I Relocated to a Quiet Sardinian Village—Here's Why the Island is Attracting Newcomers

In March 2024, Bianca Fontana boarded a flight from Australia to spend three weeks in Sardinia. Throughout her journey, she underwent a sign...

In March 2024, Bianca Fontana boarded a flight from Australia to spend three weeks in Sardinia. Throughout her journey, she underwent a significant reevaluation of her life.

Fontana purchased a home, finished a portion of the documentation, and established the groundwork for her move to the Italian island.

The interior of Sardinia, similar to many rural regions in Italy, is experiencing a significant drop in population.

Over the past few years, its isolated communities have initiated several programs aiming to strengthen their shrinking populations and weakening economies.

This is how a foreigner began a new life in a village with 2,500 residents, and the initiatives that remain available for those who wish to take a similar path.

I relocated to a Sardinian village with a population of 2,500 people.

Fontana, with Italian heritage, makes the process ofpurchasing a houseon the opposite side of the world, it sounds like a gentle wind.

"Frankly, the main difficulty was simply saying yes and making the decision - as it can be a daunting choice," she states.

I never imagined owning a home in my life, and I've spent years living abroad and traveling, never staying in one place for more than five years, so the idea of making a commitment was the most terrifying aspect.

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The process of purchasing the house was relatively simple, she explains. During her three-week visit to Sardinia, she selected the property and granted the surveyor authority to act on her behalf.

A few weeks following his return to Australia, the paperwork was finalized, and Fontana closed the agreement through a bank transfer.

When she returned to the island again, her attorney was there with the keys.

Sardinia is offering vacant homes for sale at €1

Rural towns and villages in Sardiniaare declining. Most of the island's 1.57 million residents — a decrease from 1.64 million thirty years ago — reside in its coastal cities such as Cagliari, Sassari, and Alghero.

In the rural areas, many homes remain unoccupied.

As many younger people move en masse to city areas, rural communities are adopting alternative strategies to refill their empty homes.

Localities such as Ollolai and Nulvi are trying to attract Italians from the mainland and international individuals by providing homes at prices as low as a cup of coffee.

Authorities in Sardinia have initiated island-wideanti-depopulation measureswhich offers individuals who relocate to a village with less than 3,000 inhabitants up to €15,000 to buy or restore a house, on the condition that they live there for a minimum of five years.

It's not a trivial amount, given the numerous inexpensive homes that aren't involved in liquidation programs.

Fontana bought her home for €30,000. She mentions that significant renovation efforts were needed to make it livable, such as fixing the roof and an interior wall that had severe water damage.

She managed to benefit from the renovation.incentive scheme. Filling out the complex documents can be intimidating for a foreigner, but Fontana entrusted her surveyor with managing it.

"The approval was granted maybe six months [after submission], and then I was informed that the funds were available around six months later, so it took just over a year to get the money," she says.

Fontana's upcoming renovation plans include exposing the stone walls on the first level, incorporating a few additional bathrooms, setting up a necessary kitchen, and putting in a heating system.

Nevertheless, her rough estimate of €100,000 for the artworks is much more reasonably priced compared to anything similar she claims she could have purchased in Australia.

Sardinia provides benefits for families with children

The anti-depopulation packageis not solely focused on restoring homes, but also on enhancing populations over time and strengthening economies.

SardiniaIts birth rate is at an all-time low. It holds the lowest number in Italy (which is already among the lowest in the EU) at 0.91 children per woman.

To maintain a stable population, the average should be approximately 2.1 children per woman.

Therefore, a portion of the regionincentiveThe package offers a monthly allowance of €600 for the first child and €400 for every additional child until they reach the age of five.

Regarding the economy, people may be eligible for as much as €20,000 to launch a business in a town with a population under 3,000, which creates job possibilities locally.

Can non-local residents revive rural Sardinia?

However, maybe there is something more intangible that strongly attracts new arrivals to the island.

People residing in high-speed, chaotic societies across various nations may observe rural areas.Sardiniaand observe a sanctuary of relaxed lifestyles, tightly connected neighborhoods, and connection with the outdoors.

The increase in remote work and digital nomad visas is making relocating overseas a highly feasible choice at present.

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Fontana states, 'I believe the condition of wealthier nations is no longer attractive to many.'

Individuals desire to break free from the hustle and bustle, seek a calmer, more nature-oriented lifestyle, thus they turn to the internet for answers, and they discoverYouTube channelslike mine, and slowly, gradually, gain the bravery to move.

She mentions that although she doesn't intend to have children, she finds it beneficial to share her experiences online with others and offer guidance to those considering a similar transition, "which can be just as impactful in bringing new people to this area."