(CNN) – The continuous sale of € 1 houses in Italy has been ideal for people who want to start a new life in some of the most remote corners of the country.
For those looking for something a little closer to the action (closer to Rome, to be precise), they have been scarce.
Bye now.
This month, the bucolic city of Maenza has become the first in the Lazio region of Rome to start selling homes for just over a dollar.
The historic location, located in the wild hills of Lepini, south of the capital, where shepherds and fiery tribes lived, puts at their disposal dozens of abandoned stone dwellings in hopes of attracting new occupants.
Mayor Claudio Sperduti says he is launching an ambitious “pact for the rebirth” of his hometown with the aim of revitalizing its quiet streets. The goal, he says, is to reclaim all dilapidated dilapidated properties by establishing contacts between former owners and potential buyers attracted by falling prices.
Interested buyers are also invited to contact the town hall to make specific property requests and local officials will try to meet their requirements.
The city expects it to be able to bring to life about 100 abandoned properties, some of which have become a potential danger to passers-by due to their dilapidated state.
Applications for the first homes for sale will close on Aug. 28, but the mayor reassures lost people that they will go out more on the market as talks are being held with the its original owners.
Those who manage to buy a property in Maenza must commit to renovating it within three years and withdraw a deposit guarantee of € 5,000 (about $ 5,840) which will be returned once the works are completed.
A detailed restocking plan must also be submitted on what will become the property (whether home, accommodation, establishment, shop or restaurant).
Residence is not mandatory, but it is recommended for families with children and young couples wishing to live in Maenza on a semi-permanent basis, according to Sperduti.
If several applicants want the same house, priority will be given to those who want to settle and those who plan the fastest renovations.
Fresh oxygen
It is said that the old castle of the city is the scene of a miracle.
Municipalities of Maenza
Sperduti says his city, unlike others, does not offer € 1 houses to stop the population decline, even if they have barely exceeded 3,000 in the last 20 years. Instead, it is about blocking real estate agents and speculators from taking old houses to make money.
“Families and young people often leave the city to move to larger houses in towns and villas close to the countryside, but there is always some newcomer taking their place, so it stays balanced,” says Sperduti .
“This is not a dying city, people still live in the old quarter, but it needs fresh, renewed oxygen.”
This is a long-term recovery project that offers interested buyers time to come and see for themselves what Maenza has to offer, including other attractive opportunities.
Many “sale” signs have been placed on many doors, including some retailers at a slightly higher price.
“An owner who was desperate to get rid of his old property, even if it meant giving it away for free, eventually sold it for 3,000 euros to a person who showed up in town,” the mayor says. “The house isn’t great, but it doesn’t fall to the ground either.”
Since most old homes are small, about 50 to 70 square meters, renovating them is a relatively inexpensive proposition.
Tax deductions for environmentally friendly styles and earthquake-proof upgrades involve, according to Sperduti, costs from 100 euros per square meter. Therefore, the prices to return to life of a ruined house should start to be about 5,000 euros.
Wars and miracles
The city offers panoramic views that extend to the sea.
Courtesy of Proloco Maenza / Giulia Ciotti
Maenza was founded by shepherds fleeing Saracen coastal incursions, but later flourished with the arrival of the Germanic Volsci tribes who, after two centuries of bloody wars, capitulated to the Roman Empire.
The origin of the city’s name is said to refer to the German city of Mainz, but locals prefer to say it comes from a Latin phrase meaning “people who thrive.”
On clear days the view from Maenza extends to the promontory of Circeo, where legend has it that Odysseus was bewitched by the witch Circe and to the Pontine Islands. The city overlooks a fertile old swampy area dotted with lush gardens, kiwi plantations, lakes and grazing buffalo.
The surrounding chestnut, beech, holm oak and orchard forests are ridden by wild horses. Hiking, horse riding and cycling trails with wild orchids relax to a mountain refuge full of food, firewood and coffee.
The Middle Ages were the golden age of Maenza followed by bloody attacks of power, with continuous battles between the feudal lords and the Holy See. For decades it was under the control of the cruel papal Borgia family.
Part of the city was bombed during World War II. It is said that St. Thomas Acquinas performed the miracle of turning sardines into herring, fish hitherto unknown to Italy, in the recently restored Baronial Castle.
The old quarter is a maze of winding arched alleys, narrow corridors and steps with huge cobblestones, made bright by the passage of carriages and hooves through centuries, and thick stone portals decorated with friezes. Emblems and shields adorn the buildings.
The best view is of the Loggia dei Mercanti, where travelers and pilgrims rested and merchants gathered to sell their goods.
The € 1 houses now for sale, dating back to the 1700s, overlook a small square and have a unique view of the Pontine Islands Sea.
They are made of large rough dark gray stones with thick window frames and an arched entrance portal. Inside, old tiles still decorate the walls, dusty chairs lean against cracked walls, and wooden doors hang from the hinges. Equipped kitchens are rusty and rusty.
Among the objects left behind are stairs, chandeliers that still hang from the ceilings and antique refrigerators.
Gourmet food fairs
The narrow streets and alleys of the city are full of history.
Courtesy of Proloco Maenza / Giulia Ciotti
Maenza is known for its succulent cherries and the beauty of its wives. There’s a place called the “beautiful women’s neighborhood,” which could also point to a more unhealthy past as a red light district.
Some of Lazio’s most impressive maritime sites are within walking distance, such as Terracina, Sabaudia, Sperlonga and Gaeta.
In the summer, concerts, art exhibitions and contests for watermelon are held, along with gourmet food fairs.
Local delicacies include cherry jams, syrups, liqueurs and honey.
“Crespelle” are strips of crispy fried golden paste covered in sugar and flavored with cinnamon, lemon, raisins and pine seeds. The secret recipe is passed on through families.
Other highlights include dried and spicy “coppiette” horse meat strips, smoked olives, fettuccine pasta with artichokes, potato gnocchi, snail soups, polenta with snail sauce, wild boar, hare and delicious mozzarella with buffalo milk.
How to wash it all? A shot of strawberry-flavored fragoletto wine.