Moving to Italy. How to Decide Where to Live. North? South? Central?

Moving to Italy is no easy task. I offer my 12.5 years of living experience in Italy to help you narrow down your choices a bit. There are many factors to consider and the goal of this video is to bring a few thoughts to mind while making your choice. Yet, at the end of the day, it really depends on the individual and personal needs. On that note there are different types: City vs rural, sea vs mountain living, living near other expats and lastly, which area of Italy is right for you?
Where to live in Italy exactly? Italy offers many different realities and this greatly depends if you live in the North, Central or Southern areas of Italy. I personally have lived in the South and Rome and I have traveled all over Italy, so I humbly declare that I have a good idea of what to look for when moving to Italy and most importantly, HOW to go about doing it.
Please remember that these are merely my own observations based on my own experiences. Put simply, the opinions of some dude who makes videos on KZbin! Take it with a grain of salt. Buona visione!
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🔎🔎 Jump to a specific part of the video:
00:00 Intro
00:47 it depends on you
01:04 Are you crazy?
01:14 Southern Italy
03:03 Torre Del Greco
03:17 Northern Italy
04:27 English speakers
05:02 Central Italy
05:40 Earthquakes
06:09 Geological features
06:52 The sea
07:36 Big City Living
08:02 Scout out the area
08:29 Reach out to others
08:53 Retiring in Rome?
09:17 Enjoying the big cities
09:36 Expats
10:15 Take an Italian course
10:55 airports
11:17 Work
12:01 Passive Income
12:16 Remote working
12:24 My ideal town
13:45 Frase Italiana Della Settimana
14:00 Support the Channel. Pray for Ukraine.
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🏡 Looking for a house ? Check these websites !
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www.subito.it/
www.casa.it/
www.idealista.it/en/
roma.bakeca.it
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[@22Jeffreyb]

Great job. Wow, there is a lot to consider. I would love to someday move to Italy. Being retired work is not a factor. I’m trying to talk Barbara into buying and apartment somewhere in Tuscany, maybe Arezzo. We shall see. Looking forward to meeting up again in April.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you! Oh sure, I'd consider Arezzo too! See you in April.

[@gnuffola1979]

Siamo tutta una costa e questi vogliono andare nelle zone interne...

[@DT-vo7fg]

@@gnuffola1979 a parte che l'interno è spettacolare e che la provincia di Arezzo è sottovalutata (è quella che costa meno dal punto di vista immobiliare insieme a quella di Pistoia, sono zone di montagna) ma ben servita da infrastrutture, metà di quella costa fa abbastanza schifo, se parliamo di mare. A parte chi ha da buttar via soldi a palate, chi può permettersi di spendere 3-4-5-8 mila euro al mq per avere un mare di merda? La verità è che in generale la Toscana è sopravvalutata e campa di rendita, se fossi straniero amante di cultura e natura, prenderei in considerazione seriamente vivere in Umbria: stessa bellezza ad un terzo del prezzo!

[@danielaf1487]

Thanks for acknowledging the existence of central Italy, hardly anyone ever does (including Italians) and it does actually have an identity of its own, which neither like the South or the North!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

People in general I feel have a poor sense of geography. When someone mentions they’ve been to Umbria, Molise or Basilicata , I often ask “where in (region) ?” They don’t understand the question for two reasons. 1. Linguistic confusion as they probably understand “where is (region) and 2. As you said most Italians don’t know these places let alone an American!

[@peachbottomblues9944]

Yeah, no one ever mentions…TUSCANY😂…are you nuts, central Italy is the most over-hyped region in all of Italy. Same with Umbria and Emilia-Romagna…The Marche isn’t much mentioned but other than that. Abruzzo and Molise are southern Italy. And Lazio (Rome) is considered central Italy.

[@andrewdiprose]

Molise is not Southern Italy and Abruzzo is also Central Italy@@peachbottomblues9944

[@carolinagandolfo8713]

That’s so true! Also, southern Italy is cheaper 😎 Something I appreciated a lot was when you mentioned geological factors. Many people in America, for example, think of Italy as a country that only offers monuments and good food. Not many tourists actually know of the natural beauty that surrounds Italy, so thank you!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I mentioned the housing is cheaper but I should have said that the cost is generally cheaper. I always forget something! Yeah I didn’t want to just mention the food as that’s a bit superficial. Thank you for the feedback 😊

[@TheChuckfuc]

That's great! I'm Canadian and love the outdoors. One of the things that has stopped me from going to Europe in the past is what seems to be a lack of nature and too many megacities.

[@marthatrujillo8371]

Hi David very good information. Thanks.

[@vitaaeris]

I may be biased as I’ve lived here my whole life, but I feel like central Italy is a good amalgamation of north and south Italy. Putting Rome aside as it is its own world, most towns in Umbria and Toscana are very small, community rooted, with great food, history and environment. Country side and nature all around is also stunning. It is decently organized (Toscana and Lazio better than Umbria, as the latter one has way less people living in, mostly older citizens). It’s a great place overall. If you want a European-like experience then Milan and its surroundings are a better place for it, but when it comes for northern beauty I’d definitely recommend the alps territories… even though you’ll meet more German/French speakers than Italians there. Sadly yes, earthquakes are a reality. Cities are pretty safe despite it, thankfully, it is the old towns that run more risks, like Amatrice. Great video! ❤

[@Wandering.Homebody]

Very informative, thank you so much David.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊.

[@manjitgumman1872]

Thanks good advice 😊

[@alejandrosalcedo4273]

Thank you!! Very good points to consider 👍 great subject.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kallobarb6087]

Amazing video. Please make more. I'm considering retiring here eventually, but need more info. before making that decision.

[@spdelco]

Hi David, great video. Very helpful.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊. Hopefully it helps many thousands of people. Hope you’re well

[@justmaribx]

I always appreciate your videos. As someone who is new to living in ROME 🙏🏼

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you Mari and welcome to Rome! How are you keeping here in the Eternal city?

[@outis4]

Benvenuta! :)

[@bhaktandeva3307]

Hey, David, thanks so much for these very helpful videos! I’m in the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent, so the info is super useful to me! 🙏

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Ah fantastic! I love reading these kinds of comments. They inspire me to keep going and making videos which help you all! How far along are you with your citizenship process ?

