Wondering why you should live in Italy? There are many reasons for relocating to Italy, we explore some of the most popular.
If you’re thinking of moving to Italy and are looking for more reasons to convince yourself to do so then we’re here to help! Below, we’ve compiled a list of our top 21 reasons as to why you should take that leap of faith and move to the city of your dreams – whether that be Rome, Venice, Milan or Naples. Or perhaps you prefer to retire to the quiet hills of Tuscany?
According to data from the British Embassy, some 30,000 Brits are living in Italy – most in the more economically prosperous north of the country. But as we can attest from our customers, there is still no shortage of British people looking to move to Italy post-Brexit, whether it be for work opportunities, lifestyle choice or the perfect place to enjoy their retirement.
Whatever your reasons for moving to Italy, one thing’s for sure – you’ll be immersing yourself in a country full of rich culture, an abundance of history and good food, wherever it is you decide to live in Italy. Keep reading to learn more about the perks of living in Italy and why you should consider making the move today!
1. The slower pace and overall better quality of life
If you’re after an easy-going, slower pace of life, the Italians themselves have their own phrase for this – “la dolce vita” which translates to “the sweet life”. Italians are more aware than anyone else of the turmoil experienced when losing sight of the bigger picture and getting consumed by the stress of everyday life.
As a result, they promote a more light-hearted approach to life – encouraging passeggiata (a leisurely stroll) and pennichella (the Italian siesta), and enjoying the little things in life. They take their time doing the things that they love and cherish every moment of it – if it’s anything that we should be taking a page from, it’s the Italian’s way of going about a simple life.
2. Beautiful villas and apartments at very affordable prices
When it comes to affordable homes, there’s no denying that properties are significantly cheaper in Italy compared to the UK. According to numbeo.com price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city centre is €3,094 in Italy and €4,943 in the UK – a difference of 60%.
In rural difference is even greater just €1,910 per square meter in Italy compared to €3,517 in the UK – a staggering 84% more! Investing and purchasing a property in Italy will be sure to guarantee you a larger home for you to invest in, retire to or raise a family in.
But the price is just a small factor when you compare the size and character of properties on offer. From stunning villas to stylish apartments located in rural farmland, coastal resorts and iconic cities, you’ll certainly find something to fulfil your Italian dream.
3. Stunning landscapes for hikes and rural escapes
What better reason to move to Italy than living amongst some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world? From the view of Lake Garda surrounded by Monte Baldo to the Cinque Terre full of colourful pastel villages near the coast, you’re completely surrounded by an abundance of captivating views, perfect for a hike of any scale.
Whether it’s the vineyards, mountains, lakes, beaches, lagoons or waterfalls you’re after, Italy has almost every landscape you’ll ever hope to find and more, especially in a country of the size that it is.
4. Lower cost of living
You might think that a higher quality of life comes with a higher cost of living but thankfully that is not the case in Italy!
According to Expatistan, the cost of living in Italy is significantly cheaper than that of the UK – in fact around 24% cheaper, with the largest differences being in transportation, housing and entertainment costs. Moving to Italy –in your retirement, to live below your means, will allow every pound you’ve worked so hard for to go that extra little mile for you.
This makes Italy the perfect choice for a comfortable retirement or for those looking for a cultural change at an affordable price.
5. Great transport links to visit family and friends whenever you miss them
Just because you’ve moved countries doesn’t mean the irrational fear of hardly ever seeing your family and friends again is true! Italy has great transport links to the UK, so you can easily take a flight or a train and be in the UK within a -few hours.
With single flight tickets starting from just £8, you can find quick, direct flights from Milan, Pisa, Rome, Venice, Bologna with budget airlines including RyanAir, easyJet, Wizz Air and many more.
Low costs flights mean that you can expect lots of visits from family and friends so you had better ensure that you have a spare room!
6. Beautiful staycation weather all year round
With the Mediterranean climate around coastal areas meaning hot, dry summers with clear blue skies and freezing winter days full of snow up in the north, living in Italy will have you feeling as if you’re on holiday all year round.
With summers reaching average highs of 28 degrees Celsius in August in Naples contrasted by the perfect skiing weather in the Alps in January, no longer will you need to make much of a journey for the perfect holiday destination, as living in Italy opens up many staycation options for you instead.
