The ultimate retreat: Stunning walled medieval town on Tuscan hilltop goes on market for £30MILLION (you'll need a lot of money to do it up)

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Why buy one holiday home when you can buy 70 - and a church and organic fruit farm?

Villages in Europe that were abandoned during the recession as their owners fled the country to find jobs in the city have been put up for sale - but you'll need deep pockets for the biggest and best.

The 800-year-old Poggio Santa Cecila Estate in Tuscany, for instance - a walled medieval hilltop village with 1,729 acres of land and numerous farmhouses, workshops and cottages - has gone on the market for £30million.

Poggio Santa Cecila Estate, a walled medieval hilltop village, in Tuscany went on the market this week for £30,000,000 (€40,000,000)

The villa in Borgo Santa Cecilia is set on the highest and most sheltered part of the hill was built 500 years later than the village

The Italian villa, which is the most luxurious building in the village, was designed to be set apart from the estate

The estate is also home to the church of Madonna Ferrata (above)

It is being sold through exclusive estate agents Essentis Properties and offers ownership of the estate - which dates back to 1198 AD. 

A villa in the Borgo Santa Cecilia estate, is set on the highest and most sheltered part of the hill and was built 500 years later than the rest of the village.

It is believed to have been started in the mid-18th century, with most of its development being done in the 19th century and extension work carried out in the early 20th century.

The villa’s design appears to consciously echo the features of the village with round arches in the windows and doorways. 

The villa, which is the most luxurious building in the village, was designed to be set apart from the estate.

It was originally only accessible on horseback or foot by the small roads through a park.

The village comes with 1,729 acres of land including lakes, vineyards, olive trees and woodland, as well as 70 former homes and a farm

This pool table in the Borgo Santa Cecilia villa has been left untouched. The villa is believed to have been completed in the 20th century

Workshops have been left untouched since the last staff left. All of the working premises are included in the £30million price tag

The village boasts its own vineyard, organic fruit farm and lake within the 1,729 acre estate which dates back to 1198 AD

Hilltop luxury: Inside the estate are buildings that once housed more than 200 farmworkers and artisans who worked there 

Located 20 minutes from Siena and an hour from Florence, the estate also has a church called The Church of Madonna Ferrata.

Inside the estate are buildings that once housed more than 200 farmworkers and artisans who worked there.

And here are some you may just be able to afford...

If you don't have a spare £30million - the there are more affordable options for those on the hunt for an abandoned settlement.

Ortiguiera, Spain - €220,000 (£162,000)

The Ortiguiera habitable house has five bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen with a dining room and two ovens

The three barns and large cattle shed come with the ownership of around 100 acres of forestry and streams

Despite possibly needing a makeover, one of the four buildings in Northern Spain is classed as habitable

This property appears to come with a pink fluffy toilet seat as well as the four large buildings and land

The asking price gets you four properties - three barns and large cattle shed - which are located in rural Spain and come with around 100 acres of forestry and streams.

One of the properties is still habitable and backs onto land and water - which is home to wildlife such as deer and trout.

The one habitable house has five bedrooms, a bathroom with a pink toilet seat and a kitchen with a dining room and two ovens.

It also has running water and electricity. 

Costa de La Muerte - €370,000 (£273,000)

This small village in Costa de La Muerte can be purchased for €370,000 (£273,000), which is cheaper than a two-bedroom home in Kent

The four-house village, which also has several horreos, barns and threshing areas, is situated 100 metres above sea level 

The area, which has running water and electricity, is said to have the best views the agent has ever seen (Gallician Country Homes)

For €370,000 (£273,000), cheaper than a two-bedroom home in Kent, this small village in Costa de La Muerte can be purchased.

The four-house village, which also has several horreos, barns and threshing areas, is situated 100 metres above sea level and comes with 0.74 acres of land.

The area, which has running water and electricity, is said to have the best views the property agent has ever seen.

Asturias, Spain - €215,000 (£158,900) 

In Asturias, Spain, for €215,000 (£158,900), an 11-house village with animal pens is for sale - but needs major restoration work

Properties have electricity and water is supplied through a tube from a local spring however they need to be made stable again

In Asturias, Spain, for €215,000 (£158,900), an 11-house village with animal pens is for sale - but needs major restoration work.

The village, which has all permits for its restoration, is located alongside the National park of Redes, 11km from the city of Infesto.

Properties have electricity and water is supplied through a tube from a local spring.  

The tarmac road leading to the one and a half acre village stops within 230 metres of the entrance - from there the track is not accessible for cars.

The village, which has all permits for its restoration, is located alongside the National park of Redes, 11km from the city of Infesto

Some of the buildings need full restoration work. Permission to do this has already been confirmed and will come with the purchase