[@bhaktandeva3307]

I’m glad to hear that! I’ve traced my family line from present day relatives back to 200 years ago in Sicily and Naples using an ancestry website. It was easy, and brought a really surprising and intense emotional response in me, for all these people who I’ve never met. The family pull is still there, centuries later, it was very interesting to discover that. I’ve also contacted a reputable agency that has an Italian lawyer on staff and helps people in the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent. It’s much more expensive than doing it yourself but a lot less headache! I’m lucky that all my great grandparents, who arrived in New York from Italy around 1910 apparently never became USA citizens from what I’ve found so far, so I can inherit Italian citizenship through my grandmother who inherited from them. The agency will be letting me know where I stand soon. I’m hoping to maybe relocate to Palermo in a couple of years. I’ll be getting in touch with you to book one of the Zoom meetings you offer for some travel advice. Thanks again!

[@ChristinaNicci]

Great videos! I found you while doing my research for dual citizenship. Thanks to my great grandfather who was born in Sicily, I qualify! These videos have helped me out so much. My husband and I will eventually be moving to Italy.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

That's awesome! thanks for reaching out and I wish you all the best!

[@SalLifevlog]

Awesome video!

[@BrightStar3862]

Excellent commentary. Coherent and clear thoughts. Plus, your voice is beautifully clear. I need an area that is relatively flat so I can walk to groceries.. Likeo Tropea, can't walk stairs. Thank you, Ted.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you for the kind words! Make sure you choose your town very carefully, because Italy is full of hills and mountains.

[@jrthiker9908]

You really nailed all the important points, bravo! My husband and I bought a house in Abruzzo (TE) in the town where his paternal grandfather was born before moving to south Jersey. He also has roots in Calabria and Sicilia, and got his citizenship, I'm applying for mine now. We chose Abruzzo because we had been visiting relatives there for a good 20 years. While we love Sicilia and Calabria, infrastructure and access to top medical care is not as good. Abruzzo also reminds us of Seattle/PNW where we are in the US with the mountains and ocean, lamb/seafood, great wines, and laid back lifestyle. We plan to retire there full time in several years. We spend 3-6 months a year there and can go months without hearing a word of English. Learning good intermediate Italian (level B1 or B2) no matter where you end up is crucial as outside of the big cities and tourist centers few people speak English proficiently. Everyone has a favorite part of Italy, you have to find what region resonates with you before settling down. You were very diplomatic about the north/south differences. Abruzzo is technically south, but the abruzzesi consider themselves central. As our neighbors say...."We don't have the crazy intensity of the north, and we are not as slow as the south. We are the most normal of Italians." HA! Abruzzo was traditionally the summer/winter playground of the milanesi and bolognesi, but during the pandemic the Romans rediscovered us for the beaches and mountain hiking. As Toscana/Umbria/Puglia became popular and expensive, people have begun to come to Abruzzo.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

As I was reading that I became more and more enticed by going to live in Abruzzo! I've only been to Alfedena so for me Abruzzo is a whole new world to explore. The only note of caution I would give is that being in the middle of the country you are prone to strong earthquakes. I think I mentioned this but it is worth repeating. Make sure whatever house you buy is modern and not made of stone which could collapse easily.

[@jrthiker9908]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Yep, we're near the earthquake zone, but are used to that from Seattle. We were there for the big one in Amatrice 2016 and were staying in an apartment in an old building from the 1800's in our hill town. I've been thru a lot of earthquakes and this one was the scariest, the whole bed was shaking at 3:30 am and everyone in town ran outside. Our present house is newer construction (15 years old) so it didn't even have a crack. The Italian concrete/rebar/brick is pretty flexible compared to the old stone buildings. Funny thing about the Roman tourists during the pandemic....they kept going hiking around the Gran Sasso with no food/water/clothes and were getting lost. The Abruzzo Mountaineering Club kept having to rescue them LOL. Real estate prices are still very reasonable here, you get a lot of bang for your buck, whether you want to be in the hills/mountains or by the beach. Lots of options...houses, condos, villette a schiera (townhomes.) And it's only a little over 2 hours from our house to Fiumicino/Roma on the autostrada, 3 hours to Bologna. The views are spectacular, as is the food and wine. The old joke about Abruzzese food portion size is true....huge!!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

How do you go hiking without the proper supplies?! That's good to know that there are houses built properly to handle the earthquakes. I felt a few of them, 2 actually, in Salerno although they were mild, it still freaked me out!

[@gueyshart5476]

In 2017 I visited Italy with my husband. We stayed there for an entire month. We drove around from Milan to Bellagio all the way to Rome. I loved the north. But I know it’s a bit pricy! We would love to come again and visit the south for sure!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

The South is underrated in my opinion. Make sure you check out where I lived: Napoli and Salerno. Also check out the Amalfi coast and the Island of Ischia.

[@sevecdc5857]

Hi David, I enjoy your videos ❤ I'm a Canadian living in Italy.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi ! Thank you 😊. Where in Canada 🇨🇦 do you hail from ? Is your profile pic a clue ? Where in Italy 🇮🇹?

[@deanne9266]

I am a Canadian and moving to Como. I love Italian people and food. Canadians are cold and do not care about their neighbours.

[@jimg-invermont4543]

Great information David! Our plan (if it happens) is to live in a city and then figure it out from there.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thanks ! What city do you have in mind?

[@jimg-invermont4543]

In this prioritized order - Rome, Firenze or Pisa….or all three! 😉

[@RicMorn]

@@jimg-invermont4543 very, VERY different lifestyle. It’s like moving to USA and have NY, Boston and Philly in mind, that can be a good idea if you want to have a taste of different options. Hint: you may want to test also places that are not packed with tourists. I’m Italy there’s plenty of them and they’re equally charming than their most famous ones…

[@CalabriaDreaming]

Hey thanks for the shout out!! Great video and info as always. I still think everyone should move to Calabria of course but you honestly can’t really go wrong anywhere you go. Looking forward to a collab soon! I’ll be coming to Rome at some point. Un grande abbraccio

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

No problem. Oh sure. While I didn’t say I’d live in the South I would certainly entertain the idea if we had to move. I like the South for all its defects. Sure ! Let’s start brainstorming ideas. Un abbraccio a te !

[@CalabriaDreaming]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly if you can find away to make money here it can really be paradise. But like you said it’s an unorganized mess lol. Yes for sure we should do something together. How many crazy Americans living in Italy are on KZbin!?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

That depends on our perception of crazy! 😄. Yes, having income streams before you move here OR creating them as you live here is key.

[@josephaugello1527]

Buongiorno. I have a idea some people want big cities a video on reggio calabria would be beneficial to calabria there are 200000 people there. Across the strait there is Messina which is sicily but close by to visit if your in reggio calabria. I'm sure Lilly from calabria dreaming can help in reggio calabria. I've watched many videos looks beautiful. I have not been there in a very long time

[@CalabriaDreaming]

@@josephaugello1527 i am planning on going to Reggio this September so yes absolutely!! Been wanting to make a video of that city for a while now!!

