Italy's €1B PNRR Plan for Revitalizing Historic Villages

Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini has unveiled a €1 billion program under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to revitalize Italy's historic villages and internal areas. The initiative aims to counter depopulation, promote remote work, and decongest overtouristed cities like Venice and Florence. The program is divided into two lines: Line A selects one pilot village per region (21 total) with up to 20 million euros each, chosen by regions by March 14, 2022. Eligible villages must have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and a maximum of 200 housing units. Each village must define a vocation such as a diffused hotel, senior residence, smart working hub, university research center, or artist residency. Line B allocates 580 million euros: 380 million for 229 local regeneration projects (municipalities up to 5,000 inhabitants) and 200 million for business incentives for small and medium enterprises. 40% of resources are directed to the eight southern regions. Projects must be completed by June 2026. The initiative also includes promoting hiking and cycling routes. Franceschini stated that if successful, this experiment could become a prototype for repopulating villages. The plan aligns with the Ministry of Tourism to balance tourism flows and revitalize abandoned areas.