Italy: Historic houses boost local tourism

In 2024, across Italy, more than 35 million people entered the country’s historic houses, seeing everything from grand palaces and villas to castles and stately homes. Even in remote areas up to 2 million visitors have been seen making the trip. But behind these impressive numbers is a quiet economic and social revolution, and it is driven entirely by private initiative.

About 46,000 of these historic residences are distributed in every region of Italy. Here’s the interesting part: Almost a third of them have municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents. These are the types of small villages that are likely to fade from memory without the gravitational pull of a local castle or Renaissance villa to draw people in. These are not dusty museums frozen in time. They are life enterprises. Sixty percent earn income through culture, hospitality, or agri-food production. One in five have actually grown into a fully formed company.

The way people view historic homes is also changing. The accommodation sector is the fastest growing segment, with 35% of these houses now offering overnight stays. The number of short-term tourist rentals in historic properties has increased by 46% in the past year alone, to over 3,700 establishments. It makes sense when you think about it. Visitors are no longer satisfied with the standard guided tour. They want the full experience. They want to sleep in 17th-century bedrooms, wake up in fresco-covered halls, and drink wine made on the estate.

Education and culture follow closely. Eighty percent of residences regularly host school groups of all levels. By 2024, more than 20,000 properties organized at least one public event, and more than 17,000 offered free or socially responsible initiatives. Eighty percent of owners report that these events have a real, measurable impact on local development. They create essential networks that connect farmers, wine producers, restaurants and outdoor operators.

However, financial endeavors are almost entirely personal. Eighty-five percent of the renovation and maintenance work is self-financed, with the average owner spending more than €50,000 a year just to maintain things. Public contributions cover a little over 2% of interventions. In other words, Italy’s private historical heritage is preserved almost exclusively by families who have inherited the burdens and privileges of ownership.

Agriculture remains the backbone of many estates. Seventeen percent of historic homes are active farms, a number that will increase significantly from 2023. Viticulture dominates, with one in four growing grapes, with 36% of those actually producing and selling wine. Cereals and olive oil make up about 21% each. For many of these agricultural estates, this is not a side hobby; Agriculture generates more than 75% of their annual income.

The synergy between wine and tourism is particularly noteworthy. Each historic winery now offers tasting experiences. And it works. Sixty-eight percent report an increase in visitors over the previous year, and in a third, the increase was more than 30%.

Together, these thousands of private residences inject hundreds of millions of euros into the Italian economy every year. Much of this activity occurs almost entirely outside the major urban circuits and the usual tourist routes. They preserve architectural treasures that the state alone cannot afford, rebuild ruined villages, create skilled jobs, and keep traditions alive, from fresco restoration to ancient viticulture techniques.

The data comes from the Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane (ADSI), the national association representing private heritage owners. Their message is clear. Italy’s personal cultural heritage is not a monumental artifact. It is one of the most dynamic, flexible and truly sustainable sectors of the country’s economy. And it is almost entirely self-funded.

In an era where public funding for culture is always under pressure, Italy’s historic houses show that private patronage, combined with entrepreneurial vision, can achieve what institutions often cannot. They keep the past alive while building the future, one restored fresco, one bottle of estate wine, and one overnight guest at a time.