Eleven lighthouses are at the moment involved in the project, said Wednesday at a press conference the agency Domains, which manages the real estate assets of the state.
Headlights for rent are mostly located on the southern coast of Italy, on the island of Giglio (Tuscany) to Syracuse (Sicily), via Ischia (Campania) or the Tremiti Islands (Puglia).
Other lighthouses could be affected in the future, "forty" according to Roberto Reggi, the director of that agency. Italy has over 150 lighthouses along its coast, some located in landscapes of dreams.
If several are still in operation, and continue to be so despite their transformation into hotel, they are no longer inhabited and "unfortunately are being degraded," said Mr Reggi.
The aim of the operation is to safeguard this heritage, but also to take advantage of the tourism potential of the flagship to bring money into the coffers. The state expects to recover between 700 000 and 800 000 euros ($ 970,000 and 1.1 million) per year.
The Italian State will retain ownership but lease the lighthouses to private operators should be selected in 2016. Lighthouses have been converted into hotels in other countries, such as Spain, Croatia and France.
