Overview
They say nothing in life is free. But with reports circulating that an Italian town will pay you a handsome amount were you to decide to live there, life itself could not only be free, someone might well be paying you to live it!
Now, that’s a bargain you don’t come across quite often, isn’t it?
The science and other stuff to know
The marvelous offer comes from the town of Presicce in Italy’s Puglia region. And up for grabs is a remuneration of up to $30,000 for anyone willing to take up residence in the area, CNN reports. The offer is part of a series of ambitious schemes by various Italian cities and towns looking to push the resident number up. A number of these towns have plummeting populations and town administrations are looking to lure investors with such payment schemes.
In Presicce, for example, houses are available for as little as 25,000 euros. Furthermore, the town is a gorgeous homage to the past with a location that most people would die for. It’s a 20-minute drive from the sun-baked Santa Maria di Leuca, which has breathtaking beaches and turquoise-clear waters. In 2019, the town merged with the neighboring Acquarica and local councilor Alfredo Palese told CNN the council had the funds necessary to sustain the scheme for several years.
He said the old town center had a rich history and the council was looking to see a larger number of people become inhabitants of the area. “It is a pity witnessing how our old districts full of history, wonderful architecture and art are slowly emptying,” he said.
The council is offering other benefits too, like tax benefits for new businesses and bonuses for families with kids.
To qualify for the $30,000 grant, buyers have to acquire one of the offered properties built before 1991. Prices start at 500 euros per square meter, Palese added. The funding will be split in two, and a part of it will go toward buying an old home and the rest to restyling it “if needed”.
So what?
Presicce has its roots in the middle ages and expanded around a Saracen fortress built by monks. Stone churches, Byzantine crypts, ancient olive trees, and stone mills, and antique walled rural farms characterize its architecture.
Trekking and cycling opportunities abound, which could take you through gorgeous pastures dotting the sun-kissed countryside. For those keen on living life at a leisurely pace, the town makes for a perfect setting.
What’s next?
The town administration has not announced the exact date for when the scheme would open, but it is expected that the application process would begin shortly after being announced on the town website.
Opportunities like these sound too good to be true, and they are, but the devil is often in the details. It is one thing to feel enticed by such schemes, but an altogether different thing to put your mind to set up a new life in an entirely new culture for the sake of a healthy, one-time payment.
The coming months would make it clear to Presicce if the impetus is strong enough for people to take the leap of faith and become part of the town’s history.
