You don't have to be royalty to have your very own castle.
Italy is just giving them away.
It's like a holiday fire sale and everything must go, with officials handing over castles to interested parties as if they were hors d'oeuvres at a fancy party. At least that's how we would like things to be.
The reality, according to TheLocal.it, is that Italian officials are indeed giving away awesome properties and castles, but they come with an even bigger responsibility. If you want an actual castle you will have to do more than promise to renovate the joint.
This initiative, part of Italy's Strategic Tourist Plan, is a push to increase tourism around more rural areas not normally visited by tourists (they are drawn more to the major cities). In this case, you will have to illustrate plans on how you would renovate the location and turn it into a tourist draw.
Ditch any ideas about landing a castle simply to make your next party conversation more interesting.
This campaign means a great deal of work to anyone who lands one of the 103 properties (including monasteries, inns, homes and, yes, castles). The State Property Agency and Ministry of Cultural Heritage are working together to flip underutilized properties into possible hotels, spas or whatever you can think of that would entice visitors and their wallets.
The State Property Agency's Roberto Reggi explains to The Local, "The project will promote and support the development of the slow tourism sector."
In time, places that are gathering dust will, hopefully, become places where locals and visitors gather.
Reggi continues, "The goal is for private and public buildings which are no longer used to be transformed into facilities for pilgrims, hikers, tourists and cyclists."
According to the report, interested parties can head over to the State Property Agency's website (linked above) and apply with their best-laid plans. Officials will examine entries and reward winners with nine-year leases to respective properties. If things go really well, you may be afforded another nine years.
50-year leases are an option for proposals that are truly exemplary.
The Local explains: "The government is targeting entrepreneurs, co-operatives and businesses primarily made up of under-40-year-olds, who are eligible for an 'Art Bonus.'"
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The Local states that places like Marche's 13th-century gem, the Castello di Montefiore; and Lazio's 11th-century wonder, the Castello di Blera are available. A sizable portion of the 44 available locations is also along "historic or religious walking routes," making the prospect of luring tourists a bit easier.
A good idea is apparently a good idea no matter what kind of property you are seeking. However, as The Telegraph notes, you have to act quickly as applications will be accepted up until June 26.
If you don't get in a winning bid now, there remains hope for entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts who always wanted to own their very own hotel, hostel or tourist draw amid a gorgeous landscape.
Officials have entertained a similar campaign with 30 lighthouses around the country over the past two years. As for the latest push, once these 103 properties are gobbled up, an additional 200 may make their way onto the market over the next couple of years.
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