[@WireItalia]

Thanks for this beautiful interesting video. As an Italian I think it all depends on how much you can fall in love with a place. According to clichés, the North is more devoted to work. The South has the extraordinary scenic beauty. Sardinia has a Caribbean beauty, I don't know if there is enough work. The same thing for Sicily. Beautiful, but I don't know from a working point of view.Without considering the economic issue, I would be undecided between Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Liguria, Sardinia and the smaller islands.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊. I feel it’s a real gray area as far as absolute truth is concerned if we’re talking about the realities of each area of Italy If I had to start over, I’m not really sure where I would go, but I might go up north because I appreciate cleanliness and organization and my gut says I can find it better up there.

[@hubieheathertoes]

Nice, precise, conscise and to the point. I love how you don’t sugarcoat things and even with such a short length of the video, you put a great deal of effort into subtleties and differences. Thank you, buddy. I will probably will never live in Italy but l can’t say l am not encouraged. Or discouraged by certain places.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊. Yes. I want people to see the realities of living in Italy 🇮🇹

[@luigibacchetti6539]

Great Video! Greetings from Florence

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you! What did you like about it?

[@gfair2]

David, just discovered your videos. Seriously considering moving to Italy. My biggest interest is more: I'd like a small place with a yard, but do some apartments in cities like Florence and Siena have that as an option, or is it only homes that have yards? I'd like a place with enough space for a nice veggie garden, maybe some potted fruit plants, etc. But I don't know what the home options are like. Thank you very much for the video, though, I feel like you've provided some tangible insights that other more superficial videos haven't. Appreciate the depth, for sure!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hello! thank you for the kind words, comments like these are uplifting and inspiration to make more videos! Well, you can find an apartment or even a villa in cities here in Italy, but you'd most likely need to have it on the top level of a building. The further away from anything urban makes this a lot easier

[@josephbaumann292]

Trentino-Alto Adige is a beautiful region. I love visiting Bolzano especially. This would probably be the region I would live if I were to move to Italy.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Absolutely. I've only visited it, but my gut tells me that it would be a nice place to live.

[@mrHello420__]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I live there and I can say it is the perfect place to live and retire. Clean Air, no garbage on the streets, the tap water quality is the best ever, good schools etc, etc... But maybe a bit boring for younger people 😅

[@sleepycofffeee]

@@mrHello420__ can confirm, born and raised in that region, fairly boring upbringing, and still kind of boring if adult but without spouse and kids. but definitely kind of heavenly after a certain age

[@Rualnys]

Amazing job David. I enjoyed this video a lot. Plenty of information without much running around. If I had my picks of areas to move to I would also pick Toscana, or Emilia Romagna (my preferred choice). I recently visited a big city in Italy and I couldn’t see myself living there long term. Regarding the EUS school, I’d advise anyone to give them a try. I started their Italian course and so far I’m learning the basics and having a good time. Their reps are quick to respond and very willing to work with you. Good value for your money too.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

How come you picked Emilia Romagna? Need authentic lasagna?! hehe.

[@Rualnys]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly IMO it strikes a great balance between many factors that matter to me. Plenty of countryside, some big cities here and there, famous beaches, hills and close to large mountain ranges. Also, being within driving distance of several other countries makes it very appealing to me.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

@@Rualnys This would place you in the North then,. Firenze maybe?

[@Rualnys]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly For my line of work it would be Ravenna, if I choose a city. If not a city, I’d likely go a bit deeper into the Monti Appennini, a nice and quiet Comune tucked in the hills.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

@@Rualnys I just had a peek at Ravenna on the map and going street level. It seems nice. Not a huge city and not a small town. Close to Venice and the sea. Go for it!

[@Rob-yu1lw]

Great video thanks. What about Abruzzo???? Your honesty will be greatly appreciated

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I went there last summer. Loved it. Clean Beautiful. Picturesque and great food. I was mainly in Ovindoli

[@Rob-yu1lw]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I'm going back in October, to Scafa about 20 minutes from Pescara

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

@@Rob-yu1lw buon viaggio 🛫

[@robjus1601]

My family came from Trentino. You made me smile when you discussed the bus. Then I thought yes why wouldn’t it arrive on time? People need to rely on a schedule so there is an obligation to be on time. I would describe people from Trentino as a mix of the best. German efficiency and Italian warmth.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Nice description. Well in organized places we can rely on punctuality.

[@tic-tacdrin-drinn1505]

Why “German” efficiency? Efficiency is something found in different regions of Italy. If parts of the nation cannot keep up, this cannot be believed to be the characteristic of an entire nation. By the way, Italian trains are more reliable than German trains.

[@EveDSouza]

I'm so glad this video popped up in my search! I was especially excited to hear you have lived in Salerno as that is an area my husband and I are looking at. Please would you give me some advice? We are both 44 looking to relocate to a small town or city that is quiet (no church bells or party goers creating a racket at night) must be quite safe, lots of greenery and options for walks/hikes, pet friendly as we have a cat, good public transportation system as we won't be getting a car and is in a good enough location for us to be able to travel to some of the other cities in Italy by train when we wish to explore. We are passionate about food, history and culture. We also need a place with mild winters, we love warm sunny environments. Lastly, we will not be working (retiring early) The two places I had looked at was Salerno and Genoa. Are these good options considering our checklist? Would you recommend one over the other? I'd really appreciate your input, thank you.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Salerno was a decent place to live. I enjoyed it although it’s far from perfect. Try by get a small villa a bit distant from the town center because there you can find a bit of noise. If I may ask how are you able to retire at our age ?! That’s great !

[@EveDSouza]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Thanks so much for the feedback! It's not simple to retire early but my husband started saving and investing very early. I only started in my mid 30's to be honest. We're also very mindful of how we spend money daily.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Investing. That has been a thorn in my side for a number of years now because I’d like to have huge sums of money to invest properly but I don’t. Working on it.

[@jennhanna8126]

please,what could be the downside of tuscany?!, lemon trees in your yard?!btw, loved the video!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I’m not sure but it can’t be an absolute paradise. Thank you 😊

[@andrewdiprose]

Catania province would be a great place to live including accessibility to the airport.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Really ? What do you like about it?

