Italy is the birthplace of delicious food and wine, of gelato and pizza, of Michelangelo and Botticelli. There is so much to explore in this country of passion and romance. While Paris remains the city of lovers, Rome is the known as the city of romance, with Venice being the city of love. And who wouldn’t fall in love with a sunset gondola ride through the city’s canals? Italy has much to offer anyone who wishes to move to this amazing country.
Please note that this article offers recommendations. It does not constitute as legal advice. If you are planning to move to Italy, please seek professional legal assistance.
Climate Change
If you’re looking for a place with blue skies and warm weather, try the southern cities in Italy. Cities and towns along the coastline all enjoy very mild winters, however in the summer this will soon change from being great weather to being maybe a little hot to handle. Still, if you want to at least enjoy your winter in a city that has 27 degree ocean temperatures, Apulia is the ideal location for you. If you’re looking for snow, the Italian Alps is the place for you! With crisp blue skies and layers of snow, it is a skier’s ultimate dream.
The Power of Language
Before moving, it might be a good idea to take some Italian language classes. As English isn’t a common language in Italy, you might run into some trouble if you don’t know how to ask some of the basic questions. You don’t have to be completely fluent (although this would be much more helpful to your situation), but you might want to learn enough to sustain a short conversation or ask for directions. You will probably pick up a lot more the longer you live there. If you’re wanting to move to a more remote town, it is probably best to learn as much Italian as you can, as very few people will know how to speak English and you don’t want to be lost or without any way of communicating with locals.
Etiquette
Presentation is a significant thing in Italy. People will dress nicely even if they’re running errands so if you don’t want to stick out from the crowd, it might be best to put on a clean shirt or dress so that you look presentable at all times of the day. This is extended to eating mannerisms. Italians rarely eat dinner before 7pm, with local restaurants not actually opening until 9pm. There are some that open at 7pm for tourists so if you’re used to eating earlier, you don’t have to wait as long for a meal. Eating cheese with a fish dish is considered an eating taboo in the country, so don’t sprinkle cheese onto your seafood dishes such as seafood linguine, unless you want funny looks cast your way.
The Evening Promenade
There is a certain time of day that Italians absolutely love: La Passeggiata. It is also known as being the most Italian time of the day, as it is where everyone dresses smartly for an evening stroll through their city. It is a time for new romances to bloom and for friendships to be made. Many people sit on benches nursing a drink or gelato. La Passeggiata occurs between 5-8pm on Sunday evenings. Sunday lunches are usually drawn out and so an evening stroll is the perfect way to end a long day inside the house or sitting in one place.
Living at Home
You might be used to the fact that one day you’ll move out of your parents’ home, whether it be as soon as you’re of the legal age or if it’s a little later in life. However, Italians take it another step further, as some don’t even move out until they’re 30 or even older. This shows you how strong the familial ties are in the country. Children will attend university in their hometown or if their hometown has no university, they’ll go to a neighbouring town’s institution. It’s quite rare to find young Italians sharing an apartment together, though it’s not impossible to find. Keep this in mind when you’re looking for places, as you may find that there are fewer apartments or shared houses for you to choose from.
The Markets
If you have the chance to travel or live in Turin, you won’t be disappointed in your choice of markets to visit. The most famous is the Porta Palazzo market, which also happens to be the biggest market in Europe. You can find anything there, from shoes to fruit to fish. You might not be able to browse through everything in one day, but you’ll have a lot of fun trying! If you’re looking for great fresh produce, try the Corso Racconigi where they have some of the best cheeses and seafood produce available for you to try. Crocetta is another market if you’re looking for authentic designer clothes, shoes and accessories for a fraction of the price that they would be in the stores. This market has a sterling reputation so you won’t have to worry about getting scammed by sellers.
There is so much to explore in Italy and so much to experience. It’s often the little details that make this country such a delight, making you never want to leave. Before you move to Italy, you might need some help storing your belongings that will be travelling with you on this journey, whether it be permanent or simply long term. Spacer can help you with this, you can even find a space within your local area if you so chose, just to make it easier for you to access if you need something that you’ve already packed. If you’re confident that you won’t need anything that you’ve already packed, you can choose a place more convenient for moving, such as close to an airport or delivery service. You’ll have one less thing to worry about when the big move is finally upon you.
