The Italian State Property Administration (Agenzia del Demanio), together with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, has raffled off 103 neglected public properties for young entrepreneurs willing to transform them into tourist structures, such as hotels, restaurants, shops, spas or luxury villas.
The buildings include castles, villas, old inns, farmhouses, abandoned hostels, former school buildings, towers, monasteries, all positioned along off the beaten track routes. The idea is to promote destinations removed from the usual itineraries, preferably to be explored on foot or by bike, thus stimulating the so-called ‘slow tourism’ sector.
The project, named Valore Paese-Cammini e Percorsi, is especially aimed at people under the age of 40, who can apply to receive the properties under free concession for nine years, renewable for another nine afterwards. Those submitting a project with ‘high potential for the involved territory’ can receive up to a 50-year lease.
The selected entrepreneurs will be tasked with the modernizing of the buildings, turning them into small hotels, service stations, cultural and recreational venues, artisan shops, or spas. The idea is for them to provide a welcome point for pilgrims, tourists, walkers, and cyclists traveling in the area.
The buildings are located along cycle paths and historic-religious itineraries such as the Via Francigena, St. Francis’ Way, the Cammino di San Benedetto (from Umbria to Campania), cycling routes such as VEnTO (from Venice to Turin), SOLE and Acqua (Puglia), the Via Appia (the historic Roman road), and other hyperlocal itineraries.
Applications must be submitted through this link by June 26 by filling out a questionnaire in order to receive updates on the steps to follow.
The Italian State Property Administration plans to put 100 more buildings up for grabs in 2018 and 2019.
