Say buongiorno to a new life.
If you’ve ever dreamt of spending your days drinking wine, snacking on cheese and relaxing under the Tuscan sun, you can get paid to do so.
One small Tuscan town is offering cash to potential residents willing to relocate there.
Radicondoli, a small medieval town in the hills of Tuscany, is giving out financial incentives to ease the cost of living and attract long-term residents.
The village’s local government initially launched a program in 2023 offering up to roughly $23,400 (€20,000) to anyone who was willing to buy and live in one of the vacant homes, plus an extra $7,000 (€6,000) toward expenses like heating and transportation.
Now, Radicondoli, located about an hour south of Florence, has expanded on the initiative, helping renters as well as buyers. The plan will cover half of the first two years’ rent for new renters who move in by early 2026.
“The housing scheme, initially launched two years ago, is being boosted,” Mayor Francesco Guarguaglini, a native of Radicondoli, told CNN.
The historic town was once home to 3,000 residents, and today’s population count comes out to just 966, and about 100 of its 450 homes are vacant.
“We’ve earmarked over 400,000 euros ($465,000) this year to support new home purchases and rentals, alongside other key measures like financial aid to students, public transport commuters and green energy subscribers,” Guarguaglini explained.
Those who prefer to buy over rent can still do so with financial assistance. Radicondoli offers grants to help with the cost of purchasing a property.
The aim is to use the grants to promote long-term residency and the population growth of Radicondoli — but there’s a catch.
Buyers have to commit to living there for 10 years, while renters must commit to four.
The empty homes include smaller one- or two-bedroom apartments in Radicondoli’s historic center as well as more spacious Tuscan farmhouses on the outskirts of the village, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
Pricing starts at about 50,000 euros (about $60,000) for smaller units and go up to 100,000 euros (about $117,000) for larger homes.
The mayor told CNN that most are in reasonably good condition, but some may need about $10,000 in renovations.
A buyer using their full 20,000-euro allotment can get a small apartment for about 30,000 euros, CNN said, and renters could get a home that would typically go for 400 euros per month for just 200 euros with their subsidy.
“When the project began, the population numbered around 900, and the number has grown to 960,” the municipality’s website states. “Thus, the policy of supporting families, creating services, fostering culture and social interaction, and supporting commuters is grounded in the results achieved.”
“The goal is to offer opportunities to improve people’s quality of life, stimulate economic development and residential development, and also invite new friends to join the community, with a particular focus on young people.”
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