Overview

• Rubia Daniels, a planning consultant with 16 years of construction experience, purchased six derelict homes in Mussomeli, Sicily, for €1 each in 2019 under a municipal initiative to combat rural depopulation.
• Her first renovated property, completed with a €60,000 investment, is designed to last 50 years without further major work, while the other five homes are nearing completion.
• The homes, initially lacking roofs, water, and electricity, are being transformed for Daniels, her daughter, and two aunts, who plan to retire in the town.
• Daniels exclusively sourced materials and furnishings locally to support Mussomeli’s economy and foster community connections.
• The initiative, which has attracted over 100 buyers, aims to preserve heritage, stimulate local economies, and encourage cultural migration to depopulated Italian towns.