Revitalizing Small Villages: Transformative Actions from Affordable Homes to Thriving Businesses Counteracting Depression
In the heart of Sardinia, Italy, the picturesque mountain town of Ollolai has undergone a remarkable transformation. Facing long-term depopulation, the town's mayor, Francesco Columbu, has spearheaded a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the local community and economy.
At the core of these efforts is the one-euro house program, which has attracted significant attention from potential residents, both foreign and domestic. This innovative scheme, led by local lawyer Efisio Arbau, offers houses for symbolic prices, with the condition that buyers commit to renovating the properties and establishing residency within a specified timeframe [2][3][4].
These initiatives have not gone unnoticed. The program has registered hundreds of subscriptions, and several couples have already moved in, transforming abandoned homes into vibrant residences [4]. The broader regional context includes additional incentives provided by Sardinia, such as monthly bonuses for families with newborns or fostered children in small towns under 5,000 inhabitants, housing grants, and business support programs [1].
Ollolai's revitalization has also caught the attention of the media. A Dutch reality show, "judged" by the inhabitants of Ollolai, took place with "square elections." Additionally, the campaign "If you don't like where you are, come to us. Find" was launched to promote Ollolai to potential residents [5].
The success of Ollolai's one-euro house program has inspired similar initiatives throughout Italy. In another Sardinian village, Fluminimaggiore, the municipal administration launched the Happy Village project, a community cooperative aiming to transform the town into a dispersed residence for the elderly and others [6].
The revitalization of Ollolai has also appealed to digital nomads like Marco and Simona, programmers from Rome, who have decided to work remotely in a village in the Sulcis region of Sardinia, seeking a slower pace of life [7].
As Ollolai continues to attract new residents, it serves as a shining example of how affordable housing and community support can revitalize a town facing depopulation. The town's transformation not only benefits its residents but also enriches the cultural tapestry of Sardinia and Italy as a whole.
Sources:
- Sardinia offers €600 monthly bonuses to families with newborns or foster children in small towns
- One-euro houses in Ollolai, Sardinia: A town's revitalization
- The One-Euro House Program: A New Lease on Life for Ollolai
- One-euro houses in Ollolai, Sardinia: A new life in Italy
- Dutch reality show promotes Sardinian town struggling with depopulation
- The Happy Village Project in Fluminimaggiore: A New Economy for a Former Mining Town
- Digital Nomads Find a Slower Pace of Life in Sardinia
- The affordable housing policy, driven by the one-euro house program in Ollolai, Sardinia, is encouraging a shift towards a more relaxed lifestyle for digital nomads, as seen with programmers Marco and Simona from Rome.
- The revitalized Ollolai, with its diverse home-and-garden environments, no longer just reflects the cultural richness of Sardinia but also serves as a magnet for a wider range of lifestyles, thanks to the attractive incentives introduced by the local government.
