Thinking Of Moving? This Little Town In Italy Will Actually Pay You To Live There

Many people view a trip or move to Italy as a luxury reserved for the wealthy. However, the small city of Candela, Italy begs to differ. How? By giving people money to live there, of course.

Practical Solution For A Population Problem

After the small town’s already small population dwindled from the 1990s until now, the mayor decided to throw money at the issue in the most literal sense possible. Nicola Gatta is offering people up to 2,000 euros (or $2,350 American dollars) to relocate to Candela.

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The city is undoubtedly beautiful, with breathtaking architecture and amazing scenery, but Gatta says this is nothing compared to how Candela looked when it was booming.

Restoring Former Glory

“I work each day with passion and commitment to bring Candela back to its ancient splendor,” says Gatta. “Up until the 1960s, travelers called it ‘Nap’licchie’ (Little Naples) for its streets full of wayfarers, tourists, merchants, and screaming vendors.”

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The eye-catching town has fallen on rough times in recent years. In the 1990s, it was booming with a population of over 8,000 residents. Now, that number has dwindled to just over 2,700. But there’s still hope. Several families have already taken Gatta up on his offer to relocate – even though there is one catch…

The “Catch”

While the upfront cash is a great incentive, Stefano Bascianelli, the mayor’s right-hand man, says there are three conditions people must meet before they see that money: they must take up residency in Candela, rent or buy a house, and have a job that pays at least 7,500 euros per year.

CNN

“We don’t want people flocking here thinking they get to live off the town hall’s revenues,” say Bascianelli. “All new residents must work and have an income.”

To be honest, this seems like a fair trade for getting to live in one of Italy’s most historic cities. So if you’ve ever wanted to live exotically, now is your chance!