10 Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Live in Italy
If you're reading this, I'm guessing it's because you're thinking about moving to Italy. Perhaps you dream of lazy Italian days by the seaside, perhaps you dream of exploring everything from Italy's small volcanic islands to its snowy mountain slopes. You are sure though that you would love nothing more than to call Italy home.
The next question though is where?!
Italy is home to 20 wonderfully diverse regions, each with its own history, culture, and oftentimes, language (known as dialects). Far from just lines on a map, Italy's regions are marked by different scenery and weather, as well as more important factors like the availability of work or even healthcare.
So, how on earth do you decide which Italian region is right for you?
As an expat in Italy, and founder of the Move to Italy Masterclass, I decided to put together a comprehensive video guide to Italy's regions, to make sure you have the Italian experience you dream of. And in the meantime, to help you out, I've put together this list of what I believe to be the 10 Things you Need to Consider When Deciding Where to Live in Italy.
But first, a short history!
Italy: A Short History
If you're already a history buff, you can skip this part and head straight for the list of what you should consider when deciding where to live in Italy! If, on the other hand, you assume Italians have been a big happy family, speaking Italian as we know it and enjoying pizza, pasta, and gelato since Roman times, read on.
Okay, so I'm not going to go back to Roman times. That would take far too long! Instead, we'll start with Italy's unification. That's right, Italy hasn't been Italy for long.
Tellaro, Liguria
Before the 19th century, the Italian peninsula was comprised of a divided group of kingdoms, ruled over by the Austrians and the French. During Napoleon's rule, following the French revolution, the soon-to-be Italians began to form ideas of their own for a united Italy and political independence. It took years of crushed uprisings, skilled diplomacy, war, and revolution for the Italian revolutionaries to achieve their goal. But in 1861, spurred on by the likes of Giuseppe Mazzini, Count Camillo di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, a national parliament convened, and the Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed.
Given the country's fragmented history, it was also necessary to declare an official language, and so the Tuscan dialect became known as Italian. That said, dialects are still commonly used across Italy today. As recently as 1950, statistics showed that less than 20% of Italians spoke fluent Italian, while today, around half the country's population still uses dialect at home.
As much as modern-day Italy is a unified nation, Italy's 20 regions are incredibly diverse; differences that are most notable across the country's Northern and Southern divide (skip ahead for a brief overview of Italy's North, South and Central zones).
Otherwise, it's time to get down to business and unveil the 10 Things You Need to Consider When Deciding Where to Live in Italy.
10 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE IN ITALY
Availability of Work
If you've read our brief breakdown of Italy's regions, you'll know that the Northern regions are the industrial & economic hub of Italy, while the Southern regions are generally regarded as being quite poor. As you might expect, the going advice then is that you should consider moving to Italy's North if you plan to work in Italy or find a job. That said, Italy is currently experiencing a significant 'brain drain', with many young, educated Italians going abroad for work, especially Southern Italians. In an attempt to address this phenomenon, they've introduced a series of tax benefits for certain subsets of foreigners who come to work or start a business in Italy, with additional benefits for those who move to the South.
Are you curious about taxation and starting a business in Italy? While my Move to Italy Masterclass is currently closed, it will be opening again soon, and we have a whole unit devoted just to this!
Portofino - Liguria
Weather & Climate
As a coastal peninsula, marked by an impressively varied landscape, Italy's regions are home to very different weather systems. Some neighboring regions even have marked climate differences – for example, Lazio, in central Italy, has the least rainfall of any region, while Campania to its south is prone to impressive rain and thunderstorms. Generally speaking, though, if you're interested in Italy's famed Mediterranean climate, your best bet is to head to the island states of Sicily or Sardinia, or its Southern regions, Calabria and Apulia. For cooler temperatures, the mountainous parts of the Northern regions are famous for their ski resorts and cool summer climates. Meanwhile, Liguria is home to its very own micro-climate, while the Po Valley is known for remaining mild all year round.
Availability of Health Care
You may have noticed a theme emerging between Italy's Northern and Southern regions, and unfortunately, the availability of health care is no different. Italy is home to an internationally respected national health care service, but health outcomes are significantly different between the North and the South. It's not uncommon for Southern Italians to travel to the North for surgery or serious health ailments. The South is also home to many rural villages which, while beautiful, have limited emergency services.
Infrastructure, Roads & Telecommunications
There is no doubt that the infrastructure, roads, and telecommunications systems are much more well-established in Italy's Northern regions, and so it is well worth considering when deciding where to live in Italy. This is in large part due to how Italian wealth is divided, but also due to the presence of those rural areas to the South. For the most part, though, public transport between cities and regions is readily available, with an impressive railway service across the country. In Italy's northern cities, fiber-optic connection is easy to come by, but to the south, connection can be unreliable.
Polesine Parmense, Emilia Romagna
Ability to Connect to Other Expats
Unsurprisingly, expats living in Italy tend to flock to the country's more famous cities and regions – and this has very little to do with North vs South! Three of Italy's hotspots for expats include Lombardy and Tuscany, as well as Rome. Expats also tend to favor the Southern regions of Apulia and Sicily, both for their scenery and their famously sunny climates. But what if you'd prefer to make friends with the locals? Well, this isn't always easy, but perhaps your best bet is to find a small Italian village, where locals will be plenty curious about the newcomer in town.
