ADVERTISEMENTAuctioning off houses for €1 has become a common way for Italy’s depopulated villages to boost their resident numbers.
Now, one town in Sicily is using a similar scheme to entice more tourists to visit.
For less than the price of an espresso, holidaymakers can spend a long weekend in the coastal town of Siculiana, Sicily.
The €1 getaway hopes to draw more visitors to the area during the off-season and put the destination on tourists’ radars.
What do you get on a €1 holiday in this Sicilian town?
Siculiana is offering a handful of lucky travellers an all-expenses paid escape - all they have to fork out for is Sicily’s €1 tourist tax.
Accommodation, meals and guided tours for a two-night stay are all included in the offer, although holidaymakers have to make their own way to the town on the island’s west coast.
The getaway is organised by the Siculiana Tourism Board and winners will stay in one of the organisation’s partner facilities.
On arrival, the selected visitors will be greeted with a welcome drink at the hotel, and they will also enjoy a drink by the marina at the end of the break.
There will be guided excursions to the area’s highlights, such as the Siculiana Marina and the Torres Salsa Nature Reserve with protected beaches and dramatic cliffs.
But to be in with a chance of winning, you’ll have to get creative.
How you can win a €1 holiday in Siculiana
Those interested in applying for the bargain break will have to submit an original video explaining their motives for wanting to participate.
If you’ve never heard of Siculiana, this might be tricky. But the Siculiana Tourism Board lists a few ideas of things to say such as ‘we deserve a holiday’, ‘we love Sicily’, and ‘we want to eat Sicilian food’.
To apply, you must be over 18 and film your video as a pair. Make sure you include your relationship (e.g. friends, family, or spouses), ages, city of residence, and telephone and email contact details in your application.
The submissions will be judged by the Tourism Board, which is looking for various elements in a successful application, including originality and creativity, reasons for visiting, and enthusiasm and desire to discover Siculiana.
There are spots for 10 duos available and winners will be announced on 20 March. The first holiday will take place from 4-6 April.
ADVERTISEMENTApplications must be submitted by 15 March.
During the holiday, participants will be required to record a video diary of their time in Siculiana, sharing the highlights of each day with the Tourism Board.