'Want to leave the US because Trump won? Come to Ollolai': how the Sardinian municipality beats depopulation

Thirty thousand applications in one day from the USA for one euro houses in Ollolai, the Nuoro municipality of 1,700 inhabitants. It all started after the last US presidential election won by Donald Trump, and 'the numerous statements of those who announced they wanted to leave', when the mayor Francesco Columbu posted a message to foreigners on the English-language site liveinollolai.com. An appeal to leave the non-European cities to choose a different life.

"Are you tired of global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities? - reads the post - It's time to start building your European escape in the beautiful paradise of Sardinia'. Hence the invitation to go to Ollolai, Sardinia's Blue Zone where houses cost from 1 euro upwards.

In the post, there is no explicit reference to the US presidential elections, but the concomitance of events triggered the case. 'The post was picked up by CNN,' the mayor recounts, 'and within 24 hours we received 30,000 requests for clarification from people in the US who were interested in the 1 euro houses. Not only that, the page was seen by 150 thousand people'. A way to keep the attention on the small town that ten years ago launched the 1 euro houses initiative for those who decided to take up residence. An initiative that was followed by the reality show with the Dutch and last year the experiment, 'which will be replicated now as well', on digital nomads, that is, the challenge of foreigners who have chosen to work in smart working from Ollolai.

Now, the new 'promotion'. 'Let's be clear, we are not meddling in international politics,' adds Columbu, 'but we are trying to promote our country. And this post has been a great success, because 30,000 requests yesterday alone is really a lot'.

There is also a red thread linking the small mountain centre with the USA, where Franco Columbu 'made his fortune' several years ago. The body-building champion, he was coach of the body-building Olympics in the 1980s, an actor and film producer as well as a friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger (honorary citizen of Ollolai). The 'villager' emigrated to work and then became a sort of 'American dream'. In fact, he returned to the village in the late 1970s with Schwarzenegger and Isabella Rossellini. "Not only was Franco my namesake," adds the first citizen, "but he was really very important for our community. Today we are working to reverse this course and make Ollolai grow'.