Why do people move to Italy?

"I am in the region of Abruzzo east of Lazio (Rome) and I specifically live on the Adriatic coast in Alba Adriatica. I arrived in June 2021. When people ask me where I'm from and I tell them California 100% of them say why are you here? They clearly have a vision of California that is no longer the California I know. And that is why I'm here. They are fascinated with me because I am from California. Initially some may exercise caution but many of the folks have embraced me (possibly as a curiosity). I think I am the only Californian possibly the only American in Alba Adriatica. I do a lot of cycling and the region is extremely conducive to cycling. The Italians have a love-hate relationship however with cyclists. They love to see an Italian cyclist do well on TV and are very passionate about that! But when they’re behind the wheel and you’re riding your bike on the road you have to be vigilant about keeping your eyes open because they are incredibly impatient and do not care for cyclists. The food is great and it is a lot less expensive here than it is in California. Coming from Napa Valley I'm a little partial to the Bordeaux blends/heavy red wine and the wines featured in Abruzzo are great but it has taken some getting used to. As the only Californian in a relatively small community you have to be extra careful to make sure there are no misunderstandings or unintended offensive remarks made. News travels fast and everybody knows everybody's business. The proximity to the European continent is fantastic. August at the beach is hot, humid and full of tourists so this August I will spend the whole month in the French Alps with my bike. The "dolce vita" in Italy is ever present!," said another expat in Abruzzo, Italy.

"My husband and I went to Italy together in 2016 and returned 2017 with our children and their significant others for Christmas then in 2018 we decided we would retire there. The cities are magnificent and Uniquely different from each other. We are from NY and have an apartment in Manhattan. I am of Italian decent and felt a natural pull to be in Italy more than just to vacation. Italy has it all and most regions are a reasonable distance of you settle in the center of the country. We looked for 2 years, going back two or three times a year to find our house. We looked in Tuscany because even though it is top of the mind and quintessential Italy to Americans, there is good reason. It is BREATHTAKING. So is Umbria. We settled in an area that is not tourist driven. We have over 200 olive trees and had our first harvest this past fall. We found excellent tradesmen to help us renovate. They and their families became our friends. We shared our garden tomatoes, garlic and olive oils with each other. We are learning Italian through them because they do not speak English. It has been an amazing first year. We are an hour to Florence by car. And 2 1/2 hours to Rome. We are 2+ hours to the Adriatic or the Mediterranean. We have not only Florence but Perugia and Arezzo supper close as well as the wine regions of Chianti, Montepulciano and Montecino. Do you love sunrises and sunsets? Do you love looking over a valley with the fog draping the hills? Do you love food, wine and clean air? Do you love time standing still? We do. This is a very short list why we chose to live in Italy. ," wrote a member who made the move to Italy.

Italian For A While
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Become ‘Italian for a While’ with IFA! Learn in Italy on a 1-week to 12-month program - open to students, young adults, graduates, digital nomads, professionals, groups, faculty-led programs, and more. Take courses at an accredited school while immersing yourself in the language, life, and culture among your international peers. Submit an inquiry with IFA to learn more.

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Italian For A While

Become ‘Italian for a While’ with IFA! Learn in Italy on a 1-week to 12-month program - open to students, young adults, graduates, digital nomads, professionals, groups, faculty-led programs, and more. Take courses at an accredited school while immersing yourself in the language, life, and culture among your international peers. Submit an inquiry with IFA to learn more.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.