Village 70km from Rome is selling houses for…one euro

The municipality of Norma is launching the “Discover Norma” project: homes located right in the historic center for just one euro. The goal? To rehabilitate abandoned properties and combat depopulation.

Seventy kilometers from Rome, perched on the Lepini Mountains, a village of a few thousand residents is trying to reverse the trend of depopulation. Its method? “One-euro houses”—a concept that, in recent years, has revitalized dozens of historic Italian town centers. The town of Norma, in the province of Latina, has named the project “Discover Norma,” combining property renovation with efforts to promote tourism in the village.

The announcement was made by Mayor Andrea Dell’Omo, who noted that the administration had already completed an initial survey of abandoned or dilapidated buildings in the historic center. The necessary procedures to launch the initiative have also been approved. The model being followed is that of Maenza, another village in the Lepini Mountains located in the province of Latina. Maenza has tested this method in recent years, even attracting the attention of the international press.

The mayor’s announcement

“After completing an initial survey of abandoned or dilapidated buildings in the historic center, we are launching the ‘One-Euro Houses’ project, an initiative aimed at revitalizing the existing real estate heritage and breathing new life into important neighborhoods of our village. In recent weeks, we met with engineer Fabio Di Girolamo, former deputy mayor of the town of Maenza, where this project was implemented with significant results. His experience will be a valuable asset as we move forward with this initiative in Norma.”

"The goal is to encourage the rehabilitation of currently unused homes, combat abandonment, and promote urban regeneration that respects the identity of our historic center. At the same time, this project is a wonderful opportunity to introduce Norma to a wider audience by highlighting its history, landscape, and quality of life. That is why we have chosen to name it ‘Discover Norma.’ In recent weeks, we have completed all the necessary administrative steps to launch the initiative. Very soon, all the forms and documents needed by residents and interested parties will be available on the town’s official website. Follow our “Commune de Norma” page for updates.”

As with all initiatives of this kind, the process is far from free. The one euro is a symbolic purchase price. The buyer is responsible for notary fees, registration fees, property taxes, and, most importantly, renovation costs, which must be completed within the deadlines set by municipal regulations. Anyone intending to purchase a property must submit a credible renovation plan and commit to meeting the deadlines for the work.

For now, neither the call for applications for buyers nor the list of available properties is online yet. The forms and documentation will be posted on the official website shortly, the mayor assured.