You can choose where to live in Italy based on how much you want sunshine all year round!
7. Budget-friendly removal companies to help you move
If you’re worried about the cost of moving countries, then worry no more. There are a large number of international removal companies offering door to door service and insurance options at an affordable price.
It’s just a case of giving them a call and they’ll not only take care of packing your belongings but also handle the new customs arrangements before delivering to your new home like you would with any other move. Don’t sweat it! You can even get an instant online estimate for moving to Italy with PSS.
8. Surrounded by authentic Italian food 24/7
There’s a good reason why Italian food is so often spoken about and remains the favourite cuisine of many people. Living in Italy means you’re constantly surrounded by delicious Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
You’ll be spoilt for choice – whether it means Neapolitan pizza, pasta carbonara, mushroom risotto, or even trying a completely new dish altogether at the Sagra festivals – whatever it is, you’re bound to be impressed by the freshness and simplicity of dishes made authentically from scratch.
9. And let’s not forget Italian coffee
With the first coffeehouse in Europe being located in Venice, Italy has a rich history of coffee dating all the way back to the 16th century where it first began its trading, as well as being the place where espresso was invented thanks to Luigi Bezzera.
Today, with Naples being the prime location for the majority of coffee bean imports, the city is bursting full with some of the most well-known coffee shops across Italy, including the historic Gran Caffe Gambrinus once frequented by Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre and many more.
Whether you choose an Italian style espresso bar or prefer to relax at a café with gelato, you’ll have plenty of proof. Proof? Sounds weird, proof of what? Perhaps choice?
10. Retirement in Italy is still possible with elective residence visas for retirees
If you’re looking to retire in a place with perfect weather, tranquil countryside and impressive culture, then look no further. With Italy offering elective residence visas for those who do not require a job whilst in Italy i.e. you’re looking to retire or are self-employed, gaining permanent residence is simple once you’re able to prove complete financial independence.
This is a straightforward option for many – especially for those who are looking to move for their retirement.
11. Long life expectancy and quality healthcare
Italy has one of the best healthcare systems worldwide, ranked 4th place by Bloomberg with an average life expectancy of 82.5 (one of the highest globally). With a high average of 3.7 doctors per 1,000 citizens, healthcare providers in the country are widely accessible and affordable to patients for both public and private services, with 9.3% of the country’s GDP allocated to healthcare.
So what better reason to move to Italy than knowing you’ll likely have a lot longer to live there to enjoy it.
12. You’ll never be bored
There is so much going on every day of the year that there’s little room for boredom in Italy, making it one of the best locations for those who enjoy an active life.
There’s an activity to suit everyone – from rock climbing on a hike of the Selvaggio Blu, taking a dip at the Cascate Del Mulino, skiing in the Italian Alps, enjoying the southern beaches, all the way to the simple joys of visiting vineyards for wine tasting or enjoying an espresso at your local coffeehouse. Whatever floats your boat, Italy is sure to be able to accommodate!
13. Warm, friendly people
Italy has a very warm, welcoming and hospitable culture, you’ll be sure to run into friendly faces who’ll be more than happy to offer you a helping hand when in need as well as it being equally likely that you’ll make friends for life that you can count on.
Needless to say, the energy you give out will be the energy that’s returned to you – so learning some basic Italian phrases to show your efforts to immerse yourself in their culture in itself will go a long way!
14. Hustle and bustle of local markets
If you’re a fan of getting up early on the weekends to experience the hustle and bustle of the local markets and flower stalls – Italy will be right up your street. With markets buzzing with fresh fruits, sparkling wines and a variety of cheeses, needless to say, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the freshest of produce for cooking up a storm for dinner.
A crowd favourite that’s equally popular amongst locals and tourists alike is the Piazza del Campo in Siena. Surrounded by tall, medieval-style buildings and views of the Fonte Gaia, it makes for the perfect spot to sample some street food or enjoy a gelato out in the sun.
15. The nightlife
Need more be said? With clubs and bars opening their doors from 9pm until the early hours of the morning, it’s safe to say that the Italians sure know how to live it up. During the summer, outdoor concerts and festivals are a must amongst locals, with the Verona Opera and Puccini Festival being big hits, and let’s not forget live entertainment in Rome or beach parties in Rimini!