[@angelamorgan1153]

Thanks for the info David. My parents are from Abbruzzo and was thinking about buying there but just changed my mind because of the earthquakes. I might try Sicily,any suggestions on affordable areas.I'm currently living in Toronto and would be using the house for vacations only

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Abbruzzo is at risk for earthquakes yes. But if you get a modern house built to withstand them you should be ok. In Sicily I’d explore a town along the coast but not too small as you need to have access to the essentials like a pharmacy

[@ThaurusFury]

Please consider to visit my native island, Sardinia. It's a wonderful place and you'll be always welcome! 🙋

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

That’s next on my list

[@oxigenarian9763]

This is a great video but I have to say, you left out anything about clinate. I know Italy is not the same top to bottom and we'd love to hear about the climates, coastal, interior, north, south and in between... :)

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Sure I can add a few things about that. The mountainous areas tend to be cooler all year long. Last Summer I went to a mountain town in abbruzzo and it was considerably cooler than Rome. The pianura padana is an area of Italy, where I would never live, because it’s considered one of the hottest and most polluted in Europe. At the time of writing this comment it is July 2023 and we are in the midst of a long heatwave. I really can’t say if it’s hotter in the south or north but in an absolute general sense I would say that the further south you go the hotter it gets.

[@oxigenarian9763]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Thanks very much! My Grandfather was from Tuscany and Grandmother from Sicily. I love to hear your comments about Italy because when my folks came over to the US, they literally left their culture and heritage behind. It has been like pulling hen's teeth to get them to talk aboutit 'the old country'. Now, all of my older family is gone taking with them countless untold stories about Italians and Italy, both good and bad. Channels like yours is how I recapture my family heritage! :)

[@danielenocito5080]

Complimenti, veramente ben fatto, conciso e senza luoghi comuni! Lo invio alla mia compagna che si sta trasferendo qui dal Kenya...

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Ciao Daniele. Grazie e grazie davvero per la condivisione! eh si, dove andare a vivere a Sud può piacere a te ma non a me. Lo stesso discorso del Nord.

[@gigi-jeff]

Molto bene grazie

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you!

[@PaulFromCHGO]

@DavidsDoseofItaly Hello, David! I recently discovered your channel and love the content! I hope you can help me with a question on this topic. I work in the tech sector (IT / Computer Engineer, but not really a developer / programmer) and in my mid 50s. I would like to live in an area where there is a good chance of finding tech work (although I am still considering starting a tech based consulting business) but equally very important to my family would be a place with good health care. Know of any Italian "Silicon Valley" areas? I was thinking about maybe Alto Adige or Florence, but would love to hear any suggestions based on my circumstances, if possible. My background: I grew up in Chicago and now live in a nearby suburb and I recently got Italian Citizenship by descent - paternal great grandparents are from Brindisi Montagna in Basilicata (my Dad's paternal side) and Faicchio in Campania (my Dad's maternal side). I am still learning to speak Italian since sadly, it was not passed on to me. I'm not sure if it's affordable, but after I sell my house, I would like to try getting a detached home for privacy and peace. I plan to move in a few years when my youngest finishes high school and this will also give us a chance to study the language more. Based on this, do you (or anyone reading this) have any suggestions? Grazie!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hello Paul, and thank you very much for your feedback and kind words. I know all about that situation in Italian American families where unfortunately the Italian language just was not passed on. Anyway, in regards to your situation I feel that the most important thing that I should mention first is that I would seriously consider coming here for about a month or two and really get a feel for the country and a possible location where you would like to eventually retire. Do this before you even consider selling your house because once you do that, and you are not happy here in Italy, you might be in a difficult situation. I am saying this merely to be cautious and to protect yourself. By the way, congratulations on getting your time passport! This is something that not everyone has the privilege of getting, and you will find that this will make life a lot easier if you ever decide to retire here in Italy. Now, in regards to your work situation, I would suggest going to any of the major Italian cities: Milan, Torino, Rome, bologna, Florence and Trentino alto Adige I am somewhat biased, however, in recent years, I tend to prefer northern Italy, and I think it's because as I get older, I value, cleanliness and organization, peace, and quiet I value that even more because in Rome, I don't have that. Given the nature of your work, and that you could easily work online, I suggest doing just that; working online. I am a huge advocate of it, because part of my work is in fact online. This channel, for example. In short, I don't see why you need to commit yourself to a traditional job where you could easily do this on the Internet. With that said, and if you decide to go this route, then you also don't need to commit yourself to a big city, and you could live in a smaller town where you could more easily find peace and quiet and a detached house. These types of houses are not as common in Rome because they're more expensive and not only that, it might make you a target for thieves. I think this is why the majority of Italians prefer to live in apartment buildings because you're more inconspicuous. The majority of house break-ins happen to apartments that are on the ground or first floors, and so if you have a detached house here in Rome, if you find one at a decent price, you are in essence automatically on the ground and first floor. Anyway, I hope all this helps. As you have probably perceived, I always err on the side of caution here in Italy. If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out un grande in bocca al lupo!

[@PaulFromCHGO]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Ciao David and thanks for your response! I do plan to come over for a month next summer when school is out so that I can also bring my kids. I will also repeat this every year until my son finishes high school and then decide where to buy a home. Besides the Italian passports, we all have our codice fiscale so that will help speed things along, like a turtle running. I appreciate the warning about being careful before selling my house in the US first but I am already getting into a difficult situation as regarding the US healthcare system... family is being denied coverage for certain meds which is now causing me to drain some finances so, like Cortez, I may "burn the ship" after I come over and get on the public health system because I will need the house money to get the new property and if any left over, to live on while I get situated for work. I have some savings and an IRA but of course if I touch that before retirement I get a big tax hit but still, it's there for emergency. I will keep my US citizenship for now in case the grass is not so green on the other side. I figure if I can thrive in Italy or elsewhere in the EU for, let's say 10 years, then I may let go of the US citizenship to minimize taxes unless if by some miracle, the US government drops taxing citizens world wide. But of course I will try not commit to anything until I see how life is when we come over. I also agree with your thoughts about living in the North as I want to be in a clean place with lower crime and more work opportunities. Sure, I can work remotely, which would be a bonus for me, but thinking of my kids who are not following in my footsteps, I want them to be able to find work as well. My daughter just started University and is going for a medical career as an honors student and my son "currently" (he keeps changing his mind) wants to be a stock broker, so if that holds true, I guess he will be near Milan for the stock exchange. I also note your caution about more break-ins in detached houses. Growing up in Chicago, I was a few blocks away from being "the other side of the tracks" where there were gangs, so I am aware and grew up with some "street smarts" but still, I will take your caution to heart. I also have a couple of dogs and they make great burglar alarms! Also, I am flexible in the sense that I can live in the city or on the outskirts (but not rural - thats too quiet for this city boy). As long as I can hop on public transport within a few blocks, I don't mind being even 45 minutes from the city. Even though the language did not pass to me, some of the culture did (growing up, Italian relatives would come to the house on occasion) and my father was fiercely pro-italian and some of that rubbed off onto me. I have no doubt if he was still alive and knew I got the citizenship, he would probably come with me! So I am hopeful I will have a slightly easier time adjusting just because "I feel" more Italian than I do American. I embrace the culture! Grazie Mille! Apprezzo il consiglio e prendo tutto a cuore! Ciao! -- Paul.

