A lovely village in the sunny south-east of Italy is offering a $25,000 incentive to anybody prepared to purchase a home and relocate there.
The municipality of Presicce in the area of Puglia is providing the money in the hope that it would breathe new life into its deteriorating hamlet, which is littered with decaying dwellings.
Even more intriguing is the fact that Presicce is only a 15-minute drive from the gorgeous beaches of the Italian coastline, including Santa Maria di Leuca.
A street in the old town of Presicce, Puglia, Italy, where a monetary incentive of £25,000 is being offered to prospective homebuyers.
The harbor of Santa Maria di Leuca and its breathtakingly pure seas and white beach are 15 minutes from Presicce.
Due to its extensive olive industry, Pressicce was formerly known as the “city of green gold” for centuries.
According to a local councilman, the money may be used for both the purchase and renovation of a property, with dwellings available for little over £21,000.
Alfredo Palese said CNN, “We will provide up to 30,000 euros to anybody ready to relocate and purchase one of these abandoned homes.”
The total amount of money will be allocated in two parts: a portion will be used to purchase an older home and the other portion will be used to redesign it, if necessary.
The old city is surrounded by vegetation and has its own post office, bank, and grocery stores.
It was combined with a neighbouring town in 2019 to create a larger community, but underpopulation and low birthrates continue to be issues.
Alfredo Palese, a municipal councillor, told CNN, “There are many unoccupied residences in the historical center established before 1991 that we would want to see repopulated with new people.”
Santa Maria di Leuca is situated between the Adriatic and Ionian seas and is within easy driving distance to Presicce.
A church within a public park in Presicce, Apulia, Italy, where houses may be purchased for as low as £21,000.
The old town of Presicce contains a post office, grocers, and a bank, among other requirements.
It’s a shame to see our historic neighborhoods, which are rich in history, beautiful architecture, and art, slowly go.
To qualify for the cash incentive, buyers must purchase a home in the village that was constructed before 1991; details are available on the website of the local government.
There, the least expensive homes are small apartments in need of repair.
Presicce, also known as the “city of green gold” during the Renaissance for its vast olive groves and premium olive oil, is replete with remnants of its past as the “city of green gold.”
Massive olive mills can still be found in tunnels and chambers beneath the town’s streets, as part of a vast tourist-friendly subterranean city.