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While many communities world wide marvel what to do with Donald Trump’s presidential re-election, a village on the Italian island of Sardinia has smelled a possible alternative.
Like many different locations in rural Italy, Ollolai has lengthy tried to persuade foreigners to maneuver there to revive its fortunes after many years of depopulation. He bought dilapidated homes for as little as a euro – simply over a greenback – to sweeten the deal.
Now, following the result of the vote on 5 November, one has been launched website geared toward aspiring American expats, providing cheaper properties within the hope that these upset by the result will rush to snap up one in all its empty properties.
“Are you worn out (sic) by international politics? Do you wish to embrace a extra balanced way of life whereas securing new alternatives? the web site asks. “It’s time to start out constructing your European escape within the extraordinary paradise of Sardinia.”
Mayor Francesco Columbu explains to CNN that the location was created particularly to draw American voters forward of the presidential elections. He says he loves the United States and is satisfied that Americans are the perfect folks to assist revive his neighborhood.
“We actually wish to and can focus totally on the Americans,” he says. “Of course we can not prohibit folks from different international locations from making use of, however Americans could have an expedited process. We are relying on them to assist us relaunch the nation, they’re our trump card.”
‘Preferential remedy’
Properties on provide embrace bargain-priced dilapidated properties or ready-to-occupy buildings for as much as $105,000. – Roberto Tangianu/Sardinia Live
Columbu says the village now provides three ranges of lodging: free non permanent properties for some digital nomads, one-euro properties in want of renovation, and ready-to-occupy properties for costs as much as 100,000 euros ($105,000).
The mayor says he has created a particular staff to information patrons by means of each stage of the acquisition, from arranging bespoke personal excursions of accessible properties to discovering contractors, builders and managing the required documentation.
He says pictures and ground plans of accessible empty properties might be uploaded to the web site quickly.
Over the previous century, Ollolai’s inhabitants has shrunk from 2,250 to 1,300 and solely a handful of youngsters are born annually. Many households left the village throughout instances of financial problem, looking for work and a greater life.
In latest years the inhabitants has dropped additional to simply 1,150 residents.
Even because the village desperately tries to draw newcomers in an effort to cease depopulation, providing “preferential remedy” to Americans, as Columbu describes it, could appear a bit controversial.
The web site would not point out having a U.S. passport as a prerequisite, however the mayor says U.S. residents might be favored over potential candidates of different nationalities.
“Of course we can not particularly point out the identify of a newly elected president of the United States, however everyone knows that he’s the one which many Americans wish to distance themselves from and go away the nation,” Colombo provides.
“We created this web site particularly to fulfill post-election relocation wants within the United States. The first version of our digital nomad program, launched final yr, was already reserved solely for Americans.”
The mayor says the town corridor web site was flooded not too long ago with 38,000 inquiries concerning the properties, largely from the United States.
“So we had been actually making an attempt to create a platform that may attraction to US residents and convey collectively our varied tasks,” Columbu says.
A distant paradise
The metropolis can be making an attempt to draw digital nomads. – Roberto Tangianu/Sardinia Live
Ollolai has already tried to draw new residents with enticing housing tasks.
In 2018, as first reported by CNN, the city corridor began promoting dilapidated and empty homes for one euro. Then we moved on to renting empty work areas for the symbolic sum of 1 euro.
Finally, beginning final yr, it launched the “work at Ollolai” program for digital nomads. So far 4 Americans have been hosted in geared up lodging for the symbolic sum of 1 euro. In trade, they needed to create one thing for the neighborhood, comparable to a murals or a ebook.
The municipality pays the lease on native households’ properties for distant employees, paying round 350 euros a month for high-rise, two-bedroom properties. Utilities, payments and municipal taxes are additionally coated.
But the relaunch plans usually are not going because the native authorities hoped. Since 2018, solely 10 homes have been bought for one euro and renovated, Columbu says.
“The village stays half empty, we nonetheless have round 100 unoccupied inexpensive properties probably on the market, prepared to maneuver into. We have mapped and listed all of them, and the pictures will quickly be on-line for patrons to check out.”
Most of the buildings are situated within the historic heart and are of assorted sizes.
They are picturesque historic properties of farmers and shepherds, constructed with native granite rocks. Some turnkey properties are even renovated and geared up with probably the most trendy comforts.
There are not any demographic necessities for US candidates; they are often folks of all ages, retirees, distant employees or entrepreneurs who wish to open a small enterprise within the village.
Ollolai is off the crushed observe, very best for individuals who wish to unplug and reside a less complicated life.
Located in a wild mountainous area, it stands on a pristine strip of land the place historic peasant traditions survive. It boasts contemporary, pollution-free air, few crowds and delightful views.
In the autumn throughout an occasion often known as slim cuts (open courtyards) sees the stables and historic peat taverns open to the general public, providing wine, ham, cheese and different delicacies. The space is legendary for the regionally produced Casu Fiore Sardo cheese.
Another spotlight of the Ollolai calendar is the masked carnival with goat costumes and archaic rituals held yearly in February.
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