Italy is a country of breathtaking natural beauty, awe-inspiring works of art and sights, unique architecture and fashion, delectable food and welcoming people. And if these reasons are not enough to convince you of a trip to Italy, now you will have one more incentive. 

There's an Italian region offering to pay you to visit, specifically covering the ticket fares if you're traveling by train from anywhere in Italy! This is Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the northeastern part of the country bordering Austria and Slovenia.

Aiming to reach more and more tourists as it is one of the least visited areas in Italy, officials will pay the train fares for tourists from anywhere in Italy and as an added incentive will give tourists a special card that will allow free admission to museums, free use of public transport and many discounts at local attractions and elsewhere.

Photo: unsplash.com/arnosenoner

To receive these benefits, the only things you need to do are: Stay at least two nights in a hotel, holiday apartment or B&B that is part of the program and have return tickets departing from Italy and arriving at any of five stations via the Trenitalia Line (Latisana-Lignano-Bibione, Cervignano-Aquileia-Grado, Trieste Airport, Trieste Centrale or Udine). Reservations must also be made only at turisofvg.it/trenitalia.

Please note that in terms of fare coverage, ticket bookings must be made no later than five days before departure and there are also dates when the offer is not valid, for example Christmas and Easter.

So what's in the area and worth taking advantage of this perk? Trieste the main center and perhaps the most famous city in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lignano Sabbiadoro on the Adriatic, Grado known as the "mother of Venice", the resort of Forni di Sopra in the Dolomite Alps, Lignano Sabbiadoro with wonderful Italian beaches and other beautiful places.