[@davidtice4972]

Questo è eccellente. Ho vissuto nel nord Italia a Vicenza 45 minuti da Venezia e 45 minuti da Verona nella direzione opposta. Inoltre anni dopo ho vissuto e frequentato la scuola nel centro Italia a Perugia. Sono stato nel sud Italia a Napoli e nell'estremo sud della costa orientale Puglia.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Grazie ! Nice name btw. In quale città ti sei trovato bene ?

[@michaelrubino1950]

I'm thinking about orvieto or surrounding area...what are your thoughts ? I've talked to people in this area about the earthquakes . They don't seem to be bothered...You lived in Salerno? I hear there is alot of delinquencia there from young people now ..My origins are from Acerno ,Giffoni Valle piana and Faiano. I've been to these areas several times..but don't think I want to live there though...great video....Thanks

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Oh Definitely! I love Orvieto and I'd consider living there too! Good food, calm, clean and not that far from Rome or Florence. As I mentioned in the video you are prone to earthquakes in Umbria so it is a risk but that also depends on the kind of house or building you live in. Some are more resistant than others. Yup I was in Salerno for 3 years and I worked in a school close to Giffoni. Those areas are decent to live in if you like small town living and if you can afford it. You DEFINITELY need a car to live in that area as the bus service is mediocre at best.

[@LeftToWrite006]

Regarding moving near expats, my attitude has always been: if one wants to be near people that speak one's native language, why move to a foreign country? Just go to those places on vacation. On another note, what is your take on transportation in the central and southern part of the country? I know the public transportation system in the north seems pretty developed, especially compared to the U.S., but is it similar in the rest of the country?

[@maxharbig1167]

Well the highspeed train systems of Trenitalia and Italo will take you very quickly betweenall the big cities. North, Center and South. Milan to Florence 2 hours, Rome 3 and Naples 4. Within the big cities here are excellent subway and surface systems. I've found local trains pretty good in Tuscany as well to visit Lucca, Siena etc from Florence.. Bus services that cover very small towns and rural areas tend to be linked to commuter timetables for people who work in the nearest larger urban areas so in some places there can be some long gaps during the day between the morning and evening "rush hour" services .Gasoline is very expensive in Italy compared to the US so lots more people rely on public transport for work than in the US.

[@TheMooCowReturns]

Have you been to Abruzzo? Its where my family is from (100 years ago), and I am thinking of mooving back there when I retire in about 7-10 years. Would love to hear your thoughts...

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Yup ! Twice. I was in Ovindoli two summers ago. Nice quiet little town. Good food. Beautiful landscape

[@indigoinarritu6096]

David. I'll give you a personal invitation to come and check out the towns around Lago di Garda where I live. Most towns around here meet those qualifications. Just saying!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊.

[@indigoinarritu6096]

I have all my own video equipment so I can even be your guest videographer

[@asilvatranslations]

How’s life in Italy treating you? I’m thinking about moving. Have an Italian passport (Italian mother) and could use a break from the US grind. Hope all is well. God bless.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

It’s pretty good. Not every day is magical, cappuccino with colosseum in view but I’m quite satisfied here. Rome is a challenge I must say but it depends where you in the city. My advice ? Try living here if you can but have a backup plan if things don’t go as planned

[@maureenmcshane5988]

David, how important is it to know the language? I'm a talker, and the notion of not being able to express myself is scary. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

[@ChiaraDBrown]

Can you make a video about putting your child in school in Italy? How to choose a school for your kids?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Sure I will try to get to that eventually especially since I will be in that position very soon.

[@noeyg9457]

I have questions, David? First, I would love to live in Naples cuz I love their cultures and meet people. I got a question, if I moved to Italy and I want to take a couple of stuff like TVs, bike, electric stuff and my clothes. Could I just take the stuff that is important to me and then I’ll sell the rest. Or should I start new?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Just take your clothes. Don’t forget electronic stuff from the US may not work in Italy due to the differences in electric watts. It’s stronger over here. Sell the rest as you’ll need savings before you come here.

[@MegaAxm]

The best compromise to live in Italy, its in the center, the lazio reggione, have the good wheather of the south , you are close to big cities, like rome, best of both words

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Yes, that’s a very good way of looking at it

[@liukize]

For you Tuscany or northern italy, more easy to find a job, northern italy is perfect our Area I invite you to visit our province Brescia and the area!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Gladly ! But we’re in Rome for the definite future

[@maxharbig1167]

I came here from Scotland in 1970 and can find nothing to disagree with in your overview. As someone once said "The annoying thing with clichés is that, more often than not they are true." If, like me, you come and, obviously have to work to live the main place to go, as you said, is the North. Of course it depends on your qualifications and skill set but the places would be Milan. Turin, Genova or some of the other manufacturing towns north of the Po. The companies would be multinationals where you can work and really develop your language ability at the same time. It's not for eveyubody of course and certainly not if you are thinking of a "laid back" lijfe style. Because ,as we say here, "Chi va piano non è di Milano." Still, it's always Italy and the privilege of having been able to work and live in this wonderful country for over fifty years has derfinitely and overwhelmingly outwighed any of the inevitable frustrations ecountered by someone who has not grown up and been culturaly formed in a latin and mediterranean environment. .

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi Max! Thank you for your feedback and I’m glad that there is some accuracy to this video! Clichés do border on generalization however, I agree, they are somewhat reliable. I like that Millan expression! As I get older, I feel that I wouldn’t mind living in the north

[@p.a.paolino9505]

My roots are from a village between Naples and Salerno, Potenza and Chieti (spelling?). I doubt if I could connect with Northerners. Watched many dramas/detective programming from Italy and I believe I would be most content with my roots. What Italy lacks is baseball, how can Italy love soccer so much when you make no use with your hands?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I’ve been asking myself that since I moved here. I was explaining to an Italian friend of mine, who happens to be a soccer fan that if I criticize soccer it’s mainly for the technical side of it. I explained that since I used to play hockey, I always compare soccer to this sport, and for me it’s a slower simpler version of ice hockey. I wouldn’t worry about connecting with Northerners. From my experience still like anybody else some are nice and some less nice.

[@Nomad_783]

great video with good info. Just found it funny that americans (and most western foreigners), always pick Toscana. As if there is nothing else in italy :)) Yeah they do groom it a lot, and make it look like movies. Good services and stuff, but there are so much more to italy than Toscana can offer (nothing wrong with toscana just that all expats wanna live there...). Anyway i picked another location to live(much more local) in italy and personally i would do other region than Toscana. BUt again it might be just me..

