Italy Is Giving Away Hundreds of Historic Buildings For Free
If you’ve ever lusted over Italy’s gorgeous architecture (who hasn’t?), we’ve got some news for you. The government is accepting proposals for 103 historic sites, and in exchange, they’re yours, rent free.
Most of the historic buildings are old homes, inns, and monasteries, but some of the properties up for grabs are literal castles. According to Condé Nast Traveler, the list includes 13th century Castello di Montefiore in the Marche region, the 11th century Castello di Blera in Lazio outside of Rome, and even the Orsini-Odescalchi castle in Bracciano, which is where Tom Cruise married Katie Holmes in 2006.
The project is part of Italy’s plan for encouraging “slow tourism” by giving people a chance to take a more leisurely holiday that encompasses other parts of the country and its history. It’s also as a way to draw visitors away from overcrowded city centers.
“The goal is for private and public buildings which are no longer used to be transformed into facilities for pilgrims, hikers, tourists, and cyclists,” Roberto Reggi, director general of the State Property Agency, told The Local.
Italy’s not just handing over the keys, though—you do have to work for it. The State Property Agency and Ministry of Cultural Heritage are accepting proposals on how people plan to restore and transform the sites into tourist facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, or spas. Successful applicants will get an initial nine-year period to work on their project, with the possibility of extending it for a further nine years. The agencies are accepting proposals until June 26.
After starting this season of Master of None, I’m very tempted to jet off to Italy. Ciao a tutti!
We know there’s some handy, history loving readers out there—who’s up for taking on a castle?
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