Remember the €1 home scheme in Sicily? Well, that same teeny tiny amount could now get you a three-day holiday to a little seaside town on the island.
Yes, you read that right. For just €1, the town of Siculiana will host couples and families for a three-night stay in a bid to boost the area’s low-season tourism, according to The i Paper.
The town sits around 13km west of Agrigento on Sicily’s south coast and brags pretty little streets, ancient buildings and Siculiana Castle, which dates back to the fourteenth century, as well as access to the lush surrounding countryside and beaches. However, the population has dropped from 5,000 to 4,000 over the last two decades or so, and locals are keen to generate some more interest in the area.
Fancy it? To apply, you’ll need to be over 18 and must create and submit a video explaining why you’re so keen to visit Siculiana. Is it the local food? The culture? A much-needed break from the 9-5? That’s your call.
If you’re lucky enough to win, you’ll be required to pay €1 and all your accommodation, meals and guided tours will be included in the three-day stay (not to mention a welcome and a farewell aperitif). You’ll be expected to make a video at the end of the weekend to share with the local town hall for their use, too.
‘[Siculiana is] outside the usual popular tourism routes, and we hope that the proximity of [the town] to the archaeological site of Agrigento with its Valley of Temples, nominated as Italy’s Culture Capital this year, will lure more tourists over here as well,’ said Siculiana mayor Giuseppe Zambito, ‘With this free weekend programme we want to test our tourism infrastructure and handling of extra tourists so to become one of Sicily’s key destinations, and not just in summer.’
The deadline for the application is March 15. Check out the full terms and conditions, as well as info on how to submit your video, on Siculiana Turistica’s website. The 10 groups of lucky winners will be selected by March 20, and the first weekend trip is will run on April 4-6, 2025.
Can’t make it this year? There could be more competitions in the autumn and next spring, too. In the meantime, have a look at our roundup of the best places to visit in Sicily.
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