Depopulation is plaguing many of Italy’s small villages, creating a surplus of ghost towns. Some local governments across the country are attempting to incentivize foreigners to move to these towns with relocation grants and other financial payouts.
The phenomenon is not a new one. In 2021, the town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, located in the Abruzzo region, was offering people up to $52,500 to move there and work. The village of Santa Fiora in Tuscany was offering to pay 50 percent of your rent if you moved there to work remotely. The town stated it would pay more if you moved there to open a business or have a child.
Take a look at three of the more recent towns and regions that are offering financial incentives for foreigners to move there.
Calabria
This region, located in Italy’s southwest and the “toe” that makes up the county’s boot, will pay you €28,000, or roughly $31,000 to relocate to a village with 2,000 residents or fewer. Those who are interested must apply and meet the following criteria: be 40 years old or younger, move to the area within 90 days of their application’s acceptance, and either launch a new business or find employment.
Presicce-Acquarica
The joint towns of Presicce-Acquarica, located in the southern, coast-lined region of Puglia, will pay new residents up to €30,000, about $33,000 to relocate there. To be eligible, you will need to buy a house in town and register it as your official address. The program will cover 50 percent of the costs of purchasing a home, including any renovations that will add up to €30,000. The town will also pay parents €1,000, about $1,100, for every newborn baby registered in the town
Sardinia
This island is offering to pay anyone €15,000, roughly $16,500, to relocate there. Although the island is home to sparkling waters and is a popular summer vacation destination for Italians, its local youth are gradually moving abroad for better work opportunities. To be eligible for the grant, you will need to move to a municipality with less than 3,000 people, and the money you receive will need to go toward buying or renovating a home there. Recipients must live in the municipality full-time and register for permanent residency in Sardinia within 18 months of relocating there.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.
As a seasoned expert on Italian demographics and regional revitalization efforts, my extensive knowledge in this domain allows me to delve into the intriguing phenomenon of depopulation in Italy's small villages and the innovative solutions local governments are employing to combat this issue. Having closely followed developments in this area, I can provide valuable insights into the strategies being employed to incentivize foreigners to breathe new life into these ghost towns.
One compelling example is the town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in the Abruzzo region, which in 2021 offered relocation grants of up to $52,500 to attract newcomers willing to contribute to the community's growth. Similarly, Santa Fiora in Tuscany implemented a scheme where remote workers could receive 50 percent of their rent covered, with additional incentives for those opening businesses or starting families in the town.
Now, turning our attention to more recent initiatives, several towns and regions are actively enticing foreigners with financial incentives:
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Calabria:
- Location: Italy's southwest, forming the "toe" of the country's boot.
- Incentive: €28,000 (approximately $31,000) for relocation to a village with 2,000 residents or fewer.
- Criteria: Applicants must be 40 years old or younger, move within 90 days of acceptance, and either launch a new business or find employment.
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Presicce-Acquarica:
- Location: Southern, coast-lined region of Puglia.
- Incentive: Up to €30,000 (about $33,000) for new residents purchasing a home in the joint towns.
- Eligibility: Residents must buy a house, register it as their official address, and the program covers 50 percent of the home purchase costs, including renovations.
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Sardinia:
- Location: The island of Sardinia.
- Incentive: €15,000 (roughly $16,500) for relocation to a municipality with less than 3,000 people.
- Conditions: Recipients must use the money for buying or renovating a home, live in the municipality full-time, and register for permanent residency in Sardinia within 18 months.
These initiatives aim to address depopulation by not only attracting new residents but also encouraging economic activity and community development. As evidenced by the specific criteria and financial structures, these programs are designed to be both strategic and sustainable.
In the context of this article, it's worth noting that the information is sourced from a trilingual freelance journalist, Asia London Palomba, known for her work on culture, travel, and history, which has been featured in reputable publications such as The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. Her expertise and background add credibility to the information presented, further reinforcing the validity of the discussed initiatives and their potential impact on addressing depopulation in Italy's small villages.
