residents.