Tuscany is one of the most famous regions of Italy, which attracts many tourists with fantastic landscapes, perfect villages and the most delicious dishes. However, the economic crisis contributes to the reduction of the local population. To attract new residents, the regional government launched the "Residence in the Mountains 2024" program. Find out how a foreigner can get from €10,000 to move to Tuscany and how attractive the prospect of living here is

The authorities of the Italian region of Tuscany launched the "Residence in Montagna 2024" ("Residenzialità in Montagna 2024") program, which aims to stimulate the move to small towns experiencing depopulation. The program started in early June and covers 76 villages. The authorities offer foreigners grants of between 10,000 and 30,000 euros to help with the costs of buying and renovating real estate.

Should you move to Tuscany? Everything you wanted to know about the prospects of life here, as well as about the new program from the Italian authorities, we tell in this article.

Terms of the "Residence in the Mountains" program

The Italian authorities have created a special fund with a capital of 2,800,000 euros. It is planned to pay money from it to those who decide to settle in the Tuscan countryside. The fund will provide grants of between 10,000 and 30,000 euros for the purchase and renovation of real estate in the region.

It is important that the purchased real estate becomes the main residence of the applicant. The grant covers only 50% of housing costs.

You can choose one of 76 towns with a population of no more than 5,000 people to move to. The most famous are San Casciano dei Bagni with its thermal pools, Caprese Michelangelo, the birthplace of Michelangelo, and the island of Capraia Isola.

Who can participate in the "Residence in the Mountains 2024" program?

The Tuscan program "Residence in the mountains - 2024" is available only to certain categories of people:

- Italians;

- EU citizens;

 - citizens of third countries who have a long-term residence permit in the EU for at least 10 years.

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The procedure for employment in Italy for expats in 2024 is here.

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Why should a foreigner move to Tuscany?

The Tuscany region is rich in Renaissance culture, as well as numerous picturesque landscapes that attract expats, retirees and tourists. Tuscany is currently home to over 4 million people, 7% of whom are expats.

Advantages of living in the Tuscan region:

- Favorable location – the region is located in the northern part of Italy, in a mountainous area and has access to the sea. Also, thanks to the developed transport network, it is convenient to get to other Italian cities and neighboring countries from here.

- Florence is the center of Tuscany, a city that is the main cultural gem not only of Italy, but of the whole world. It is also often called the cradle of the Renaissance. Living in one of the local villages, you will be able to spend every weekend in the main cultural capital of Italy. In addition, such popular tourist cities as Pisa and Siena are also located in Tuscany.

- Favorable climate - thanks to the mountainous terrain in Tuscany, its own special climate has formed - it is quite warm here in the summer, but not as hot as in the south. On the hottest summer days, the temperature can reach around 30°C, while in winter it drops to only 11°C.

- Delicious cuisine and wine - you can enjoy here the most delicious dishes of Italian cuisine, as well as famous varieties of wine such as Chianti.

All in all, Tuscany can offer expats a relaxed measured pace of life, delicious food, beautiful scenery and rich culture. Moving here will certainly not disappoint you.

Cost of living in Tuscany

It is customary to believe that Tuscany is a rather expensive region, but this applies mainly to tourists. The cost of living for expats here is quite attractive.

- Property prices in Tuscany

The main item of expenditure will be housing, but prices in rural areas are much lower than the average for Italy. For example, the cost of buying an apartment in the center of Florence can cost from about 4,760 euros per square meter. Whereas a house in the countryside in need of renovation can be purchased for as little as €17,500. Also, participating in the "Residence in the Mountains 2024" program will allow you to significantly save money on repairs.

You can search for real estate on one of these sites: immobiliare.it, idealista.it, casa.it, trovacasa.it and wikicasa.it. 

- Budget for the month

A family of two can live happily on 2,300 euros a month even in Florence, and in the countryside this money is enough for a very comfortable life.

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Read about the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Italy in 2024, as well as available visa categories at the link.

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The level of security in Tuscany

Tuscany is a safe place to live as even in the cities the crime rate is quite low. In rural areas, they don't think about crime at all. Italy is well known for its family- and community-oriented culture, which helps keep crime rates low.

Do you need to know Italian to move to Tuscany?

In small towns and villages, it can be difficult to find someone who speaks English well. Therefore, knowing a few phrases in Italian will significantly facilitate your move here. A nice bonus is that there are many Italian language schools in Tuscany, most of which are aimed at expats.

What other programs did Italy implement to attract new residents?

Italy has been experimenting with various schemes for some time now, trying to rejuvenate the population of its rural towns. In 2022, the Sardinian government offered people 15,000 euros each to move to the Mediterranean island, allocating 45 million euros to subsidize 3,000 grants. The main condition was to move to a Sardinian town with a population of less than 3,000 people.

In Calabria, the new residents were promised $33,000 each, and in the village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, they were offered up to $52,022 in relocation and work grants. According to Gianluca Gallo, a member of the regional council, the goal of these initiatives is to stimulate the local economy and breathe new life into small communities.

Moving to Tuscany Italy is an important step, but it will give you the opportunity to settle in one of the most attractive mountain regions in the world. Living here will suit both digital nomads and people looking for a nice place to retire and raise their families.

We will remind you! In our previous article, we told you that Italy has simplified the rules for obtaining an EU Blue Card, and now applications can be submitted online. Read more about how the new rules will affect highly skilled foreign workers in Italy.

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To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

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