A PICTURESQUE mountain village in a holiday hotspot has promised to give families nearly £100,000 to live there – but no one is taking up the generous offer.
The idyllic town, renowned for its breathtaking mountain ranges, is trying to combat its declining population and crumbling infrastructure.
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Located in the northern region of Italy, Trentino has made the enticing offer in an attempt to revamp the village.
Local authorities launched a new housing initiative which hopes to give some 33 towns a much-needed population boost and makeover.
The desperate scheme offered buyers a grant of £90,000 – nearly £70,000 given for renovation, while the remaining cash was provided to purchase a derelict property.
Those who took the cash would have to commit to living at the home or renting it out for at least 10 years.
Not doing so would result in the grant having to be repaid in full.
Applications were be accepted in rounds lasting three to four months each, with the first opening in May.
When the initiative closed in late June – its had received just 291 applications.
But one town, Sagron Mis, failed to attract even one applicant.
Nestled at the foot of the Dolomites, Sagron Mis is a sleepy commune made up of two villages, Sagron and Mis.
It is known for jaw-dropping views – and boasts many cracking hikes and lookout spots.
The town does, however, come with some challenges, despite its many appeals.
For starters, it has just one shop to serve its population of 170 residents.
Access to other essential services is limited.
Its mayor, Marco Depaoli, said: “We have the post office, the cooperative.
“But we are lacking in the presence of a general practitioner.”
The mayor remains optimistic, and said: “It’s not a drama. It takes patience. There is no deadline, it is not a rejection of the town.”
He also said that there was strong interest in his town, even though there were no applications made to live there for cash.
“Fifteen people have contacted our municipal offices to ask what the rule is, how it works, how to proceed to obtain funding,” he explained.
Trentino authorities have allocated over an eyewatering £8.6million to the initiative since it launched last year.
The scheme covers municipalities in areas like Val di Non, Val di Sole, Primiero, Valsugana, and others.
Both Italian nationals and foreign residents can apply.
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