If you’re a lover of Opera then Italy is your calling – with the Sferisterio Opera Festival in Macerata being a yearly anticipated event; with tickets being highly sought after, it’s an event any die-hard opera fan should experience in person at least once in their lifetime – and living in Italy means you won’t have to travel very far to see it live every year (if you wanted to!).
16. A shopping paradise
There’s a good reason why Milan is named the fashion capital of the world – with some of the biggest, most extravagant couture names in the industry originating in Italy (Prada, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Armani), the world really is your oyster when it comes to the shopping experience you only get in Italy. There’s an endless number of streets full of designer boutiques, luxury stores and worldwide brands to visit, with local favourites including Via Del Corso in Rome, Via Monte Napoleone in Milan and Via Giovan Battista Zannoni in Florence.
The bottom line is that you’ll find everything you’re hoping for and more, and the complaint that there are not enough shopping choices in Italy simply does not exist.
17. Great for football fans with a winning national team
Italian’s are football mad and Serie A is one of the most popular leagues in the world with iconic teams throughout the country including AC & Inter Milan, Juventus, Naples and Roma. In fact, Italy’s long and proud football tradition was kick-started by British expats at the end of the nineteenth century.
With Italy going on to win four world cups and the European Cup in 2021, it’s nice to support a winning national team even if your home country remains your primary choice.
18. Captivating architecture across the country
From the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Colosseum, Italy is abundant in a diverse range of architectural styles spanning a period of 3,000 years, including influence from its Greek, Roman, Medieval, Gothic and Renaissance eras.
Different styles can be seen among the cathedrals, churches, basilicas, temples and castles, and even amongst local buildings and townhouses. Each piece of architecture has evolved over time with its own unique set of characteristics, adding interest and character to the rich history that it comes from.
Being surrounded by such a diverse history of architectural styles is an enlivening experience every time you step outside your door.
19. Top ranking universities worldwide
If you or your children are looking to study in Italy, their education system won’t let you down. Italy is home to some of the most prestigious universities worldwide, and yet surprisingly their tuition fees make for some of the most affordable – costing just €1,500 a year in tuition fees on average.
With the University of Bologna and Polytechnic University of Milan ranking in the top 200 worldwide and offering a large number of their courses in English – if you’re ever looking to study engineering, arts or sciences, moving there to study can be the perfect opportunity you’ve been waiting for to allow you to live in Italy.
In fact, Bologna is the home of the oldest continually operating university in the Western world, founded in 1088, it can claim to rival Oxford and Cambridge in the UK.
20. Immersing yourself in the language
If you’re looking to get fluent in Italian then practising is key – and what better opportunity to practise the language than by surrounding yourself with locals 24/7 where you have no choice but to give it your best shot?
With Italian having a similar alphabet to most other European languages and showing similarities in language to Spanish (with both being derived from Latin), becoming fluent in Italian within a short amount of time is definitely possible if you commit to it and dedicate a significant amount of time learning the language.
As we’ve mentioned previously, the people are warm and friendly so you can be sure they will be encouraging and supportive of your efforts.
21. So many iconic cities to choose from
Whilst it may be easy to make the choice to move to Italy, choosing which city to live in will be much harder.
Whether you prefer the bustling and historical Rome, the romance of Venice, the birthplace of the Renaissance in Florence, the fashion capital of Milan or any of the dozens more we could mention, you’ll have no shortage of locations for weekend breaks no matter where you finally decide to settle.
Are you convinced about moving to Italy?
Above are just some of the top advantages of living in Italy that we have thought of. We’d love to hear your view on why moving to Italy is such a good idea. There are many other good reasons that might apply to you that we have not included such as work opportunities, family, being part of the EU and we could go on.
No matter what your reasoning, we at PSS are here to help. When you’re ready to start planning your move you can check out our guide on moving house to Italy. We can also help you with shipping luggage or boxes to Italy.
Although it is maybe a little harder to move to Italy than before, many Brits are still making the move post-Brexit. So do a bit of research and don’t give up on your Italian dream just yet!
