All the incentives for moving to the mountains, in every region

In all Italian regions, in different ways, generous incentives are provided for moving to mountain towns , particularly those most at risk of depopulation.

Trentino Alto Adige

The most generous incentive comes from the Autonomous Province of Trento: up to €100 in non-repayable grants for those who purchase or renovate a property for living in one of the 33 municipalities affected by depopulation. Among the areas eligible for the incentive are charming and welcoming mountain resorts, such as Val di Cembra, Val di Fiemme, and Val di Non . You can find some helpful information on this website .

Valle d'Aosta

The Aosta Valley is focusing on repopulating small mountain communities through a combination of regional incentives and local measures. Grants can cover a significant portion of renovation costs, especially if the property becomes a primary residence.

Worth noting, in this regard, is the public notice for the granting of funding for FOSMIT mountain areas : local tax breaks, reductions on municipal taxes, and incentives for starting micro-businesses related to tourism, crafts, or essential services.

Piedmont

Mountain repopulation, proposed through incentives from the Piedmont regional government, involves 465 Alpine municipalities in this region , where incentives ranging from €10 to €40 can be received to move to live and work at high altitude. This lifestyle choice, in fact, shouldn't be reduced to a "contemplative" solution, but aims to represent an opportunity, thanks also to technology that facilitates remote working, to achieve in one fell swoop what is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve in urban areas: home and work.

For a more detailed overview of the proposals, we recommend consulting the regional website and the individual municipalities interested in funding. The "Via dalla città" initiative , on the other hand, offers generous non-repayable incentives for home renovations and business start-ups in mountain communities, especially those affected by depopulation.

Liguria

Liguria created the RiGenerazioni program to encourage people to return to inland areas, particularly mountainous ones. The funds are intended to promote training and professional integration in disadvantaged areas of the region, where those who find work then decide to relocate.

Furthermore, the municipality of Bormida (SV) and some other small Ligurian villages have implemented local incentives for new residents , with direct contributions (around 2,000 euros for those who move permanently to the village) and controlled rents to encourage the arrival of new people in the inland areas.

Lombardia

To repopulate mountain villages, the Lombardy region has allocated €260 million. Funding options include non-repayable grants or loans with very favorable interest rates. Opportunities are concentrated in the Lombardy Alps.

Veneto

In this region, 465 municipalities have been selected , where those who decide to relocate can obtain non-repayable grants of up to 40 euros. Most of these are small, high-altitude villages.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the most active regions in combating mountain depopulation. Among the measures implemented in this regard is FVG – Grants for Young Residents in Mountain Areas . This is a non-repayable grant for young residents of mountain areas (classified B and C) who commit to maintaining their residence in the mountains and starting or developing agricultural or related activities (e.g., buying and selling land, buildings, machinery, equipment, plants, technical and promotional expenses).

Emilia Romagna

A " Regional Mountain Fund " exists here , supporting three-year projects and targeted interventions, with incentives for those under 40 who are resident and work in the region . The non-repayable grant can reach up to €30, and ISEE income is obviously also considered for the final score. The Emilia-Romagna Region typically publishes calls for applications for the funds, which define the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and intervention priorities for each year.

Toscana

The Tuscany Region also offers grants for the renovation of homes and buildings, with the aim of restoring existing buildings. These incentives are designed for those who purchase homes in small mountain towns and intend to renovate them for living . Incentives can be up to a certain percentage of the value of the project, with discounts on related taxes and fees. Again, we recommend starting by consulting the Tuscany Region website.

In addition to regional tenders, some Tuscan municipalities (or villages) have their own incentives to attract residents, for example municipal programs that include:

• Contributions to the purchase or renovation of houses (up to 20.000 euros in some local initiatives).
• Rental benefits, support for starting up businesses or covering part of the rent (in some villages).

These programs vary from municipality to municipality, and therefore must be verified through the respective municipal tenders.

Umbria

The measure announced by the Umbria Region, which is currently being worked on, consists of a new regional law for the enhancement and repopulation of the Apennines and Umbrian villages , with a total budget of 61 million euros.

The law will complement existing strategies for inland areas, focusing on essential services (healthcare, education, mobility), digital connectivity, residence incentives, new forms of employment, and revitalization of the local economy through tourism, culture, agri-food, and crafts, in coordination with the aforementioned National Law on Mountain Areas.