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I agree that it is the most popular among tourists. However I agree with you in that there are plenty of other good places to live, if you want to relocate to Italy.

[@Nomad_783]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly agreed. thanks for the great content...

[@pulse4503]

It depends on what u r looking for...obviously! 🙂 If u wanna stay close to Rome, or in the region, and u wanna a safe environment for Kids ( in case you have)...well, no brainer iny book...Rieti 🙂

[@pulse4503]

Otherwise, the North Is the most developed area in the country, no doubt about It... (Apparently the Parma-Reggio Emilia provincia+ TAA/south Tirol are the best places 2 live in)

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Really ? Why Rieti ?

[@pulse4503]

Rieti has the highest quality of life in the region of Rome (Lazio), if I'm not mistaken is about the safest town in Italy, plus has great surroundings. If you're still living in Rome is just 80 km away, I guess a Sunday ride won't hurt you... 😊

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Yeah that’s next on my list. I haven’t seen many towns in Lazio unfortunately.

[@outis4]

Giusto punto di vista quello del nord con la vicinanza alle altre nazioni, considerando che si può viaggiare liberamente nelle nazioni europee quindi diventa davvero semplice passare i fine settimana visitando altri posti. A questo proposito va considerato anche il lato contrario: scegliendo posti molto al sud come la punta della Calabria, la Sardegna o la punta della Puglia, diviene più difficile spostarsi al centro o al nord. Farei giusto un appunto sulle spiagge: anche quelle pugliesi non sono da meno, specialmente la zona del Salento (cioè la parte più bassa della Puglia), tanto da avere anche una zona che è stata rinominata come "le Maldive del Salento"

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Ciao nessuno! 😄. Eh si, per spostarsi dalla Sardegna diventa davvero più difficile visto che è un isola. A proposito di spostarsi, questo è stato un lato positivo abitare a Salerno; c'erano tanti treni che ti portano facilmente nelle città settentrionali italiane. Una volta presi il treno per andare a Milano e fu un viaggio abbastanza piacevole. Purtroppo sono stato una volta sola in Puglia, sono stato a Vieste e mi ricordo che le spiagge erano belle e pulite. Per tornare a Roma c'era un solo pullman che partiva da Vieste alle 03:30!! Quel viaggio durò 9 ore e per forza devi scendere a Pescara per prendere un'altro pullman. La prossima volta ci andrò con la macchina!

[@outis4]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Certo, la Sardegna è ancora più isolata come la Sicilia (aggiungo che qui si possono subire anche ritardi per i pacchi, ad esempio). In generale quel che dici è verissimo, forse per gli americani sembrerà anche strano abituati alla geografia USA, ma vista anche la conformazione dell'Italia con gli appennini nel mezzo ecc posso dirti che, citando la Puglia e Roma, un treno da Lecce a Roma ci mette un po' più di 6 ore e non ce ne sono nemmeno molti; per andare a Cosenza (quindi Lazio - Calabria) ci mettiamo quasi 7 ore, 8 per arrivare a Reggio Calabria (per essere poi vicini a Messina). E parliamo di centro e sud, i tempi quindi aumentano ulteriormente se dal sud vogliamo andare al nord o viceversa. Di buono, però, oserei dire che chi si vuole trasferire in Italia a livello di contesto cade sempre in piedi: che sia il sud, il centro o il nord, si può trovare abbastanza facilmente natura meravigliosa, piccoli paesini medievaleggianti, borghi, storia e buon cibo ovunque! A proposito di Pescara, per le tue esigenze guarderei anche quel lato lì, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, puoi coniugare mare e boschi rimanendo comunque vicino anche a Roma ed al resto. Poi di Pescara mi hanno detto molto bene, ben fornita ma tranquilla.

[@gnuffola1979]

Spiagge migliori: Sardegna, Salento e per divertirsi Romagna

[@chipyoung4396]

Spiagge di Puglia sono molti Belle vicinò ddi mare ionio

[@outis4]

@@chipyoung4396 Assolutamente :) Se non sbaglio la Puglia è tra le regioni con le migliori spiagge quest'anno.

[@ILoveMyFrau]

Hey, great video! I just wish you explained bureaucracy in Italy as I heard it can be overwhelming in most Italian cities and towns!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you 😊 Italians can’t even explain bureaucracy! But I’ll see what I can do.

[@EpicMidnite]

considering moving to italy as well. my ideal town has the same qualifications as yours except i need warmth and would prefer the sea. making money online so a job isn't a problem, suggestions?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi. Maybe somewhere in Tuscany along the beach would be nice. Lago di gardo also comes to mind

[@Mu93508]

That is to live there

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

I took a DNA heritage test last year and realize I’m 20% southern Italian even with blonde hair, blue eyes and olive skin but that’s because I’m French and Italian on my dad’s side and English on my mother’s side

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I have actually encountered many people from Southern Italy, who are light skinned, and have hair to match. Also in Naples I noticed that there are a lot of ginger people. My sister, for example, has red hair and after I lived in Naples, I realize that maybe she inherited it from that culture.

[@RedRaikou]

I'm looking for: - an area not too expensive yet nice and clean - villages or towns(No cities), - mountains, lakes and "green" nearby, scenic views - work available... So...yeeeeeeeah...tough I know PS: An area I was thinking of was the Amalfi coast, but that's too expensive to live in, if not than somewhere in the southern region, but than that area has less work

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I think you can find all of that on the Amalfi coast, but I can’t guarantee work available unless you work online. Best of luck!

[@RedRaikou]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Thank you for your help 👍

[@DT-vo7fg]

You may find it convenient living in Umbria then...particularly near the Trasimeno area since there's the only highway that would let you reach Florence or Rome within 1 or 2 hours by car. Airport in Perugia within 40 minutes. Cost of life (houses above all) quite cheap if compared to other places like Tuscany. Amalfi is one of the most expensive area in Italy, 7000 euro/sqm!!!

[@RedRaikou]

@@DT-vo7fg Alright I'll look into it, thanks.

[@elinorcherubini9316]

How about Trieste? It has everything you require.😊

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I’ve heard good things about Trieste. I think that I need to go there to make a formal opinion.

[@Mauro41180]

Oh, come on?! Never been to Marche? I think you should come and visit my region. You may consider it to be the less known version of Tuscany by SOME extent. People from UK and Netherlands have already discovered that and started to buy properties there for holydays and/or retirement. I have always considered it to be a perfect compromise between the working opportunities of the North and the good living of the South. Let me know your thoughts should you ever visit Le Marche.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I know pathetic right? I am definitely going to visit it some day. It's not talked about much in Italy and so that leads me to believe that it's underrated.

