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Dramatic Transformation
Dramatic transformation: Ahmadi and Spencer say they’ve already been given back the €5,000 (around $5,100) deposit they initially handed over as part of the purchase agreement, which stipulated that the renovations be complete within three years.
Italian Hideaway
Italian hideaway: Massoud Ahmadi and Shelley Spencer, from Montgomery County in the US state of Maryland, bought and renovated an abandoned home in the Italian town of Sambuca di Sicilia.
Bargain Home
Bargain home: The couple snapped up a 100-square-meter palazzo, one of 16 properties local authorities put up for auction for a symbolic €1 in 2019 to revive the depopulated town.
New Neighborhood
New neighborhood: “It was love at first sight,” Spencer tells CNN. “Sambuca is very clean, with nice old stone pavements reminiscent of those in Georgetown and the street lights at night are very romantic.”
Big Project
Big project: When they learned that their €10,150 (around $10,372) bid was accepted, they quickly got to work on giving the property a dramatic facelift.
Amazing Transformation
Amazing transformation: Two years later, and well ahead of the three-year deadline implemented by local authorities, their Italian home is complete. The couple say they spent $250,000 on the renovation work, which included fixing the original staircases.
Home Elevator
Home elevator: The standout feature of the house, located in the ancient Saracen district of Sambuca’s historical center, is an indoor elevator.
Comfort First
Comfort first: “We thought it would be great to feel as comfortable as possible by bypassing all those narrow steps, and not having to go up and down four windy staircases several times per day,” Spencer says of the added fixture, which has a security camera and telephone installed inside.
Scenic Town
Scenic town: “We love the peacefulness in Sambuca,” says Ahmadi. “Our street is very silent and we enjoy the town’s slow pace lifestyle philosophy.”
Complete Makeover
Complete makeover: One of the rooms in the historical dwelling before the restyle, which was completed within two years.
Elegant Interior
Elegant interior: The house features a living area with an open-plan kitchen, a relaxation area, a guest suite, several balconies, and a panoramic terrace.
Slow Pace
Slow pace: The couple plan to spend around six months of the year in Sambuca, along with their daughter and grandchildren.
Extensive Work
Extensive work: A view of the front of the 100-square-meter palazzo before the renovation work.
End Result
End result: “Italian artisans are incredible,” says Spencer. “How they transformed this space into something new is amazing. It was a shell, now it looks like a Renaissance house.”
