Italian Towns in Molise will Pay You $27,000 to Live There

Ever dreamed of moving to Europe? Well, this could be your chance.

The region of Molise, a beautiful but often overlooked area that lies east of Rome, has announced it will pay people more than $27,000 to settle in one of 106 underpopulated villages in an effort to prevent their communities from dying. Anyone who takes up the offer will receive 700 euros a month (about $770) for up to three years to help them settle.

Molise is known for its green pastures, olive groves and snowy mountaintops.
However, there’s a catch – those who selected will have to commit to starting a small business in order to contribute to the local economy.

“I want my region to undergo a renaissance and avoid its authentic villages turning into ghost towns,” Antonio Tedeschi, a regional councilor who came up with the idea, told CNN Travel. “We need to safeguard our roots.”

Applications to live in Molise will officially launch Sept. 26 and everyone from young people to couples with children are encouraged to apply.

Tedeschi, who was born in the small Molise village of Filignano, hopes to revive and maintain the old traditions and historical places.

His goal, as he states, is to “breathe new life and revamp the local economy.”

Since 2014, official statistics show the number of people living there has fallen by almost 9,000, pushing the region’s population to just 305,000. Molise is now one of Italy’s most depopulated regions. One hundred six of its 136 towns now have fewer than 2,000 residents.