[@Mauro41180]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I'd better define it as a "hidden gem" :-)

[@DT-vo7fg]

da toscano, ti dico che le Marche sono una delle regioni più belle e sottovalutate d'Italia. E i marchigiani come carattere sono 1000 volte meglio di noi come accoglienza!

[@MENSA.lady2]

How about a video explaining how you got all the legalities sorted. US citizens can just up-sticks and move to anywhere in the EU.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi. Eventually, I would like to do a video on how to get the. Permesso di soggiorno which actually I’ve never had. But I have known people that have had it and do have it.

[@obfuscateidentity2329]

What about the Adriatic Sea you forgot about that full of beaches?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

It’s not that I forgot it, but in this video, I prefer to speak about things that I was familiar with. Unfortunately I have not been to the Adriatic side that much.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

What advice do you have to help someone when moving to Italy?

[@MotoSangria]

Thanks David, nice cover up. And thanks for supporting Ukraine!

[@valefur72]

The region of Italy with the best living level and probably one of the best of the world for services is Trentino Alto Adige. Probably one of the best places in the world were to grow up a family: perfect schools, perfect hospitals, no criminality at all...all fo free. Too perfect...and a bit annoying 🤣

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

We went there once and we can’t wait to get back. 😍

[@gnuffola1979]

Penso che la zona con il miglior rapporto qualità della vita/ divertimento sia quella di Bologna

[@slynn4530]

what are you thoughts on Rieti?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I’ve heard good things about it. I passed through there once and ……well I had no negative impressions.

[@GloriaVictisDiesIlla]

Before people think of central Italy as this earthquake-ridden shaky place I'd like to make it shorter for those who read this: every ten years or so there's a very short-range earthquake that kills a handful of people in a single small area, that is to say a single one of the thousands of towns in a central italy inhabited by millions. Other than that, every bunch of years you might feel a little isolated shake that lasts a few seconds, and then nothing more for a further bunch of years. I don't know how many people would warn the general public of not moving to scary California because of the earthquakes and also definitely not to dangerous Florida because of the hurricanes.. the population affected by consequential (house damages or more) seismic activity in central italy is a microscopic percentage, zero point something, over as i said a total of millions who lead their peaceful lives and who might like to live where they live or might prefer to move elsewhere because of their life choices, but would most certainly never base their choice on something so rare and incosequential as a couple tiny tremors for three literal seconds every bunch of years. Now I'm the farthest person from an America-basher but just to illustrate the likelihood of what we're talking about and the rationality of worrying about it, i'm pretty dead sure that you run a still greatly higher risk of being shot, housebroken, carjacked, mugged, r*ped, or whatever similar offense in the average US town that you might ever run of being personally involved into a seismic event here that has any practical consequences to you as opposed to a simple "hm. did you feel that?" "feel what?" "like a little shake for a moment" "hm.. i don't know.. maybe?". And those things happening to you as an individual in the US are still far, far from being frequent! And yet stats-wise at least one of them happening to you is certainly likelier than an earthquake in italy creating you problems. The reason why we remember the earthquake in Umbria/Marche, the one in Emilia or the one in L'Aquila is because they are such rare events through the decades when at least a real number of people died and quite a number of homes were wrecked as opposed to next-to-no-consequences kind of events. So if you prefer more jobs, impeccable services and a colder climate go to the north, if you prefer a warm climate, lively people and cheaper prices go to the south, if you prefer a more temperate climate, medieval towns and a hilly countryside go to the center, but please don't base your choices on something which has the same likelihood of damaging you than that of being mauled by a shark in a long coastal area visited by a single shark once every 10 years. No beef with you man, but I wanted to clarify to those who watch this the actual likelihood of what we're talking about. PS. For those who asked: the mafia poses a corruption problem and a capture of the political process in the areas where it is infiltrated, but you won't encounter it in open-crime form in your life as a normal citizen, it's not like you'll ever meet one of the few thousand people who secretly belong to it in a country of 60 million. They laundered their money and are in business now.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hello Gloria, and thank you for putting things into perspective. There is a lot of truth to what you are saying here and I tend to agree. I still feel however that you should do some investigating about the area where you’re going to live. In the case of earthquakes I think this is important especially if you’re not used to feeling tremors. I am not because growing up in Connecticut we never got earthquakes. Despite the low likelihood of having your house destroyed or people dying in an area which has had major earthquakes I still prefer prevention. The first thing I would do is try and find a building which has been built recently, and can stand seismic activity. As for the mob, that’s a topic that I seldom talk about on this channel But to illustrate your point yes, I lived in Campania for five years and never really had a problem with those people. I had encounters yes and to be honest, it was quite uncomfortable. Nevertheless, if somebody tells me that they want to live in southern Italy, I would also consider other factors before thinking of organized crime. However, if you intend open a business in that area than this could potentially put you at risk in my opinion. I know this because I saw it firsthand.

[@justone6407]

I'd love to live in Italy forever. But dont know the procedures

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

There are many ways you can do it. But it really depends on your individual situation and also your family history if you have Italian roots.

[@cassidyraebarrera]

Do you have any recommendations for where to learn italian if someone can't go to the country

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi Cassidy. Yes I have a few suggestions. If you're in the USA, take a few courses at a community college like I did. If you'd like to do an online course check out this video that I made. In it, I talk about an online school I did to learn German and just for learning the basics I enjoyed the course. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5irna15p72WoM0 You can also check out other youtubers who make content specifically designed for learning Italian. 2 channels that come to mind are these: kzbin.info kzbin.info Also I recommend watching, reading or just doing something in Italian every day. check out the rai replay website if you want to watch the news, telefilms, tv series, etc.

[@carolc1543]

Thank you for your thoughts. I’m retired and have been living in Florida for 32 years. Im still a NYer. I’m tired of quiet. I am starved for culture! I’m moving to Italy next year. Would love Rome or as you like, Tuscany. But financially it’s not the best for me. I need an airport and/or train that gets to one. I’ll have to go south. As long as I can get to Rome and Tuscany by train, I’m ok. Italy has a great tax incentive for retirees to move south. I’ve checked out areas for quality of medical. Of course if anything very serious, I would go north . I will visit in May to further explore. Lots to consider.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi Carol. If money is a problem then going southward might be a better solution. Consider Salerno for example. I lived there for three years It’s well connected with the rest of Italy. It’s a small city and full of life , close to the Amalfi coast and Napoli. I’ve received medical care there and it was fine to be honest. Just a thought.

