American Buys House for One Euro in Sicily, Faces Grim Surprise

An ambitious project in Italy's small towns, offering dilapidated houses for just one euro, has attracted thousands of adventurous buyers worldwide. Among them was Meredith Tabbone from Chicago, who decided to purchase a four-bedroom house in Sambuca di Sicilia, a village celebrated as one of Italy's most beautiful.

Tabbone had a personal connection to the village, as her great-grandfather departed from Sambuca di Sicilia in 1902 to immigrate to the United States. This historical link likely fueled her decision to invest in the town's revitalization.

However, upon acquiring the property, Tabbone was met with a harsh reality. "The condition of the house was, to put it mildly, terrible at the time of purchase," she recalled in a later interview. The two-story house, comprising 18 rooms, lacked electricity and running water. Each room was on a different level, and the structure contained hazardous asbestos. Adding to the grim state, some floors were covered by up to half a meter of pigeon droppings.

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The condition of the house was, to put it mildly, terrible at the time of purchase.