Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy: Win a year's stay at beautifully renovated house in Sicily with Airbnb

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 2 years ago

Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy: Win a year's stay at beautifully renovated house in Sicily with Airbnb

By Alan Granville
Sambuca di Sicilia, population  6000.

Sambuca di Sicilia, population 6000. Credit: Airbnb

How does a year living in a picturesque village in Sicily sound? How about the entire year rent-free? Well if you don't mind hosting some guests then Airbnb has the role for you.

The holiday home rental giant has launched a competition to find someone to take over the "1 Euro House" in the village of Sambuca di Sicilia, population 6000.

Inspired by the many appeals from Italian villages to find people to take over crumbling homes and help reinvigorate dying hamlets, Airbnb is searching for "an adventurer with a passion for hospitality". In fact the house is one of those homes which had been offered to buy for €1.

Sambuca di Sicilia is characterised by a unique blend of Italian and North African cultures and architectural styles.

Sambuca di Sicilia is characterised by a unique blend of Italian and North African cultures and architectural styles. Credit: Airbnb

You don't have to do the hosting on your own, the selected entrant can bring a friend, their partner or family (maximum of two adults and two children in total), and Australians are among those who are eligible to apply.

You don't have to know any Italian as that will be taught during your stay, and if your cooking skills are a bit rusty, classes are also part of the deal.

The six-room townhouse in the centre of the village isn't a crumbling edifice either. It's been fully renovated by Sicilian architecture firm Studio Didea.

The house has been completely renovated.

The house has been completely renovated.Credit: Airbnb

"The spacious building spans three floors and is the ideal space to live and host on Airbnb. The ground floor comprises a small living room, master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom," says Airbnb.

Advertisement

"The first floor includes a living room, kitchen, working space, bathroom and mezzanine bedroom with a king-size bed. The upper floor includes an additional living space with a queen-size sofa bed. The successful applicant gets first dibs on the bedroom that best suits their needs with the second bedroom to be listed on Airbnb."

The winning entrant will have "a passion for nature, Italian culture and for playing their part in Sambuca's renaissance. The participant will therefore need to demonstrate a commitment to hosting and to contributing to village life".

The village was named "the most beautiful Italian Village" in 2016, and "perfectly encapsulates southern Italian heritage and rural traditions from the grape harvest to olive picking".

Leonardo Ciaccio, Mayor of Sambuca di Sicilia, is fully backing the campaign.

"It gives a second chance not just to an abandoned heritage home in the heart of our village – it's also a second chance to the person who moves into it," said Ciaccio.

"We're looking for someone who wants to live with the local population and participate in all the important moments of the community."

As a bonus, the lucky winner will also keep any money earned from renting out the rooms.

More details at www.airbnb.com.au/d/1eurohouse-initiative.

Stuff.co.nz

See also: Property in Australia was too expensive, so Mark bought a house in Italy for one euro

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading