Italy is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery and the entire country has something to offer. The northern region is more developed and hence has better work opportunities. Many expats prefer to settle in central Italy where infrastructure is good. The South of Italy is a great place to unwind with its fresh air, pleasant … Read more
Italian cuisine is laden with rich regional variations and almost every town and village has their own specialties. The north of Italy displays a greater influence of French and Austrian cuisine with emphasis on richer and creamier meat and rice dishes. The south features lighter fare dominated by ingredients like fish, tomatoes and olive oil. … Read more
There are many reasons why expats are drawn to Italy. It has a reputation as a country of art and culture, great food and wine, and warm, lively people that believe in living life to the fullest. Here are five good reasons that just might convince you to move to Italy. Cuisine One of the … Read more
When travelling or staying abroad, striking up a conversation with locals can sometimes be quite challenging. You may find yourself feeling frustrated or anxious when attempting to communicate the simplest things. Many tourists and expats – and locals alike – are known to lose their temper once in a while on account of the communication … Read more
Expat Focus talks to Catherine Tondelli about her book "Three Coins in the Fountain", a funny and helpful memoir of her life as an expat in Rome. Catherine, please tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born – along with my twin sister – into a large Irish/Italian family in Chicago, the ninth … Read more
Twenty years ago, the idea that you couldn’t survive without the internet was a strange prospect. Nowadays, however, we’re connected all the time: chatting to friends on Facebook, emailing documents to clients and contacts, checking newswires and weather forecasts. Moving to a new country can be daunting when it comes to choosing a broadband provider … Read more
Ski slopes and fresh powder are probably not the first things that spring to mind when thinking about about a getaway to Italy. However, the distribution of winter resorts throughout the country is impressive enough to shock those who base their idea of Italy’s terrain upon repeat viewings of Sergio Leone’s ‘spaghetti Westerns.’ It may … Read more
Many famous locations on the globe have been, for better or worse, reduced in the public mind to a single defining feature or concept. If we were to play a simple word association game with famous global destinations, we might get, say, simple reductions like “beach” for Miami, “cowboy” for Texas, or “mafia” for Sicily. … Read more
In recent years, Italy has seemed to outside observers like a country in constant, chaotic flux, with the recent governmental transition being major proof of this. The recent chaotic general election in the country, which generated no fewer than five inconclusive ballots, finally ended on April 20 with the re-election of Giorgio Napolitano. However, it … Read more
In a similar vein to the rest of the world, Italy is experiencing challenging times during the current economic climate, with regards to employment opportunities and the financial crisis. Unemployment is at an all-time high and the recovery has been slow for the country. Expats will be interested to hear that the North has far … Read more