Salemi's 1 euro house transformed into a charming home thanks to the BBC: we chat to the mayor of the village

1 euro houses in Italy are becoming an increasingly international affair, with interested buyers heading to Italy to get their hands on one of these properties. Earlier this year, we reported on a very special 1 euro house transformation project, involving British celebs Alan Carr and Amanda Holden. As part of a BBC special series, Alan & Amanda's Italian Job, the British TV personalities oversaw the renovation of a 1 euro house in the town of Salemi that transformed an abandoned structure into a charming home, known now as Casa Alamanda. We've been chatting to the mayor of the Sicilian town, Domenico Venuti, to find out more. 

idealista

• Even the BBC are interested in 1 euro houses in Italy. How did everything go in Salemi? 

The BBC came to us and did a beautiful job, I can confirm that. In their case, the format of doing things was quite specific: they bought the 1 euro house, then renovated it, before putting the renovated property back on the market. I know they looked at several different projects in Sicily and in the end they chose Salemi, and this was obviously very important for us.

BBC

• What does the house look like today?

It has been totally transformed, I must say that it is now very pretty and comfortable. It really is a charming house that has been rebuilt in the local style. They relied on local craftsmen: this was a nice sign to show the skills that an area can express despite the fact that craftsmanship is in great difficulty. The great thing is that the property was then auctioned by Sotheby's, an auction house that deals in luxury properties, and the proceeds will be donated to charity.

BBC

Can I tell you something else? All this media exposure, combined with that of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy" scheme (the town was ranked third in 2023) is already bearing fruit, among international and national tourism. It is giving us a great return in terms of attention and presence.

• What was the state of the house before it was bought for the show?

Believe me, it was completely abandoned. It was part of a lot that had originally been earmarked for social housing. There was basically only a roof, the rest of the structure was rough concrete.

Then, over the years, before we closed it up with tuff ashlars, it had also been the subject of squatting due to the presence of seasonal workers: we are talking about a phenomenon that had occurred over the decades, not recently. Therefore, the BBC show found the building in a state of complete abandonment. As you will understand, it was nice to see the rebirth of the house through the show, with the before and after. It has found new life, like the corner spot it overlooks, which we, however, had already redeveloped.

idealista

• How much did the 1968 earthquake affect the village's decision to take part in the 1 euro house scheme?

One of the serious problems that has affected Salemi and is inextricably linked to the 1 euro houses project is that of post-earthquake choices. After the earthquake of '68, in fact, the building of a new town started, which was initially intended to replace almost the entire old centre. But then, after a series of struggles, the portion of the population that was supposed to leave was reduced: consider that out of a population of 12-13 thousand people at the time, 4 thousand eventually moved to the new town. This transfer meant that the abandoned houses were automatically taken over by the municipality by law. Entire neighbourhoods became municipal property and in the absence of specific funds for redevelopment and revitalisation there was decay for decades.

BBC

• Then the 1 euro house project came along, but to begin with hit a few snags, right?

Certainly, because that was just a media operation to begin with. There were no completed acquisitions, no redevelopments, no projects had ever been developed. I arrived in 2014 and we immediately started with the process of reconnaissance and also to intercept funding, so that these houses didn't go completely to ruin.

In Salemi, 1 euro houses are bought directly from the municipality. Not, as in other places, where you buy from the private sector, with the municipality simply setting the rules and matching buyer and seller. Here you buy directly from the council, which makes it a sort of auction, where one euro is the minimum bid.

I must say with pleasure that alongside this project another market of demand is also developing, that for private properties that have already been renovated.

Domenico Venuti, mayor of Salemi Comune di Salemi

• How many 1 euro houses have been sold in Salemi?

At the moment there are 9, out of the 11 that were assigned. The last contracts were finalised in recent weeks. There have been two withdrawals because the buyers thought they would be able to access the super bonus but in the end this was not possible. We are also releasing a second lot of houses for sale for 1 euro in Salemi and we are counting a lot on the media exposure that the house bought by the BBC is giving us

• One last question: were you allowed on the set of the show?

Of course. I was on set for the first time during the preparatory phase. Then also when they were filming the 'Sagra della Busiata' (typical local pasta), which we do in August, and finally I returned to the set when the work was finished. They filmed not only here in Salemi, but also in Palermo and the surrounding areas: believe me, it was a great opportunity for us, for western Sicily and for the Province of Trapani.

Find out more about 1 euro houses for sale in Italy and how you could get your hands on one, as well as details of all of the 1 euro houses in Italy for sale in 2023. 

idealista

idealista

idealista