In the small, mountainous Italian village of Bormida, the mayor had an ingenious idea to up the population and the local economy.

Posting videos on Facebook of the gorgeous sunrise was not working, but a financial inventive might do the trick.

Amid a dwindling constituency of just 394 people, Daniele Galliano wrote on social media that the town would pay new residents €2,000 in cash.

Another incentive, he said, would be the cheap rent of just €50 a month. For a more spacious room, rent is still a reasonable €120.

The offer prompted dozens of responses from people who said they would be willing to relocate to the small town in the north-western region of Liguria.

People from all over the world, including the US, the UK, Indonesia and Hungary expressed interest, with some people waiving the financial offer to simply take advantage of a more simple life.

High-speed wifi in the village appeared to be a main requirement, as people said they could work remotely with a good internet connection.

Before people book their flights, the mayor has warned that his idea of a €2,000 cash reward still needs to be proposed and approved by the local board.

The affordable rent, he added, would be ready in about two months.

The quiet village used to house around 1,000 people in the 1950s. But since the end of the Second World War, Italy has seen a massive shift towards urbanisation.

Now it boasts a fairly active high street of four restaurants, a library, pharmacy, a post office that opens three times a week, a corner shop and a B&B. A doctor also visits the town three times a week.

In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy Show all 13 1 /13 In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy Fractures on a road in Norcia after the strong earthquake in central Italy EPA/Matteo Crocchioni In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy The bell tower of St. Augustine's church destroyed after the strong earthquake in central Italy, Amatrice EPA/Massimo Percossi In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy Nuns rest on a bench after been evacuated from their monastery following an earthquake in Norcia, Italy REUTERS/Remo Casilli In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy The church of the Madonna of the Angels is seen partially collapsed following an earthquake along the road to Norcia, Italy Reuters In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A powerful earthquake rocked the same area of central and southern Italy in August and a pair of aftershocks last week, sending already quake-damaged buildings crumbling after a week of tremors that have left thousands homeless Vigili Del Fuoco/Italian Firefighters via AP In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck 6km north of Norcia, Italy, EPA In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck 6km north of Norcia, Italy EPA/Alberto Orsini In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy People are evacuated from an hospital following an earthquake in Rieti, Italy REUTERS/Emiliano Grillotti In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy L'Aquila Mayor Massimo Cialente speaks on his mobile telephone as he checks the damage after the strong earthquake in L'Aquila, central Italy EPA/Alberto Orsini In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy Italian firefighters escort a frightened woman out of a building just as an aftershock rattled Norcia, central Italy AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A view of Amatrice village completely destroyed after the strong earthquake in central Italy EPA/Massimo Percossi In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A firefighter and an alpine soldier look at rubble in the hilltop town of Amatrice as an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 struck central Italy Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP In pictures: Most powerful earthquake for three years hits Italy A handout map released by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows the location of the earthquake striking around 68km east-southeast of Perugia, Italy EPA

With the nearest large city of Genoa 50 miles away, residents would have to entertain themselves. Asides from the town's musical tradition of singing the annual Easter "egg" song with a guitar, ukulele, tambourine and accordion accompaniment.

"There is nothing much to do here," the manager of a local restaurant told The Guardian.

"But life is so simple and natural, we have forests, goats, the church, and plenty of good food. Life would definitely be free of stress."

A councillor, who asked to remain anonymous, told the newspaper: "We’re still working out the plan, but anyone is welcome to come and live here.