Airbnb are looking for a host to live rent-free in their 1-Euro house in Sambuca, Sicily. A digital nomad’s dream, the designer home is part of Airbnb’s support for rural communities.
Want to immerse yourself in Italian culture? Fancy living rent-free in a designer home on Sicily? Well, you could be in luck. Airbnb are offering just that at their 1-Euro House in Sambuca di Sicilia.
Airbnb bought the property under the €1 rejuvenation scheme and converted it into a three-storey townhouse.
Where is Sambuca di Sicilia?
A rural village of around 6,000 inhabitants, Sambuca is about 80km south of Sicily’s biggest city, Palermo. It was named the most beautiful Italian village in 2016.
You’ll need to have “a passion for nature, Italian culture and for playing [your] part in Sambuca’s renaissance,” says the rental site. “The participant will therefore need to demonstrate a commitment to hosting and contributing to village life.”
With the rise in remote working, there is likely to be a big pool of applicants. Let’s look at what is involved in hosting the 1-Euro house.
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What is involved in hosting?
Airbnb is a giant in the world of holiday rentals. What differentiates them is the way in which homeowners can host visitors in their own home, not just with an individual property.
This is effectively what will happen in Sambuca, as they host a private room within the home for a minimum of nine months.
The lucky applicant will live for at least three consecutive months in the Sicilian property. And they don’t have to live alone, either. They can bring a friend, partner or family – up to two adults and two children – with them.
To apply, you need to be over 18, have conversational English and either Italian or a willingness to learn the language. You can also choose which bedroom(s) is yours and have the run of the house.
If you’re a digital nomad, on top of your usual earnings you’ll also get to keep all Airbnb Host earnings.
Why is Airbnb offering this for free?
The initiative is part of a wider commitment to support rural communities and cultural heritage in Europe, says Airbnb.
In 2019, just four Italian cities – Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence – accounted for more than 26% of all travel to the country. Two years later and that has dropped to under 17%. Rising through the ranks is Sicily and other locations, according to a recent study.
Airbnb says it aims to support this growing demand by working with villages like Sambuca to help restore them to their former glory.
Mayor Leonardo Ciaccio says, “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 designer 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!”
Want to give yourself a chance at being an Airbnb host on Sicily? Then complete the application form, and find out more about the whole process, here. Buona fortuna!
