Then one day, he stumbled upon an article about an abandoned village in Spain that was up for sale — complete with a church, school, bar and even a swimming pool. In Spain, Portugal and Italy, the problem of rural “desertification” has grown so dire it has become a political issue. In those countries, one can easily find an entire village for sale, some for well under €1 million. Others under fragmented ownership must be acquired property by property, which can require tracking down distant heirs. Beckwith’s village, Salto de Castro, sits along a river near the Portuguese border and will cost him €310,000 to acquire.

Source: The Irish Times February 11, 2026 18:31 UTC