Skip to main content

This picturesque Sicilian town is giving away houses for free

Image credits: Giuseppe Finocchiaro via Flickr

Despite being the home of Antonello da Messina, Sicily is synonymous with the The Godfather, and I have a theory that about 60% of people visit the island because of the movie.

   Now, if you're on the lookout for a new home and you're a fan of the Oscar-winning film and the Sicilian landscape, you should check out the picturesque mountain village of Gangi. Why? Because the quaint small town is giving away for free many of the houses that line its ancient stone streets. They are mostly three-story farmhouses, and many of them have panoramic views of Mount Etna. There is, however, a small catch.

Image credits: patrick_22_b via Flickr

Image credits: bruno.s via Flickr
 
   The residences are generally in pretty rough shape, some abandoned years ago. And, "those who will be assigned the free houses have to bear the expenses for the transfer of ownership and must undertake to present the project of renovation of the property within one year of purchase and complete renovations within three years."

   The offer is the last ditch attempt of local government officials to save Gangi from falling into rack and ruin. Starting in the 1890s, the town experienced mass exodus, with much of its population leaving for the United States or South America. It's population has sunk from 16,000 in the 1950s to around 7,000 today.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

So, have you given Chloe Qisha a listen yet?

What I love about the Malaysian-born singer-songwriter is her knack for crafting those sad/happy songs – music that makes you want to cry and hit the dance floor at the same time. Chloe writes about love, anxiety, and self-acceptance with such wit and honesty. Her beauty is also undeniable – a perfect blend of modern allure and timeless Asian elegance. Her looks shine through with such grace and an effortlessly cool confidence. Here is my favorite.

Press Play Again

You know that feeling when you stumble upon an old movie you haven't seen in years? It's like finding a dusty photo album and flipping through the pages, only instead of bad hairstyles, you're greeted with hideous special effects and awful dialogue. Also, the dramatic tension I remembered as nail-biting was now… well, a little slow-paced. But the truly entertaining part of rewatching a movie is that you notice things you never did before. For example, in Midnight Cowboy , I didn't know that the guy who gave Joe Buck (Jon Voight) a blow job was played by Bob Balaban, who later became known for his role as Russell Dalrymple, the fictional president of NBC in Seinfeld . Released in 1969, Midnight Cowboy is a raw, sometimes uncomfortable, often heartbreaking, but ultimately deeply human. And seriously, the chemistry between Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) and Buck is pure gold. Rewatching a movie is like visiting an old friend. You know their idiosyncrasies, their stories, bu...

More Than Just Smiles and Sunsets

                  Ayala Museum is currently hosting "Amorsolo: Chroma" - a spectrum of brilliance you wouldn't want to miss. It is more than just a collection of paintings; it’s an experience. It’s a masterclass in light and color, a journey into the mind of a Filipino genius, and a fresh perspective on an artist many of us thought we knew. The first thing that you will notice you when you step into "Chroma" is… well, the chroma. While Amorsolo is famed for his mastery of light, this exhibition dives deeper into his entire color palette. It’s like entering a vibrant, living spectrum. Go check it!