So You Say You Want To Move To Italy. . .
Living La Dolce Vita
Roman Holiday. Under the Tuscan Sun. The Lizzie McGuire Movie. House of Gucci. You love these movies, we love these movies. They are all about la dolce vita, whether for a vacation or launching a fashion empire. Living the Italian Dream is a lot of fun. So we started to think about what the Italian dream means. and better yet, where- is it Caput Mundi, coastal or country? We’ve summed up the vibes from north to south, mountain to coast, and country to give you an idea what living in Italy is like.
Milan vs Rome
A soccer match between La Signora and La Grande Bellezza. Both Italian cities offer great neighborhoods, restaurants, architecture, art, fashion and more. But they couldn’t be more different.
Milan is sophisticated, cultured, fast-paced (for Italy!) and innovative. As the fashion, design and finance capital of the country, Milan is Italy’s most cosmopolitan city. A sense of efficiency and modernization dominate. The wellbeing of residents is a priority, with a focus on creating a clean, livable and sustainable urban landscape.
The downside to living in a city whose nickname is the Grey Lady? The weather. Piazza life is limited to the shoulder seasons because clouds/rain/fog are the winter forecast, while summers are stifling hot. For some, the city’s constant hustle, bustle and overt networking is overbearing. And for others, it’s the Northern snobbery that is a bit off-putting.
Rome is città aperta, an open city where you’ll sit in a piazza from March through the beginning of November. And she’s città eterna, the Eternal City of timeless, jaw-dropping beauty and amazing archaeology at every turn – ok, we admit, we are biased but you would be too living in a city of sunshine 270+ days out of the year. And Roman cuisine is delicious in its simplicity and comfort.
The cons of Rome are pretty much what everyone has been saying since Cicero and for more than two millennia. La dolce far niente (the art of doing nothing) is far too much niente sometimes for anyone wanting to get shit done. The mentality can be provincial and even a bit parochial, thanks to the Vatican’s presence. And finally, the city has a cleanliness problem. It’s trashy and dirty- there we said it! But we still will never get enough of Rome!
There is one thing both Rome and Milan have in common. Both are ideal Homebase for Italy exploration and for getting around Europe via train, car or plane.
City Mouse or Country Mouse?
Cities vary in size throughout Italy so you can go grande like Rome, Naples or Milan, media like Florence, Perugia or Bologna or piccola like Siena, Lecce or Modena. Cities offer plenty of international services like international airports, banks, consulates/embassies and more. And there is usually a bigger international community and more cultural going ons with museums, concerts, and events.
The usual cons traffic, noise pollution, air pollution and lack of nature apply, but decrease as you go from grande to piccola. No matter what, the benefit to city life is that you are always a quick train ride or drive to a country weekend escape.
Country living in Italy is indeed dreamy and the choices are endless: the beautiful hills of Emilia Romagna, Umbria and Tuscany, mountain living in Trentino Alto Adige, Abruzzo or Val D’Aosta and fertile landscape of Campania, Puglia and Calabria. The advantage of being a country mouse is the pace is slower, nature abounds and you can definitely get more space for your spend. You also really get to know everyone. The downside is your business is everybody’s business. Gossip girl doesn’t have anything on a small town in Italia.
Island Living
Le isole italiane are some of the most breathtaking spots in the country and with about 450 of them, we’re spoiled for choice. To make it easy, we’ll focus on the main two- Sardinia and Sicily. (If you have questions about Venice, Capri, Ischia, Isola d’Elba, Pantelleria or any other island spots, let us know and we just might dedicate a newsletter to you. :) Sicily and Sardinia are the Med’s two largest islands, and they are equalling amazing but they are also unequivocally different.
Sicily is your best bet if you’re into ancient ruins, dramatic architecture and deep, local culinary traditions. They’ve also got the intense drama of Palermo and Catania, as well as the chic Taormina and Erica wrote all you need to know about how the island's faring given the White Lotus effect.
Looking for a more relaxed pace of life? Sardinia is your spot with pristine beaches, lush nature and a vibrant local culture that celebrates traditions and simplicity. There’s something magical about life in the blue zone with all those centurions.
The downside to island life is that life works on island time, which can mean a little big longer than the mainland. Costs can be higher, and when you want to leave, you have to plan because you can only leave via ferry or plane. Finally, it’s good to remember that isola is the root word for isolation, because it may take longer to assimilate culturally.
How You Can Live La Dolce Vita Legally
Everyone wants to live in Italy, but getting a visa that allows you to spend more than 90 days (for non-EU citizens) has always been complicated. With the new digital nomad visa greenlit on April 4, you’re about to have the privilege of living, working and drinking a lot of wine in Italy for up to a year.
Erica talked with Thea Duncan, Italy relocation expert and founder of Doing Italy, for a conversation on the new visa.
In brief: the Digital Nomad visa specifically targets experienced professionals who “carry out a highly professional activity, qualified through the use of technological tools that allows one to work remotely, independently, or for a company that is also not resident in the national territory.”
Like perusing any visa in any country, you’ll need the three Ps- planning, paperwork and patience. Be prepared to befriend your regional consulate so that you can get precise details as to what is required. The new visa’s general requirements include proving you have an annual income of at least $30,000, a legal accommodation contract, adequate health insurance and that you are an “established digital nomad”. Expect there to be more.
If you prefer la dolce vita as a vacation, keep up with Ciao Bella. We’ve got you covered.
xo
Erica + Alison