You grow up with certain believes, a set of values to live by, adjusted to the circumstances and surroundings and you built your live around all of this.
Spoiler alert: If you love what you do, feel at home where you are right now, never wanting to leave your current life behind; this blog is not for you.
Living your best life is what it’s all about these days and you did pretty well for yourself, despite all the turmoil in the world.
But if, in the back of your mind, there is this negging little feeling, longing for change, wanting more out of life, this lingering dream – the one you used to have when you were a child… you want to move!
Not just to another neighborhood, another city or the next state/province, but to that country far far away, where life feels different, lighter, happier, where you are more at ease.
You’ve been there before, on holidays, short trips, student exchange programs or for a longer period of time for work and the way the people welcomed you, treated you during your stay, the food, the melodic sound of their beautiful language giving you the chills, the panoramic views, rolling hills, vast green meadows, the combination of rugged mountains, blue skies, the warm summer sun and this sweet scent lingering in the air.
That’s what describes the regions of Central Italy at best.
Tuscany is the most romantic region, well known for its world-renowned vineyards, cypress-lined roads, the Mediterranean Sea on one side, the Apennine Mountains on the other, cradling museum-worthy rolling landscapes. The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, home to many artistic masterpieces, appealing ancient hilltop towns, and let’s not forget its robust, authentic cuisine, based on tradition in farming, using produce of the land. This region speaks to everyone’s imagination.
Le Marche is Italy’s best-kept secret. Tugged in between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, this central-eastern region beautifully distills the best that the country has to offer into one area. Its possibilities are endless. From vine-covered hills to medieval walled villages, and from beautiful mountains with breathtaking hikes to pristine beaches for leisure, all largely untouched by mass tourism.
Urbino as the region’s capital, is a perfectly preserved city and the birthplace of the famous Renaissance painter Raphael, drenched in history, crowning the region.
The local cuisine is based on regional fresh, crisp wines, deep-fried stuffed olives and traditionally resolving around wild truffles.
Umbria’s synonym is the “Green Heart of Italy”. The region is landlocked in central Italy, but has lush green landscapes, defined by rolling hills, dramatic Apennine mountains, historic medieval hill towns, and rich culinary traditions.
Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures, ancient history, or a quieter alternative to neighboring Tuscany, Umbria is defined by the true Italian atmosphere and the unhurried essence of “La dolce far niente”. Idyllic cobble streets, historic towns like Perugia and Assisi and a cuisine known for its pecorino cheeses, olive oil and black truffles, all captured in a landscape of lakes, rivers, dense forests and fertile valleys.
The regions of Central Italy have this way of drawing you in, captivating you and lingering in your soul forever. As soon as you leave, you want to go back again.
Each with their own charm, their distinct features and their own kind of people. Not for everyone, but once it captures you, you can’t shake it.
If that is how you feel when you are anywhere else in the world, thinking about Italy, it is your time to give in to the urge and start your research.
Start by investigating if there is a place in one of the regions that calls your name. If you are not yet sure, you can make a list of all your prerequisites, your wishes and your needs.
As an Expat Services Company, we can help you narrow this list down to a couple of places that would be interesting for you to visit.
Once you have your preferred cities/towns/villages on the map, start making preparations for a trip, preferably off season, to stay in certain arias for a longer period of time, just experiencing daily life.
Check out shops, see how public transport works, what’s traffic like, where do people go in case of an emergency, – if you have kids – how far away are the schools, are there any sports clubs or options for college/university, – if you are retiring – how is elderly care, is there anything around that would interest you as a hobby, keeping you from getting bored and lonely, – if you are having a career – what about job opportunities or can you work remote, is there anyone left in the place once tourist season/summer is over, how does the place feel when it rains, when days are getting shorter and colder…
All in all: do you see yourself and/or your family live here long-term?
Don’t let yourself be fooled by the warm summer days, the beautiful panoramas and the idea of La Dolce Vita. Life in Italy can be just as hard and trying at times – especially if you get to deal with bureaucracy – as any other country, but boy can it be so stunning and spacious where you are right now?
If the urge of moving to Italy keeps pulling you in, it is so worth to do the search for your little piece of paradise.
