The small Italian town of Candela, on Italy’s eastern side (think Adriatic Sea) wants to lure new residents to its dwindling population. Nicola Gatta, mayor of the medieval town in Puglia, is determined to increase its current resident count of 2,700 to its former days of 8,000 and more.
Editor’s Note – Nov 3, 2017: There is no link to apply to move here. If you read through this article, you will see my note that no matter how much I tried to find a link, there is NO link anywhere.
The bait?
Mayor Gatta is offering to pay people to relocate to Candela. While not a huge sum, it’s a way to offset the cost of moving and settling in to a new home.
“I work each day with passion and commitment to bring Candela back to its ancient splendor,” says Gatta. “Up until the 1960s, travelers called it ‘Nap’licchie’ (Little Naples), for it streets full of wayfarers, tourists, merchants and screaming vendors.”
According to Stefano Bascianelli, the mayor’s right-hand man, “This is how it works: €800 for singles, €1,200 for couples, €1,500 to €1,800 for three-member families, and over €2,000 for families of four to five people”. An additional incentive may also include tax credits on city waste disposal, bills and nurseries.
Translated to current USD, that’s about $940 for singles, $1,450 for couples, $1,770 to $2,120 for a family of three and over $2,350 for a family of four to five members.
Freeloaders aren’t welcome. Rules for new residents to receive the case include: they must take up official residency in Candela, rent a house and have a job which pay at least €7,500 per year. In US dollars, that’s less than $9,000 per year income.
“We don’t want people flocking here thinking they get to live off the town hall’s revenues, all new residents must work and have an income”, continues Bascianelli.
Candela was once filled with street vendors, tourists, families and merchants. Today, the population is mostly elderly. Young people in search of jobs and big city life move elsewhere.
Who’s moved there?
So far, six families from northern Italy have already settled into their new homes and five more families have applied to move.
Try as I might, I cannot find any links to apply. For now, I think that Mayor Gatta’s incentive to move applies mostly to Italians and more easily to Europeans rather than others.
Photos: Francesco del Vecchio and Annalisa Fred / Commune Candela
Chase says
“To have transferred the residence to the Municipality of Candela from 01.01.2017 e no later than 31.12.2017”
so the deadline has passed?
Parita Mahadik says
Guys plz let me know
Were can I apply
Giovanni says
I’m ready to move, please someone tell me how or where do I apply for this opportunity to relocate. I now live in California, my email (deleted for privacy) The sooner the better.
Brenda Hagg says
Very interested, would love to apply. Has anybody still haven’t had any luck getting hold of the application?
Lawrence says
anyone got any response on considering the move
Sherry Kennedy says
Hi Sheila, I think it was intended to attract Italians from urban areas to resettle in their town, and the publicity got out of hand.
Sherry
SERGIO says
Does anyone know where should I send it to, once we filled the application ?
Insha Turner says
Hello everyone. I found a page to apply. It’s in Italian but you have the option to translate. http://egov.hseweb.it/candela/po/mostra_news.php?id=187&area=H
Lennon Lopes says
Guys, i find it:
http://egov.hseweb.it/candela/po/mostra_news.php?id=187&area=H
Sheila Symons says
I’d love to live there. They must not want us Americans.
Cherita Jeffries says
We would like to apply to move to Candela, Italy
Jessica Culbertson says
Hey, I found an application in the City of Candela’s town meeting minutes, haha.
http://egov.hseweb.it/candela/po/mostra_news.php?id=187&area=H
Helen says
Same here can’t find link to apply.
bidsy says
couldn’t find a link. any updates on this one?
Cynthia Sanford says
I would love to move there and would like more information but am unable to find a working link for the application.
Dee says
I was looking for a link to apply also but couldn’t find it either.
Nancy Sandoval says
Link?
Melanie Mouzalas says
My husband and I would be happy to relocate from the U.S.!
Vahid Shadman says
Plz send the link. Thx.
Vahid Shadman says
Plz send the link to apply to my email (v.shadman57@gmail.com). Thx.
Zikusooka says
i need the link to apply
Zikusooka says
How can I find the link to apply
Neeme says
and town’s homepage is out of construction …
Rishi Chachra says
Plz update link how to apply for this
Maggie says
I’d love to move there. I can’t find any links to apply. ☹️
Rj Valderrama says
I would like to apply for that as well, with my fiancee. I hope you guys can help me. anyways I am from the Philippines.
jazib says
give me the proper link how can i apply
this is my email: jazib.uos@gmail.com
Muhammad Kashif says
Trying To Find Any link for Applying Moving The Italian Town of Candela
But There is No Any Link …….
Unfortunately, I’ve looked all over the internet and still can’t find a link to apply..
If Any One Find Any Link About Applying Moving Candela so Please Update All of us ….
Thanks and Regards
Rana says
How to apply for candelo city ? I am looking link?
jatin says
tell me how can i apply
Hilal SUNGAR says
I can’t find application link. Can you share with me?
WAQAS MEHMOOD says
Its Great place Candela..
Chandresh says
Send me apply Link
jatin says
how can i apply for it because i want my better life so and i see this is a beutiful place
jatin says
how can i apply for it
Rambabu says
How to apply
Melissa says
Couldn’t find a link to apply or even to search houses for that area. Please let me know if you find anything
Alex says
so interested for me but cant find how to apply
Ahmed Nafees says
how can i apply ?? because i want to move there with my family….
Sohail Saeed says
I am an Engineer and my wife is Consultant doctor in the field of General Medicine and Endocrine and my sister is a Medical Practitioner in the field of Gynaecology. We all can contribute to the best of our abilities to this village of Italy. I have surfed the net but couldnt find any link as to how to file an application for getting residency to Candela, Italy. Can any one or the mayor Nicola Gatta help me to get through with this issue
G.Abel Selwyn says
I am coming….
Nahid Aktar says
Hi, I would like to move there.
Nahid
Cicil says
I had search Alot but cannot find the link if someone know anything about the link please share it
Nudrat says
i live in Pakistan and want to apply for candela. we are 4 family members, i m assistant professor and my hubby is banker and have 2 sons. kindly guide me
Faiza says
How can i apply for the residence, I belong to an Asian Country. plz guide me
gaurav rawat says
i want to move there with my family snd want to live my life in candela i love that place when first time i saw that place i gona mad to live there
Ramsha says
Where is the link? I want to apply
Adeleye says
where is the application link located please….thanks
Sherry Kennedy says
Sounds and looks like a beautiful place to live.
Aziz Ul wahab says
Don’t found any link to apply
Babar says
Plz update link how to apply for this
Danyetta Davis says
Hi My name is Danyetta
I would love to apply to move there I looking for a new place to call home
Sherry Kennedy says
Hi Neiko,
Unfortunately, I’ve looked all over the internet and still can’t find a link to apply. If you have any luck, please post in a comment. Thank you.
Nieko says
Where is the apply link?