8 Reasons to Move to Italy

by David Tompkins

If you’re looking for a destination that advertises a dream lifestyle for many, you might think of hit movies like Roman Holiday, Under the Tuscan Sun, and Eat Pray Love. It’s true – the Italian way of life – the “Dolce Vita,” or “sweet life” is world-famous and attracts visitors and expats from all over the world .

Great Reasons to Move to Italy

Whether you’re looking for some adventure or a quiet life in the countryside, Italy has a lot to offer. Thinking of adding Italy to your potential relocation list? Here’s a few reasons to move to Italy, we think you should go for it!

Cuisine in Italy

Italian food is known around the world as most people’s favorite. One might imagine consuming endless bowls of pasta, copious amounts of pizza, and ever-flowing wine. The reality? Italian food is even more delectable than most people know.

Depending on the region of Italy where you land, you can find the famed handmade pasta, but you will also find a food culture that values locally grown herbs and produce, perfectly cooked meats, and dining tables where there is always room for one more.

From the espresso bars to the midnight revelry around yet another bottle of Chianti, Italians love their tradition of cuisine, and they love to gather and enjoy it together. One thing is for sure – if you move to Italy, you’ll eat very well.

Climate in Italy

Italy has a dreamy climate, with most of the country boasting the coveted Mediterranean climate. Most areas of the country have a long, pleasant summer with temperatures generally averaging around 80F. Winters tend to be mild and wet, and the snow and ice tend to be localized to the mountain regions. There’s a reason the Italian coast is a place for luxury villas – the weather is nothing short of gorgeous. Harsh weather is rare in Italy, making it a perfect place for those who are looking to live somewhere with great weather.

Italy Lifestyle

There’s a reason that Italian life is referred to as ‘sweet.’ Expats from workaholic, fast-paced countries find that the slow pace of Italian life can be maddening at first, but quickly becomes preferable to them. ‘La Dolce Vita,’ the classic phrase referring to life in Italy, refers to a lifestyle that revels in pleasure, whether that means a midday nap in the summer, eating bread and pasta with not a thought of calories, or singing loudly at 1 AM after dinner with your friends. One thing is for certain – Italy is for people who love life.

Italy Culture and Heritage

Italy has an exciting and vast history, commanding a place in history books from the Roman Empire, to the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance. Some of the world’s most well known literature, art, and music has been birthed in Italy, and its centrality to the Catholic church is note-worthy. One can find in Italy the tombs of notable figures like Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, and Amerigo Vespucci. From prehistoric eras up through the 20th century, Italy boasts a rich history, full of places to be discovered by locals and visitors alike.

Nature

In addition to the great lifestyle and the amazing food, Italy offers some incredible natural beauty. The island of Capri boasts the famed Blue Grotto, while the island of Sardinia offers visitors the Archipelago della Maddalena, a collection of turquoise water beaches. As far as beach views go, the Amalfi Coast is a dream destination for many, with quaint hillside villages, walkable trails, and gorgeous weather. Sicily offers its own wonders of nature, including the Scala dei Turchi, a tiered rocky white cliff, as well as the Riserva dello Zingaro, a nature reserve with gorgeous cliffs coming out of the water.

On the mainland, the Tuscany region is known for its sprawling green valleys, with the Val d’Orcia offering views of vineyards as well as rustic farmhouses. The Dolomites, an impressive limestone mountain range, are found in the north of Italy, while the lagoons of Venice continue to draw tourists year after year. Whether you find yourself in the city or the countryside, the north or the south, there are beautiful places to explore!

Wine Options for Foreigners in Italy

While in many regions, wine may be included in cuisine, in Italy it simply has to be hailed in its own right. Some of the world’s most famous wines come from Italy, including global favorites like Chianti, Prosecco, Moscato, and Sangiovese among many others.

Italy’s vineyards boast over 2000 grape varieties, so there are endless varieties of wine to pair with your wonderful Italian meals. Italy exported over 49.1 million hectoliters of wine in 2020, rivaling their neighboring France when it comes to world wine production.

Proximity for travel for Expatriates

Italy’s proximity to the rest of Europe and to Northern Europe makes it easy to see other exciting parts of the world as a resident. While a trip to Greece, France, or Spain would require planning for expensive airfare and wasting days of the trip overcoming jet lag. Living in Italy means being able to hop a very short flight or train ride to some of the most exciting cities in the world. The Italian and French islands in the Mediterranean offer great vacation destinations and are incredibly close by.

While one might think that relocating to Italy would scratch the travel itch for good, why not take the opportunity to see the world if you have the opportunity? The opportunity to take weekend trips to Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, Budapest, and so many more locations becomes a part of life when one lives in Italy.

Affordable Options for Expats in Italy

Many parts of Italy are more affordable than other locations in Europe. While the cost of living is predictably higher in cities like Rome, Florence, and Milan, there are many parts of the country where real estate and the cost of day-to-day life are incredibly affordable. While a three-bedroom apartment in the city center of Rome costs around 1900 euros, while in more rural areas, a home could be rented for under 1000 euros.

Remember Global Health Insurance for Expats in Italy

Healthcare system in Italy is amongst the best in the world. Whether you choose to move to Italy or somewhere else in the world, you’ll need to prepare with some international health insurance. For many visa approvals for global citizens in Italy, this is a requirement. The experts at Expat Financial are very experienced in helping future and current expatriates in Italy with their global health insurance needs.

 

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