Another community in Italy is paying people to move there, but this time it’s not a deserted village of crumbling houses.

The northern Italian city of Mantua, home to regal palaces and ancient churches, is looking for new residents.

The city council has announced it will pay people who relocate to Mantua a monthly contribution of €150 ($160).

Here’s how to apply and who is eligible for the grant.

Get paid to move to Italy

Mantua, in Italy’s Lombardy region, is luring new residents with cash incentives from September this year.

The municipality will pay €150 ($160) to those who move to the city for at least a year.

There is a total of €400,000 available in grants from the government, with €200,000 allocated from September 2023 and €200,000 more next year.

This is enough to finance 100 applications, the council said.

Mayor Mattia Palazzi to the local press the aim is to “attract new residents while at the same time trying to promote the renovation of the many vacant houses in the city, which are often ignored by their owners.”

Both families and individuals can take part in the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must sign a rental contract for at least one year.

The initiative is aimed particularly at professionals with a monthly salary of roughly €1,200-1,500. An income threshold is yet to be announced.

“There will be many new job offers in the next two years,” the mayor added. “There are several companies that are investing and setting up in Mantua, particularly in the logistics sector.

Palazzi also emphasized the city’s investments in welfare, schools and culture.

The application form will be available in June.

Live in an Italian city of architectural splendor

Mantua is an aristocratic city of noble palaces and a cuisine fit for royalty, but it often gets left off the tourist trail.

Known as the ‘sleeping beauty,’ it is surrounded by three artificial lakes.

Two grand residences bookend the city. The Palazzo Ducale was the power statement of the ruling dukes of the Gonzaga family, built between the 14th and 17th centuries.

The fortress-palace has over 500 rooms containing artworks by Raphael.

The pièce de résistance is the bridal chamber – dubbed ‘the most beautiful room in the world’ – a confection of sumptuous frescoes by Andrea Mantegna depicting episodes of the Gonzaga’s history framed by lush vegetation and cheeky cherubs.

On the other side of town is Palazzo Te, Federico II Gonzaga’s leisure residence of gigantesque illusionistic frescoes and whimsical mannerist architecture.

In the center, you’ll also find the 11th-century Rotonda di San Lorenzo, a round church modeled on the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.