Italy’s 1-euro home sales have been attracting a lot of interest over the past few years, with dozens of buyers snapping up abandoned properties in some of the country’s depopulated towns.

In central Italy’s medieval town of Patrica, a strategy to breathe new life into empty properties has hit a possibly insurmountable snafu.

The town also has several masterpieces of Italian art – dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries – located in the cathedral, other religious sanctuaries, and public buildings.

As soon as one crosses the threshold of the city, you feel immersed in a magical and evocative atmosphere, made up of narrow alleys and ancient buildings with ornate facades.

A historic Italian bell tower was recently silenced during the night, in response to protests from B&B owners whose guests complained about the noise—but some locals are now complaining that ...