Italy’s small towns and villages have been hemorrhaging residents for decades as dire job opportunities have pushed inhabitants to move to cities or even abroad. The boom in working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, could mean a reversal of this trend. Small towns are seeing an influx of new residents and homeowners looking to take advantage of slow, countryside living.

The now-famed €1 house auctions that have enticed remote working freelancers from around the globe are also helping to save these towns from drastic depopulation. Local councils are seizing the opportunity to help lure new country dwellers by offering high-speed internet and monetary incentives. But the question remains over how sustainable this trend will be beyond the pandemic.