“We have a thousand marvellous hamlets and remote working can revive them,” Dario Franceschini, the then culture minister, said when the scheme was first discussed. “Now that people can work without being physically present in the office, the isolation of these places is no longer a problem but part of their beauty.”
Italy is investing millions of euros in EU grants and loans to revive villages in each of its 20 regions, including the stunning settlement of Rocca Calascio in the mountains of Abruzzo, which is overlooked by a 1,000-year-old castle.
The scheme is available to all non-EU citizens, not just Britons, and is aimed at people who are already employed by companies outside Italy but are able to work wherever they like.
The Italian government defines a digital nomad as a non-EU citizen “who carries out a highly qualified work activity with the use of technological means that allow them to work remotely, either as a self-employed worker or as an employee of a company not resident in Italy”.
After one of the wettest winters on record in the UK, the prospect of enjoying a slice of la dolce vita may be hard to resist.
But before Britons start packing their suitcases, there is a good deal of red tape to contend with. Applicants must have at least six months’ experience in the sector in which they work and an annual salary of at least €28,000 (£24,000).
They must also show evidence that they have found somewhere to live in Italy and also demonstrate that they have medical insurance. And anyone with a criminal conviction in the last five years will not be eligible.
Successful applicants will be granted a visa stamped with the words “digital nomad – remote worker”.
Once they arrive in Italy, they will have eight days in which to apply for a residency permit, known in Italian as a permesso di soggiorno. It is a relatively straightforward process that can be done at the local police station.
The visa will last for one year but can be renewed once it has expired, and successful applicants will be able to bring family members with them.
For those interested in the scheme, the first step is to book an appointment with the nearest Italian consulate or embassy.
Italy will join a growing list of countries offering a digital nomad visa. In Europe, Spain, Germany, Greece and Portugal are among the countries that have set up the schemes.
Further afield, the visas for remote workers are also available in countries including Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and Saint Lucia.