Personal Safety
One of the most common concerns I hear about moving to Italy involves personal safety. Perhaps this is because Italy still gets a bad rap from the stereotype of pickpockets, or larger-than-life issues like the mafia. While these do both exist, it's unlikely to affect you as long as you don't actively put yourself in harm's way (and practice basic street smarts). Like everywhere else in the world, there are good and bad parts of Italy. This doesn't so much depend on the region though, as the part of town you're in. If anything, I'd suggest you're more likely to be pickpocketed in the tourist-heavy cities of the North than the laidback Southern regions.
Scenery
Italy's landscape is punctuated by a little bit of everything – rolling hillsides, seaside coves, steep mountains, and sweeping plains. Basically, as long as you're not looking to live in the desert, it's likely there's something here for you. Naturally, the scenery can change drastically from one region to the next. So, if you dream of waking up every morning to a particular view, you should consider this when deciding which region to live in Italy.
Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino
Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino
Hobbies
Life is about more than just work, and I'm guessing if you're the type of person who dreams of moving to Italy, then you're also the kind of person who is interested in more than just the daily grind and watching TV. The great news is Italy has it all! If you love water and adventure sports, the northern lakes and mountains have got you covered. Art galleries and museums abound for lovers of culture and history. And of course, if your hobbies are more relaxed, like painting, knitting, sewing or reading, then any number of Italy's picturesque villages could provide the perfect backdrop.
Travel & Ease of Movement
We briefly touched on Italy's impressive railway network under the infrastructure heading, but there is so much more to travel than trains! As long as you're based near a big city, then travel within Italy itself is relatively easy. If, however, you'd like to treat Italy as a base to explore Europe, then it's worth checking the availability of international flights. Many Southern cities offer limited flights and mostly to Italy's major travel hubs, like Rome and Milan.
Pollution
I won't sugarcoat it – air pollution in Italy is a real problem, especially in its northern cities like Turin and Milan. This is one area where the South undoubtedly has the North beat! While some cities have sought to limit this through cycle lanes and limitations on cars, there is still a long way to go. If air pollution is something that concerns you, this is worth considering when you're deciding where to live in Italy.
Cortina, Veneto
You made it! These are the top 10 considerations to keep in mind when deciding where to live in Italy.
Of course, I understand if you find it somewhat overwhelming– there's just no way I could do Italy's 20 incredible regions justice in a blog post like this! If you'd like to learn more, I've got you! I've been working with 20 amazing locals and expats from every different Italian region to create a special video guide just for you. They'll give you insights into Italy's regions that you could never find on Google, to help you rest easy knowing you're moving to the right Italian region for you.
Want to have a behind the scenes peak at these videos? Want to know what it's like to live in different areas around Italy, from expats that call it home? I’m giving access to some of these regions guides videos, for absolutely FREE… But act now, these videos won’t be available for long.
Venice, Veneto
While you wait, and to help you understand where you might want to live, I've prepared an added bonus for readers of the blog – a brief breakdown of Italy's regions.
A Brief Breakdown of Italy's Regions: North
Generally speaking, Northern Italy is considered anything north of Rome. This area is home to the Italian Alps, famed seaside towns like Cinque Terre, and Italy's lake district, including Lake Como. More importantly, though, it's the industrial and economic heart of Italy, with the Northern region of Lombardy alone accounting for 21% of Italy's GDP. Generally, Northern Italians consider themselves to be more modern than their Southern counterparts. It's safe to say – Southern Italians readily complain that the Northerners are always in a rush, while Northerners make jokes about the lazy nature of the South.
A Brief Breakdown of Italy's Regions: Central Italy
While referred to less commonly, Italy's central regions are, as you might expect, a relatively happy mix of the North and the South. These regions include Lazio, le Marche, Tuscany, and Umbria. Generally, the Central regions are still home to rich cultural traditions, whilst being more easily accessible to travelers and tourists than the South – although not quite so accessible as Italy's North!
Torre Sant’Andrea, Puglia
A Brief Breakdown of Italy's Regions: South
However! When the world over dreams of Italy, it's most likely that what you imagine is more representative of the South. Impossibly romantic beach coves, rows of colorful umbrellas, and passionate people! The Southern regions are wonderfully rich in culture, history, and tradition, but they are presumed to be the poorer half of the Italian peninsula. That said, some experts say it is impossible to understand the true economic situation due to the Southern region's significant "underground" economy, meaning unregistered jobs. All the same, many Southern towns are doing their best to attract newcomers through cheap, or even free, housing schemes to encourage growth in these incredible areas.
Do you have questions about Moving to Italy or my in-depth Guide to Italy's Regions? Sound off in the comments below and I'll get back to you!
Don't forget to sign-up to the waitlist so that you'll be the first to know when I launch the Move to Italy Masterclass!
Varese, Lombardy
