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 weather and open spaces. If you’re not relocating as part of a company transfer, it may be confusing to decide where in Italy to settle down. The country after all expands over 300,000 square kilometers and is packed with cultural diversity. Here are some of the Italian destinations that are popular among expats.
Rome
The capital city of Rome is the political, economic and diplomatic center of the country.Many expats may relocate to Rome on account of employment opportunities. It is also an attractive city with its grand ruins and rich history. However, Rome is sometimes considered to be a difficult city to live in. If you haven’t already found a job, trying to get one here can be quite challenging. The bureaucracy is complicated and finding a place to stay or getting your identity documents may become a lengthy, complex task. Despite this, there are expats who have never left Rome and insist that the art, food and culture of the age-old city more than makes up for its shortcomings.
Milan
Milan is the largest city in Italy and a leading global financial center. It is the hub for manufacturing of garments, textiles, automobiles and heavy machinery. The cost of living in cities like Roma and Milan is much higher as compared to the rural areas.
Florence
This birthplace of the Renaissance attracts many expats looking to work in the education, tourism and fashion industries. Some have even gone on to open their own businesses here. Florence is equipped with high quality healthcare and education systems. The city is also rich in culture with many museums and quaint eateries.
Other regions in Italy
Piedmont, Lombardy and the other regions in the far north of Italy have some magnificent scenery as they are near the Alps and Dolomite mountains. Since regions like Piedmont and Liguria share a border with France and Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies next to Slovenia, there is less of an Italian influence here. In fact, Aosta Valley, which is in close proximity to France and Switzerland, is bilingual. Property is in high demand and therefore expensive too in the scenic Lake Garda and Lake Como. The Grand Canal in Venice is also a popular place to live, although a bit pricy. But there is affordable housing in the small towns in other parts of the Veneto region.
Some of the most pleasant places to live in are the central regions of Tuscany, Abruzzo, Umbria, Marche and Lazio. Many British expats have settled down in the area popularly known as ‘Chiantishire’ in Tuscany. Affordable accommodation is available in the Garfagnana area in Tuscany. The area of Maremma, which extends from the south of Pisa to northern Rome has many coastal towns and the holiday villas here attract many expats. Another expat hotspot is Umbria; while Abruzzo is slowly gaining in popularity due to its affordable properties available for renovation. The hilly region of Marche is popular among British expats.
Buying a house in the city of Naples in southern Italy may not be very easy, but there are properties on offer in the countryside of Campania (the region in which Naples is located). Amalfi and Positano are popular destinations for wealthy expats, while Molise has started becoming popular for its reasonably price farmhouses. Maratea in the Basilicata region is a holiday spot for many Italians and properties here come at a high price. The city of Ostuni has attracted many British expats. The scenic coastline of the Calabria region is dotted with holiday homes that are being bought rather rapidly by foreigners. Sicily has always been a favorite of expats, especially the eastern region and the inland area on the slopes of Mount Etna. The spectacular baroque towns of Modica, Ragusa and Noto may have some opportunities for buying properties, especially in the countryside. Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is also an excellent place to live and work.