Italy … is giving away 103 run-down castles, farmhouses in remote areas and historic sites.
The project will promote and support the development of the slow tourism sector.
Roberto Reggi
Italy’s department of Infrastructure and transport is giving away 103 run-down castles, farmhouses in remote areas and historic sites, in the hopes of attracting overseas visitors and tourists.
Want to get your hands on one? Here’s the catch: You will need to commit to restoring or renovating the property and turning it into a tourism facility. The incentive is aimed at decentralising tourist overcrowding at popular spots such as Venice, Florence and Rome, Venice and Florence, and promoting regional tourism.
“The project will promote and support the development of the slow tourism sector,” Roberto Reggi from the State Property Agency told The Local Italy. “The goal is for private and public buildings which are no longer used to be transformed into facilities for pilgrims, hikers, tourists, and cyclists.”
The initiative calls on applicants to submit a proposal outlining how they intend to transform their preferred building into a tourist attraction. Successful applications will then be awarded rights to the property for nine years, with the option to extend for an additional nine years.
There are plans to add another 200 buildings and sites to the list in the next few years.
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