We are looking for a rent-free host for a decayed-turned-designer Italian heritage home on Airbnb. One person will be chosen to live and work remotely in this beautifully renovated house in Sicily with their family, spouse, or friend.

“The beauty of this campaign is that it gives a second chance not just to an abandoned heritage home in the heart of our village — it’s also a second chance to the person who moves into it. We see it as a design makeover for the house and the host. We’re looking for someone who wants to live with the local population and participate in all the important moments of the community, from the grape harvest to olive picking and we can’t wait to welcome whoever gets selected!” said Leonardo Ciaccio, Mayor of Sambuca di Sicilia.

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The candidate should be passionate about hosting and taking part in village life. Starting on June 30, the successful candidate will stay in Sambuca for a year, and all proceeds from Airbnb will go to them.

The House

The unique aspect of this ‘1 Euro House’ is that it has been completely renovated by a designer. The home was renovated by Airbnb in collaboration with Studio Didea, an Italian architectural firm, using materials and colors that complemented its surroundings. The architecture is a beautiful example of Sicily’s attractive architecture, combining contemporary design with handicrafts.

Located on three floors, the building provides plenty of space for remote work and Airbnb hosting.

An en-suite bathroom and a king-size bed are found on the ground floor.

There is a living room, a kitchen, and a working space on the first floor, as well as a king-size bed on the mezzanine floor.

A queen-size sofa bed is included on the upper floor.

With the second bedroom going up for rent on Airbnb, the successful applicant gets first dibs on the bedroom that best suits their needs.

The Location

SThis Sicilian village has a unique mix of Italian and North African cultures and architecture. Approximately 6,000 people live here. Thanks to its ‘1 Euro House’ marketing, the chosen applicant will join a rapidly growing international community, with many millennials moving from larger local cities to a rural town in search of a slower pace of life.

How it works

The candidate must be over 18 years of age, able to move to Sambuca for at least three consecutive months beginning June 30, 2022, and be able to speak conversational English (Italian is an advantage). Participants selected for the mentoring program will learn Italian and take cooking classes in Italy. The candidate must commit to hosting one room in the house for a minimum of nine months.

Participants are allowed to bring a friend, partner, or family member (maximum of two adults and two children). In exchange for living rent-free, the successful participant will retain all Airbnb earnings during their stay.

Sambuca, Sicily, is a great example of how changing travel trends on Airbnb will lead to economic benefits for rural communities as a result of the pandemic. Italy accounted for over 26 percent of all travel in Q3 2019: Rome, Venice, Milan, and Florence. The same four cities, however, accounted for less than 17 percent of travel in Q3 2021, and one of the top visiting areas in Italy was Sicily. Airbnb aims to support this demand by helping to restore villages like Sambuca to their former glory by working with them.