Yes, you read that right. Your chance to escape responsibility and spend an entire summer living the dolce vita in the idyllic Italian town of Grottole is here and now.
How does an all-expenses-paid, three-month holiday to a picturesque Italian town sound?
It may sound like the stuff of dreams, but for you and three of your best pals, the prospect of a free Italian summer could become a reality.
Wonder Grottole and Airbnb want you to move to the remote and oh-so-beautiful town of Grottole for an entire summer to find out more about the way of life there and become immersed within it.
It’s all part of a plan to rejuvenate the town and bring tourism back after the departure of many residents over the years.
Around 300 people currently live in the village, though there are more than 600 empty homes the town wishes to have occupied.
“Our dream is to repopulate the historical centre,” Silvio Donadio, one of the founders of Wonder Grottole, said in a statement about the program.
“In 10 years we’d like to see the village full of people from different cultures perfectly integrated within the local community.”
The once-in-a-lifetime chance comes with the opportunity to experience Italy the authentic way.
The lucky bunch who manage to turn this dream into a reality will be immersed in the culture; they’ll learn to speak Italian, will help run the community gardens and will be taught to cook the cuisine from locals using the produce they grow and nurture.
They’ll also volunteer for Wonder Grottole, a non-profit organisation working to revitalise the town.
Sabbatical candidates will receive free accommodation and will have all expenses reimbursed for the course of their stay up to a maximum of 900 euros ($AU1,428) a month.
Grottole is located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, within the arch of the boot.
It’s perched on a hill, which offers its residents stunning views, and is a 1.5 hour drive to the coastal town of Bari.
The sabbatical will run from June to August in 2019. Click here to find out more and apply.
This article was originally published as You can live for FREE in Italy for 3 months by www.realestate.com.au and is written by Katie Skelly.