L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano T h e C a s e a 1 E u r o t r e n d c o n t i n u e s i n Italy. Our readers m a y r e m e m b e r o t h e r a r t i c l e s a b o u t t h i s scheme, dedicated to smaller -- but equally charming -- villages and hamlets around the country that put houses o n s a l e f o r t h e s y m b o l i c price of just over 1 USD. The goal? Attracting people and bringing a new lease of life to local communities. W h i l e t h e h o m e s a r e , more often than not, in need o f s o m e m a j o r T L C , a n d guarantees -- from monetary investment in the property, to residence in the chosen village for a number of years -- are usually required to make the deal, the project remains a great opportunity, especially for those seeking a new beginning, or are tired of living in the city. And in these times of fear and insecurity created by the ongoing pandemic, slowing d o w n t h e p a c e a n d embracing a less frenetic lifestyle in the countryside is, in fact, a change many people have been making. S o w h y n o t t a k e i t a s t e p further and go to Italy? If you visit the project's webpage (www.1eurohouses. com), you'll be able to access t h e f u l l l i s t o f a l l participating villages and, if i t ' s t r u e t h a t t h e o u r beautiful South and islands feature more heavily than other parts of the country, n o r t h e r n r e g i o n s l i k e Liguria, Piemonte and Valle d ' A o s t a a r e a l s o p r e s e n t , along with people's favorite Tuscany and quaint Marche and Abruzzo. Lazio, the region of our capital, is however new to the project, having joined it only recently with the small m e d i e v a l h a m l e t o f Maenza, located some 90 minutes from Rome and 30 from the county capital of Latina. Surrounded by oak a n d c h e s t n u t w o o d s , perched on top of a hill with a b r e a t h t a k i n g v i e w o n M o u n t G e m m a , M o u n t Sentinella, Mount Mattarese a n d t h e d e l i c a t e h i l l s o f southern Lazio, Maenza is b e l i e v e d t o h a v e b e e n founded as early as the 11th century BC, by ancient Italic p e o p l e d e v o t e d t o s h e e p farming. T h e C a s e a 1 E u r o initiative is here part of a w i d e r p r o j e c t , t h e P a t t o p e r i l C e n t r o S t o r i c o , ambitiously created by the town council to bring new l i f e t o t h e v i l l a g e a n d safeguard its historical and architectural beauty. M a e n z a i s , i n m a n y w a y s , a t y p i c a l I t a l i a n c o u n t r y s i d e v i l l a g e : medieval in structure and l a y o u t , i t s s t o n e h o u s e s c o n n e c t t o o n e a n o t h e r through a maze of alleys and little squares, opening in front of ancient churches. The local castle, known as the Castello Baronale, w a s b u i l t i n 1 5 0 0 b y t h e Counts of Ceccano, in the same location where once a watchtower stood and it is b e a u t i f u l l y p r e s e r v e d ; c h a r m i n g a n d j u s t a s significant historically is the L o g g i a d e i M e r c a n t i , a medieval covered square, ideated to offer shelter to all t r a v e l e r s a n d m e r c h a n t s who'd have to stay in town after the gates were shut for the night. O t h e r i m p o r t a n t aristocratic families followed the Ceccanos, including the Borgias, the Dora Pamphiljs and the Borgheses, yet it is t h e i r n a m e t o r e m a i n attached most strongly to t h e v i l l a g e a n d n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e i r c a s t l e . I n d e e d , i t i s d u r i n g t h e C e c c a n o s ' d o m i n i o n o v e r Maenza that a miraculous deed took place, thanks to one of the most important of all Catholic saints, Doctor of the Church and philosopher T h o m a s A q u i n a s . H i s niece Francesca used to live in town and good Thomas would often pay her visit; in one of such occasions, he fell s e v e r e l y i l l a n d - - unsurprisingly, as he was quite a keen eater -- asked f o r a p l a t e o f h e r r i n g s t o gain some strength back. The fish was difficult to find a n d h o p e s t o s a t i s f y Aquinas' appetite for it were l i t t l e , w h e n M a e n z a fishmonger noticed that a full basket of locally sourced fish had miraculously and s u d d e n l y t u r n e d i n t o herrings. Thomas had just made his very first miracle, a n d h i s h e a l t h w a s s o o n established anew. But moving to Maenza is n o t o n l y f o r h i s t o r y a n d architecture lovers, because t h e v i l l a g e i s k e e n o n organizing lively fairs and traditional sagre dedicated to local produce like truffles and cherries or traditional dishes like crespelle, thin pancakes similar to crepes. Famous is also the Festival Internazionale del Folklore, that takes place every year in July. Maenza is only one of the new Case a 1 Euro entries. Y o u m a y a l s o b e f a m i l i a r w i t h a n o t h e r v i l l a g e t h a t r e c e n t l y a d h e r e d t o t h e initiative: Triora, Italy's own witches' borough. Rich in history, Triora is about o n e h o u r a w a y f r o m g l a m o r o u s S a n r e m o , t h e pearl of Liguria's Riviera dei F i o r i . I t i s k n o w n f o r i t s d e l i c i o u s b r e a d a n d , o f course, the infamous witch trials that took place there at the end of the 16th century. Locals have long embraced the supernatural aura many visitors associate to their abode, a bit like the people of Salem did in the US. Just l i k e i n S a l e m , T r i o r a ' s " w i t c h e s " w e r e i n n o c e n t people, victims of hysteria and malevolence, who have b e e n t o d a y r e h a b i l i t a t e d fully. W h e t h e r y o u l i k e m e d i e v a l h i s t o r y o r paranormal encounters, it looks like there are homes available for the price of a coffee around Italy waiting f o r y o u . I f y o u ' r e u p f o r some home renovation and a change of life, this may be a thought worth making. SIMONE SCHIAVINATO The old town of Maenza, in Lazio, joined recently the Homes at 1 euro program (Photo: Giambattista Lazazzera/Dreamstime) A castle, a miracle and homes at 1 euro! Let's discover Maenza LIFESTYLE FASHION FOOD ARTS ADVICE

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