Lorraine Bracco is trying to live the dream in Sicily, Italy on a budget.
The Sopranos star is renovating a 200-year-old home that she purchased for only one Euro as part of the new HGTV show My Big Italian Adventure.
For the past several years, cities in southern Italy have been selling off abandoned, dilapidated homes for just over a dollar it tries to re-populate the small towns that residents have abandoned for bigger paychecks in large cities.
The home is a 1,075-square-foot property that needs plenty of TLC – there is no electricity, running water, kitchen or bathrooms. And the floors and roof also need to be replaced as they have rotted.
It is located on top of a hill in the small town of Sambuca di Sicilia in southern Italy.
She has three years to complete the home, which is part of the deal, but that is no problem for the star.
When she arrives at the villa, it shows signs of longtime neglect. It is her job to figure out how to get the place in working order.
But Bracco does not have to do it all herself – she has the help of an architect, contractor and construction crews from the area.
‘I believe life is an adventure,’ said Bracco.
‘When I saw the article that you could buy a house in Sambuca for one euro, I jumped on it. So, I came on the plane. I bought the house.’
She added, ‘I’m very excited to be here, meet and work with the locals, and live amongst them. I’m here to pay homage to my family that comes from Sicily.’
The show is slated to air October 30th on HGTV. I’m I’ll in.