Brands

In the Marche region, the new national law on mountains, which redefines mountain municipalities based solely on altimetric criteria, could exclude 21 municipalities in the province of Pesaro and Urbino from mountain classification. However, local and indirect measures are in place. The aid primarily concerns mountain municipalities and inland areas, providing funds for services, villages, businesses, and agriculture.

There are regional calls for proposals for the development of villages, grants for mountain farms, and initiatives decided by individual municipalities (subsidized rents, property redevelopment, business support). In addition, there are national measures for mountain areas, which also apply to the Marche region. All the calls for proposals can be found on the official website of the Marche Region.

Lazio

The Region periodically launches calls for proposals for the regeneration of villages, the recovery of buildings, and tourism, artisan, and commercial businesses, with priority given to mountain communities . Of note is the resolution approved in 2025, which allocated €6,8 million to ensure the operational continuity of the mountain communities and the Pontine Islands archipelago community.

As well as the " Giovani in quota " initiative , a call for applications for young entrepreneurs under 35 in the mountain towns of Lazio, aimed at starting or strengthening local businesses with non-repayable grants.

Abruzzo

The Abruzzo region offers an annual, flat-rate grant of €2.500 to those who decide to move to one of the region's 176 mountain municipalities. The grant is valid for three years , with the option to double the incentive if the applicant starts a business. However, the bonus comes with a restriction: the home in which the applicant moves cannot be rented or sold for the next five years from the date the grant is received.

Molise

Among the regional and local incentives that favor those who want to live in the mountains in Molise, there is one relating to the Municipality of Sesto Campano , which has activated a financial contribution to encourage the relocation of families with minor children.

The call for proposals provides €10.000 for the final months of 2025 and €33.600 for the two-year period 2026-2027, funding up to eight families (with possible progression on the ranking list). The grant is intended for families who relocate to the municipality for at least three years and enroll their children in local schools.

Campania

In Campania, approximately €10 million in funding from FOSMIT has been allocated to mountain areas. The funds are aimed at municipalities and mountain communities —the so-called Green Communities—not individual citizens, to implement sustainable development projects: renewable energy, forest and water management, green mobility, and green infrastructure.

The goal is to improve the quality of life, boost the local economy, and combat depopulation by making mountain areas more attractive to live and work.

Puglia

In Puglia, indirect measures are in place to support mountainous and inland areas, especially in the Dauni Mountains and inland Gargano . These areas are included in the National Strategy for Inland Areas , which funds essential services, mobility, and local development. The Region frequently launches calls for proposals for village regeneration, property renovation, and support for businesses, tourism, and artisanship, giving priority to inland municipalities. Contributions are also available for mountain agriculture through the CSR/PSR.

Basilicata

In Basilicata, local initiatives are active, such as the €1 housing project in some mountain municipalities (such as Chiaromonte) to combat depopulation. Furthermore, the Region receives national funding—from FOSMIT and the Montagna Italia program —for mountain municipalities to improve services, infrastructure, and quality of life, making them more attractive to new residents.

Calabria

Some municipal administrations, in collaboration with the Calabria Region, offer incentives for residents who choose to live in mountain villages or certain rural areas. These grants may include:

• Support for the purchase or renovation of propertiesi: there are funds earmarked for the renovation of houses in mountain areas to promote the recovery of the housing stock.
• Economic bonuses for families: subsidies for residents of mountain areas, designed to support income and reduce the cost of living.

Sicilia

Sicily operates primarily through municipal initiatives in mountain villages and inland areas. Grants cover the purchase and renovation of properties, generally amounting to between €10.000 and €25.000, subject to a multi-year residency requirement. Some municipalities supplement these financial contributions with housing at nominal prices—such as the much-loved €1 house —or local tax breaks.

Sardinia

A monthly contribution of 600 euros for each child born, adopted or entrusted is allocated to the families residing in small mountain municipalities with fewer than 5.000 inhabitants.
The Region offers non-repayable contributions (up to €15.000) for the purchase or renovation of properties in small municipalities, with the requirement not to move residence for five years. Each municipality holds specific competitions.

Housing costs are the most serious problem we face in all cities, especially for families and young people. Unfortunately, it has been exacerbated by speculation about (false) sustainability, where, under the guise of green and energy efficiency, purchase and rental prices have skyrocketed. Meanwhile, in some European cities, such as Vienna, targeted interventions have been implemented to help residents control rents without disrupting the market. Stories of speculation in Italy and solutions to housing costs introduced abroad can be found in this book.

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