Buying in Italy: Fans of Liguria's rugged hinterland will be intrigued to hear of a restored mountain hamlet that has achieved fame as one of Italy's first internet e-villages.
Colletta de Castelbianco was gradually abandoned by its inhabitants and had descended into picturesque ruins by the mid-1990s.
A decade on, Colletta is a quirky combination of sleepy mountain village and cyber-haven, a paradise for holiday-makers who can't leave their laptop at home.
Land surveyor Alessandro Pampirio discovered the abandoned village when walking, and a group of businessman commissioned architect Giancarlo De Carlo to bring it back to its original state.
Telecom Italia equipped the stone buildings with an advanced telecommunications infrastructure, providing the 13th century village with all the comforts of 21st century living.
Dubliner Kieran O'Donnell manages his UK-based business consultancy from Colletta during several visits a year to his restored cottage in the village.
Kieran and his wife Joanne came upon Colletta when searching the internet for a place to stay in Italy, rented an apartment there for three months and were hooked.
"We were romanced by the way of life. It's real Italy, not some fake resort. People drive from Milan to eat rabbit ravioli and wild boar at the two village restaurants, Gin and Scola," says Kieran.
The couple finally set their hearts on a couple of cowsheds at the end of the village which were undergoing restoration. They ended up with a one-bedroom cottage, with a separate studio and garden. And the essential internet access.
They negotiated a price to include the kitchen - not a standard item in Italian new homes. Marble and tile flooring came with the deal and IKEA in Genoa delivered, so fitting the cottage out wasn't a problem. Before going out, they e-mail caretaker Massimo, who organises a cleaning service and launders the bedlinen ready for their arrival.
"It's a pretty sociable place. Residents get together in December to collect olives to make their own oil and there are concerts and hill walks, although wild boars can be a nuisance," adds O'Donnell.
A few apartments remain for sale at Colletta de Castelbianco through UK-based agency Realinvest, with prices around €400,000 for a two-bed and €200,000 for a studio apartment.
Add 10 per cent for government tax and about €3,500 for transaction costs. Annual maintenance charges range from €800 to €3,000 depending on property size, to cover internet connection and maintenance of communal facilities such as the swimming pool and Massimo's wages.
Access is via Nice or Genoa and onwards by car to the village, about 1.5 hour's drive.
www.colletta.it
