“Start your European escape in the splendid paradise of Sardinia”. The town of Ollolai, in Sardinia, is offering American citizens the opportunity to come and live there by purchasing a house for the modest sum of one euro. Inspired by various initiatives launched after the American presidential election, the village targets voters disappointed by the election of Donald Trump. A golden opportunity for Americans wishing to leave their country.
Catchy phrases are multiplying on this site created by the municipality to attract our transatlantic neighbors: “Are you tired of the political atmosphere? Do you dream of a more balanced lifestyle while accessing new opportunities? A village nestled in unspoilt nature, surrounded by exceptional cuisine and immersed in a community with ancient traditions, in this rare Blue Zone of the Earth,” we can read.
Mayor Francesco Columbu declared on CNN that he “really wanted the Americans to respond first.” The main objective is to “revitalize the village”and the mayor underlined it by presenting the Americans as “a winning asset”.
38,000 requests for information on houses for sale
“Of course we cannot mention the name of a recently elected American president, but we all know that it is the one that many Americans want to move away from,” added Francesco Columbu, without explicitly quoting Donald Trump.
The village offers three options: free temporary accommodation for digital nomads, one euro houses in need of renovationet habitable houses whose prices can reach up to 100,000 euros. The initiative has met with great success, since the mayor revealed that the town hall website had received no less than 38,000 requests for information on houses, mainly from the United States.
Ollolai, this little isolated corner of paradise, has seen its population increase from 2,250 to 1,300 inhabitants over the past century, with only a few births each year. CNN highlights that many families left the village during periods of economic crisislooking for work and a better life. In recent years, the population has fallen further to barely 1,150 inhabitants.
Villages around the world, lacking demographics, regularly use these campaigns to attract new blood, regardless of who is in the White House.
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