There are 76 towns to choose from, with attractive locations and prices. What are the requirements to apply and when is the deadline?
Have you ever imagined living under the Tuscan sun ? If so, your dream could become a reality thanks to a new initiative from this beautiful region of Italy that is offering financial incentives to people willing to relocate to its charming villages. With the “Residenzialità in Montagna 2024”
(Residencialità in Montagna 2024) program , Tuscany is trying to attract new residents to its rural mountain communities with grants ranging from €10,000 (about $10,715) to €30,000 (about $32,145) to help cover the costs of purchasing and renovating a home.
There are 76 villages to choose from , and the locations are appealing. Built on a steep rock, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina is a small medieval village in the foothills of the Maremma. The spa town of San Casciano dei Bagni – known for its therapeutic thermal waters – is perfect for residents in search of relaxation and well-being.
Art lovers might be drawn to Caprese Michelangelo , birthplace of the artist Michelangelo . The ancient Castel San Niccolo , in the province of Arezzo, is close to Florence. Or perhaps you fancy living on an island? Capraia Isola is located in the heart of the Tuscan archipelago.
According to the real estate site Idealista, the average cost of buying a home in Tuscany’s least expensive province, Pistoia , is 1,472 euros per square metre. That’s equivalent to $163,200 for a 111-square-metre home.
This initiative aims to rejuvenate and stabilise the population of these areas, which have suffered a significant decline over the years. «The aim of the intervention is to promote and encourage repopulation and socio-economic revitalization of mountain areas, acting in contrast to the marginalisation of these areas,» said the programme’s authors.
Italy’s Environment Ministry published a study in 2016 showing that nearly 2,500 villages were so depopulated that they would not survive more than 25 years. And last year, CNN reported that there are about 6,000 abandoned villages across the country.
There have been many efforts to save these dying villages, from millions of dollars in grants from the European Union ’s recovery plan to grassroots efforts to attract new residents. Schemes used elsewhere in Italy include the island of Sardinia (which offered new residents about $15,000), the town of Presicce (which offered about $30,000), the region of Calabria (about $33,000) and the town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (up to $52,500).
With a total fund of 2.8 million euros earmarked for revitalising these mountain communities, Tuscany is committed to breathing new life into its beautiful landscapes.
What do you need to know? As with any of these programs, there are parameters. Tuscany’s grants are designed to cover up to 50% of the costs associated with purchasing and renovating a home in a town with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. This means not only buying a property but also transforming it into a permanent residence — no holiday homes are allowed.
Another stipulation: applicants must be Italian, EU or non-EU citizens holding a long-term residence permit, and must undertake to register as residents in an Italian locality, and cannot currently reside in a mountain community.
However, those interested should act quickly. The application deadline is tight and closes at 13:00 (local time in Tuscany) on 27 July . To submit their application, potential applicants can visit the official website of the Tuscany region and fill out the necessary forms online.
If ever there was a time to make a bold move and embrace “la dolce vita,” this could very well be it. But even if you miss the deadline in this case, let this serve as inspiration to get going, as there are sure to be more deals like this just around the corner.
