When they applied for the competition for abandoned the house in Sicily, the Australian couple had no idea that they, among as many as 60,000 applicants, would get the chance to buy it for just one euro.
Rae Knopik, 31, and her fiance Declan Norrie, 31, from Canberra, became the owners of a dilapidated house in the small town of Troina after applying for a public invitation during the pandemic.
The couple met in Italy in 2018 and says that they immediately felt a special connection with the Sicilian place where the house is located. The Sun.
A dream born during quarantine
After years of planning and several visits, the couple is now preparing to renovate the property, which they want to turn into their dream home, but also a place that celebrates their connection to Italy. They estimate that at least 50,000 euros will be needed for the renovation.
“Australia was completely locked down during the pandemic. We weren’t allowed to leave our homes and we were desperate because we couldn’t travel,” said Rae, the owner of a small marketing agency.
“Declan and I met in Italy, which has a special meaning for us. I also have Italian roots and have always wanted to reconnect with that part of my identity. I studied Italian and lived there for a while, so owning property in Italy has always been a dream of mine.”
Housebound during the pandemic, they spent hours watching travel videos online. During their research, they came across a text about Italian houses that are sold for one euro.
“We started watching videos of people walking around cities with GoPro cameras. We slowly immersed ourselves in that world and started exploring small places. That’s when we discovered Troina and came across a story about houses for one euro. We thought: why not give it a try?” Rae recalled.
Long way to victory
In the application, they described in detail their connection with Italy and their plans to restore the house.
“I started learning Italian at the age of 20, and for a while I lived in Florence for my studies. I wanted to renew the connection with the heritage of my ancestors. They were forced to go to the USA, where they were not well received, so no one in my family speaks Italian today,” she explained.
This was followed by a selection process that lasted about a year and included numerous discussions with local authorities.
“Weeks turned into months. There were interviews, voicemails, video calls and a lot of questions. And then, about a year later, we were told, ‘You won. Do you want to come and look at the house?'”
Love at first sight
The couple immediately booked tickets and traveled to Italy in June 2022. However, it wasn’t just the house that won them over.
“You’re driving through the valleys in the middle of the Mediterranean and suddenly you see a castle on the horizon. You climb higher and higher until you reach the city. It was absolutely beautiful. When it’s clear, the view goes all the way to the sea. Even before they opened the door to the house, we decided we were going to buy it, just based on the road to it,” said Rae.
The real truth about houses for one euro
Despite the symbolic price, Rae points out that there is a big misconception when it comes to Italian houses for one euro. Many people think that such properties are practically free, not realizing how much money and work is required to make them habitable.
“The point of the whole idea is to revive small places and bring life back to local communities. Honestly, I would be surprised if some of those houses didn’t require serious renovation. Our house had been abandoned for 50 or 60 years. It was cleaned and secured, but it was obvious that no one had lived in it for decades,” she explained.
From modest plans to a dream home
The couple originally estimated that they would spend around 50,000 euros for the renovation, but their ambitions grew over time. Today, they want to create a gathering place for the whole family, where they can enjoy their Sicilian roots, surrounded by art and beauty.
“At first we just wanted to fix it up so it could be lived in. Now we’re designing something that’s going to be completely ours. The budget is constantly changing because we’ve realized we want a dream home. We’re thinking about major renovations, maybe even tearing down the back wall,” Rae revealed.
A new life in Sicily
Since they bought the house in 2022, the couple has been visiting Troina regularly and points out that the locals have warmly welcomed them.
“It completely changed our lives. We became friends with a large group of young and ambitious Sicilians who really accepted us. We are getting married in Sicily in August and there will be about thirty of our new friends there. We feel like we have become part of the community,” she said.
Although the house only cost one euro, Rae says what they got was worth much more than the money.
“It all started as a dream during quarantine. Today it has become an important part of our lives and our future together,” she concluded.
