In a bid to revitalize the historic old quarter, a mayor in Sicily has proposed to slash property in a Sicilian historic town to a euro, the London Telegraph reports.
Salemi, the famed one-day capital of Italy in 1860, was practically abandoned after an earthquake in 1968. But Vittorio Sgarbi, Salemi's mayor and Italy's former culture minister, thinks selling off the historic properties at a euro a piece will return the beautiful town to its former glory. In exchange for about $1.45, the new homeowner will have to meet standards laid down by the council "while respecting their original characteristics," Sgarbi told the London Telegraph. That means that they have to be refurbished to the exigencies of the modern world while maintaining the colors, forms and appearances of their time.
Mr Sgarbi was a senior official in the culture ministry during a previous government led by current Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. He is very much convinced that it is the only way to revitalize the town's crumbling historic heart. Most of the villas were damaged by an earthquake 40 years ago. The Mayor commented: "There are 3,700 houses owned by the council, almost all in the old town, which are in danger of falling down - of crumbling and dying."
Mr Sgarbi at the outset offered the houses free of charge, to residents of Salemi who agreed to do the renovations. But then, keen to raise awareness of his cause, the town council is looking for buyers who have the aesthetic sensibility and economic resources to embark on this adventure. The mayor said "for a token payment of one euro we will offer them one of these houses and ask that they undertake to restore them within two years while respecting their original characteristics."
Mr Sgarbi is overjoyed by the level of interest, saying: "We have had a lot of interest and people are already booking up to come down here".
0 comments:
Post a Comment