You could be paid £1,800 to move to an idyllic hilltop village… there’s no traffic & top beaches are a short drive away

A whole new life in the beautiful Italian countryside could be yours if you accept this unique offer.

The Italian city of Candela, formerly known as “Little Naples” due to its resemblance to the country’s third-largest city, is looking to increase its population.

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It’s tucked away in Italian agricultural land, just under two hours from Naples and an hour from the beach in Puglia.

However, with the residence only having 2,700 residents, Mayor Nicola Gatta wants to give a boost to Candela’s dwindling population.

“I work every day with passion and dedication to bring Candela back to its former glory,” Mayor Gatta said CNN.

“Up until the 1960s, travelers called it ‘Nap’licchie’ (Little Naples) because it was streets full of walkers, tourists, traders, and screaming vendors.”

Many houses have stood empty over the years, but a plan has now been implemented to bring the population back to 8,000.

And to achieve that, Mayor Gatta has announced that he is willing to pay people to move to the scenic spot.

He hopes the free money will be enough incentive for a few thousand people – foreigners or Italians – to help revitalize the region.

And as the mayor’s assistant, Stefano Bascianelli, revealed in conversation with us CNNbetween €800 and €2,000 (£684 to £1,710) on sale.

He said: “This is how it works: €800 for singles, €1,200 for couples, €1,500 to €1,800 for families of three and over €2,000 for families of four to five people.”

He also confirmed there may be tax credits for people who relocate.

However, there are three conditions to prove you will be a productive Candela resident.

The first two are self-evident: you need to move there and rent a house there.

The third variant, however, requires you to have a job earning more than €7,500 (£6,413).

And because the requirements are so easy to meet, applications are already coming in.