Italian authorities are offering you $32,000 to start your life over in Tuscany. Is it too good to be true?

Italy has tried various strategies to attract new residents to its rural areas, as thousands of small towns risk disappearing in the next 25 years.

In Italy’s mountainous Molise region, new residents were offered €700 a month for three years (or a maximum of $27,000) to move into abandoned villages and start businesses. In Sicily, homes were sold for just €1, with buyers required to renovate them, which attracted many despite the relatively high renovation costs and some unusual requirements.

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Business Insider reports that these efforts are part of a larger strategy to breathe new life into rural Italy. Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. Add to that migration to big cities and abroad, and you have the perfect storm, causing the population in these rural areas to age and shrink even further.

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, also contributed to this decline by damaging homes and infrastructure, rendering some places uninhabitable. Ultimately, the combination of these factors led to many small towns struggling to survive, with some even at risk of disappearing altogether.

The latest program to attract people to the countryside is called “Residenzialità in Montagna 2024” (Residenzialità in Montagna 2024). It aims to encourage Italians, European Union residents and even people from outside the EU to move to the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Authorities have set up a fund worth €2.8 million (about $3 million) to help people move to rural areas and renovate their homes there.

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Like other similar programs, this one is part of an effort to boost the population of these regions, which are in decline. People can get grants ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 euros ($10,750 to $32,000) to move to Tuscany and renovate a house. Officials hope that moving to these mountainous regions will revitalize their economies and prevent the areas from becoming isolated and deserted.

There is a catch, however: you must have already lived in Italy continuously for at least 10 years. You must also make this new home your primary residence. The deadline for applications is July 27.

The grants will cover half the cost of renovating homes in one of 76 small Tuscan towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. These include San Casciano dei Bagni, known for its thermal pools, Caprese Michelangelo, birthplace of the famous artist Michelangelo, and the island of Capraia Isola.

Tuscany is famous for its stunning landscapes, historic cities and rich cultural heritage, as well as its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves and picturesque villages. The region is also a major producer of wine, particularly Chianti.

It is also home to the cities of Florence, known for its Renaissance art and architecture, Pisa, with its iconic Leaning Tower, and Siena, famous for its medieval cityscape and the Palio horse race.

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This article Italian Authorities Are Offering You $32,000 to Start Your Life Over in Tuscany. Is It Too Good to Be True? originally appeared on Benzinga.com