新奇事件簿 意大利小镇房屋仅售1欧元

It sounds like a dream come true for anyone looking to get on the property ladder - a home for one euro (about $1.14). A picturesque¹ town on the island of Sicily, Italy is selling houses for just 1 euro. The bargain price is to attract people to move to the hilltop town of Sambuca because of a rapid decline in its population. Like many rural towns in Italy, the number of Sambuca's residents is dwindling² because many young people are moving to cities. The Sambuca mayor believes the houses will be easy to sell because his town is so attractive. It overlooks the Mediterranean³ Sea, is close to gorgeous beaches and has retained its heritage with its cobbled streets and Arabesque⁴ architecture.

想要买房的人们，你们的美梦成真了—地产1欧元出售（约1.14美元）。意大利西西里岛上一座风景如画的小镇正在出售房屋，售价仅1欧元。这样的跳楼价是为了吸引人们搬到山丘之镇萨姆布卡，因为那里的人口急剧下降。和很多意大利的乡镇一样，萨姆布卡居民数量正在下降，因为很多年轻人都搬去城市居住。萨姆布卡镇长认为，镇上的房子会很畅销，因为这个小镇非常吸引人。该小镇远眺地中海，毗邻美丽的沙滩，还保留有鹅卵石街道和阿拉伯式花饰建筑。

Like all bargains, there is a small catch to the one-euro houses - the buyer must promise to spend $17,000 on renovating⁵ the property within three years of purchasing it. Sambuca's deputy mayor said the houses are owned by the town, so there is little of the red tape normally associated with buying a property. He said: "We're not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, you'll get it in no time." He promised potential buyers would love the town. He said: "This fertile patch of land is dubbed⁶ the "Earthly Paradise". We're located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It's silent and peaceful - an idyllic⁷ retreat for a detox stay."

和所有交易一样，购买这些1欧元的房屋有一个小问题—房价必须承诺，在购买房屋三年内，要花17000美元用于整修房屋。萨姆布卡的副镇长表示房屋归小镇所有，所以购买房产通常没什么繁文缛节。他说到：“我们不是新老房主之间沟通的中介。你想买那个房子，你就可以马上买下。”他承诺潜在买家将热爱这个小镇。他表示：“这片富饶的土地被称为“人间天堂”。我们位于自然保护区之内，历史丰富。美丽的沙滩、树林以及高山环绕着我们。它静谧宁静—是净化心灵的田园灵药。”

1 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

2 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

3 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

4 arabesque   

n.阿拉伯式花饰；adj.阿拉伯式图案的

参考例句：

• I like carpets with arabesque patterns.我喜欢带有阿拉伯式花饰的地毯。
• The Arabesque solution is the answer to a designer's desire for uniqueness.阿拉伯风为设计师渴望独一无二给出了答案。

5 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

6 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。