Where To Live In Italy

Abruzzo

Like so many other well-touted destinations, Tuscany has had its day… it’s played out. Its market is now over-developed and pricey—hardly accessible to the regular tourist or expat, these days.

Not to fear.

Abruzzo, has everything Tuscany offers and much more—at a fraction of the cost.

The Abruzzo region is the most overlooked and undervalued in Central Italy. You can buy here for 30% to 70% less than in Tuscany or Umbria.

But Abruzzo isn’t only affordable. It is also at least as appealing as either of Italy’s more famous regions, with both mountains and sea coast, meaning you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon.

Plus, daily flights on Ryanair make the region super-accessible from elsewhere in Europe, and, in summer, regular flights connect you from New York and Toronto to nearby Pescara. Or fly to Rome. Abruzzo is only a two-hour drive away.

Abruzzo stretches from the Apennines to the Adriatic and is home to over 3,816 square kilometers of protected national parkland. The mountains here are the country’s most important and most visited after the Dolomites.

Bologna

Bologna is the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It’s a large city of more than 1 million people. Bologna benefits from four distinct seasons. In the summer, months temperatures average in the high 80s and drop to the low 40s during the winter. July and August can feel oppressively hot in Bologna. Most residents take their holidays during this period and head to a beach town, or overseas.

Bologna is one of the largest historic cities in the world. There are buildings and monuments dating back to Roman times as well as medieval and renaissance works. Bologna is also home to the oldest University in Europe, the University of Bologna. Founded in 1088, it’s one of the most prestigious Universities in the world.

This all comes at a price. Bologna is the third most expensive city in Italy for cost of living. Most residents argue that it still provides good value for money. You’re paying more to live in a beautiful and well preserved city with a thriving cultural scene. The high population of students gives the city a lot of energy and helps keep the local economy strong.

Le Marché

Located in the central zone of Italy, Le Marché is romantic and captivating with its towns full of incredible architecture, its beautiful landscapes, and its friendly people. What helps it stand out as a great place for settling down, is that it is yet to be a place overrun by tourists. Also, because this area of Italy is mountainous, you will get your fill of incredibly gorgeous mountainous landscapes. While there isn’t a lot of tourism in the area, the people in Le Marché are still welcoming and friendly and will receive you happily.

Umbria

If you love forests and greenery, you will absolutely adore Umbria as it has its reputation of being the “green” area in Italy. There are plenty of areas for hiking, delightful vineyards, and incredible architecture. There are several welcoming towns that may be ideal for settling down in if what you are looking for is a romantic location which will offer you luxury and comfort in one of Italy’s best-kept secrets.