Why Move To Italy?

If you’re looking for quintessential Old World lifestyle, Italy deserves your attention. The old towns are charming, and the countryside between is pleasant. Even excluding the big cities like Rome, there is enough here to keep your interest and to support a fully appointed life on the Continent. What’s more, life here can be much more affordable than back home.

The food and wine, the ancient ruins and espresso, the great weather and street markets, the beautiful walled cities and art museums, the green hills covered with sunflowers and cypress trees… Italy is nothing short of a classic. Florence, Rome, Venice… these cities are museums unto themselves and home to some of the world’s most distinguished works of art.

From charming old towns and pleasant countryside as well as the major cities, there is enough in Italy to keep anyone’s interest and to support a fully appointed life on the Continent… and do so at a bargain. This is especially true considering the overall quality of life on offer; slow-paced living, traditional values, beautiful cities, never-ending feasts of culture.

The wonderful Italian people themselves are reason enough to come to Italy—friendly and sociable are understatements. The streets are always crowded with people strolling (passeggiata) before dinner, after dinner, in winter, and in summer. They stop for espresso, wine, gelato, outdoor music, or a street festival. People meet, chat, go out for dinner or drinks. There’s always something happening and no one wants to stay at home. The locals are so warm and outgoing that it’s easy to make friends here.

An outdoorsman’s paradise, Italy’s natural endowments pack a punch for the country’s small size. Its diversity of geography and resulting climates mean the country can offer nearly every form of outdoor recreation you can think of. The mountains offer countless opportunities for climbing, trekking, skiing, and snowboarding. Thousands of small towns and villages cling to these slopes, settlements that have evolved over thousands of years of humans trekking their livestock through the region. Discover these mountains and all their secrets on foot, bike, horseback, or ski.

Whether on the Mediterranean Coast or the Adriatic, Italy offers just about any sea-related entertainment you can think of. The topography ranges from pebbled coves to dramatic cliffs to powdery sand, populated by lidos, restaurants, bathing and tanning areas… and just as much secluded, removed areas perfect for those who prefer some solitude.

And, of course, the food. Any mention of Italy would be incomplete without a mention of its delicious local wine and cuisine. Italian recipes are a cut above the rest of the world, but Italian recipes cooked by Italian chefs using fresh Italian ingredients simply cannot be beat. Paired with a glass of local wine (for just a few euros), and you’ve got the perfect meal. No matter where in the country you settle, the food is extraordinary and, for the most part, it’s also cheap, whether you’re in a supermarket or a restaurant. There are outdoor markets all over the place, and you’ll find many varieties of wine and cheese that you’ve never heard of and are hard to get outside the country. Italy also has strict food purity laws, so you won’t find as many artificial colorings or preservatives.

Outside the bigger cities and tourist centers, most Italians don’t speak English, so you’ll need to learn Italian moving here. If you’re up for that small challenge, then Italy offers a truly enviable lifestyle.