[@carolc1543]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I love Salerno! I would live there. But it doesn’t qualify for the tax break. I’m looking at Scalea in Calabria and areas in Puglia. I think Scalea would be better. Can get to Salerno easily.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

@@carolc1543 How did you end up picking Scalea? Also what tax break are you referring to?

[@carolc1543]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Scalea has decent medical and on good train line to Salerno and on. It has everything I need and no need for car. The 7% flat income tax offered to retirees who live in south and Sicily in towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants. You cannot have lived in Italy for at least five years prior. I’m also looking at San Vito dei Nirmanni and other commune in Puglia.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

That’s interesting how you say scalea has good healthcare as Calabria is not known for it. But I suppose there are always exceptions

[@Mu93508]

How was it living in Salerno?my great-grandfather was from there.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi John. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad. I found it to be quite a livable town and for southern Italy, it was rather organized. When does distinct feature that I liked about Salerno is that I was able to ride my bike to get to where I had to go.

[@Mu93508]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I would like to file my paperwork for my dual citizenship in this location. But I don't know where to go to do it

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I’m not an expert on this particular topic of citizenship. However, the first place that I would start would be the Ufficio anagrafe This is where I began my Italian citizen process because this is the office that holds town records, such as birth and marriage certificates. I don’t know if this would work for citizenship. However, when I went there, I just went there in person and asked for the necessary documents. Granted, asking for documents and an appointment for citizenship are two different things. In your situation, I would plan to spend at least two weeks a month in Italy in order to make an appointment with them and then actually go to the appointment if they allow them. You could contact them via email however make sure it’s in correct Italian and that they actually get back to you.

[@Mu93508]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Thank you for the information I really appreciate it.

[@simonedelgrosso4519]

umbria

[@SS-zn8ke]

I moved to Sicily (lving in a beach town) from Canada to retire here . I am Sicilian born here but raised in Canada and speak fluent italian and understand dialect. Point blank.... It's a nightmare to live all year round. I can't do it.. Boring as hell. Depressing during the winter. Very provincial. Summer is crazy hot and humid and unbearable and full of tourists so prices are sketchy. It's chaos. The people here have a very backward mentality and you cannot trust anyone you hire to do anything right. If something breaks down good luck. They will try and rip you off so you have to be careful. People don't respond and it takes forever to get anything done let along done right. If you plan on living here alone without family. Don't. Very few resources and really nothing to do. You definitely need a car and the driving is insane. Garbage is terrible. Bad infrastructure and disorganization at a max. The good... food is amazing and grown locally and cost of living is cheap. The ocean and landscape amazing. I speak the Italian. Here you have to if not Sicilian and you will always be seen as a foreigner if they detect an accent or know you are not a native. And that has it's problems. Renting an apt here is a nightmare. I have been here two years and still cannot find a suitable place to live. The apts are all furnished with the most horrible old furniture. Unless you want to rent something very expensive. They just dump all the unwanted furniture into apt and rent them out. Most are rented as vacation properties and overcharge. Small towns are pretty but beware. There is NOTHING TO DO. Everything shuts down and other than your basic needs there is nothing. The big cities are beautiful but chaotic and dirty. If you can handle that go for it. Amazing to visit and vacation..... but not to live. That's my personal experience. They don't tell you this stuff on the blogs they just show you pretty pictures of 1 euro homes in towns that are empty and offer nothing or edited shots of the ocean scenery...lol. Consider your own situation and remember these people are looking for followers and views. They do not project realit and it upsets me because it's very misleading.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi! Thank you very much for your well thought out comment. I agree with pretty much everything you say here although I’ve never rented an apartment in Sicily. I agree I don’t think I would want to live in my wife’s hometown where she grew up because it’s everything you said. Want to prevent the common cold? Cover up even in mild temperatures and don’t go outside with wet hair. Right. I appreciate this kind of comment because this reflects the message that I want to get across on my channel and that is the reality of living in Italy. Views and subscribers are nice, but I’m more interested in quality and truth. When people ask me where they should consider living in retiring in Italy, I really have a hard time, suggesting southern Italy it has many perks, and for some people it could be just what they need But if you’re coming from a country like the US, for example, I think people would something which is on the same level of organization and cleanliness Granted I’m not saying the US works like a well oiled machine, but still I feel northern Italy corresponds more to what we are used to, in terms of organization and cleanliness.

[@SS-zn8ke]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly 💯 % I’m glad you appreciated my candor. Too many vloggers and bloggers out there romanticizing this whole dolce vita thing to get viewers and followers and coaching gigs. And ao many people are led astray into buying 1 euro homes. Omg they have no idea how desolate it is to live there! lol. you have to be born and raised.

[@rudolphvalentinoconnection8298]

I'm 71 and have the lawyers working on my blood dual citizenship...I have eliminated the North because of the weather...I'm a desert rat now and want warm weather vs. NJ weather. I have relatives in Campobasso but that's cold!...I also need special foods which I know I can get, so that's good. So, I'm thinking of Palermo, close to where my father's people come from. It's not too big and heck, there a street with my name on it!!! (Isadoro La Lumia) I don't care about beaches, but I do want milder weather and sun. I'm healthier out of colder, damp weather... When younger I lived in London and would visit my expat relative there (expat from Sicily) and traveled a lot, so if my feet hold out, I'm game. I've studied Bari as well. Am I too old? Well, I can rot here or have my last big adventure!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hey! I'm all for taking big leaps. It takes us out of our comfort zone and thus helps us to grow. So, I would recommend Palermo however there are two things that come to mind: Can you get these special foods in Sicily and I think Palermo might be damp and chilly in the winter. Since it's right on the water I can tell you that in the summer it gets very humid which I have experienced first hand back in 2019. The center of Sicily however is much drier and so that summer heat is bearable.

[@rudolphvalentinoconnection8298]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Thanks for your input! I don't think there is any area of Italy that is "perfect" in terms of humidity...much like the NYC area...with the 90% humidity and high temps in the summer! EEK! But, a minisplit with A/C would make that livable. So, I focus on Palermo and Bari which is nearer to the relatives. "Cold" is relative...even here in NM in the LOW desert (unlike high desert in AZ, 85 in Dec.! ), we get into a couple of months of icky "Jersey weather in March" and into the 20's overnight, too!...and I survive! But, we still have SUN most of the time. I've looked at Spain (Valencia and to the South, and even Portugal, but, face it, I'm Italian and why make it harder than it already will be. I know I can get most of my "special" things and with senza glutine pasta I can be OK! Lower protein is the issue, so I treat myself as a PKU patient! Thanks for your insights! Love your channel!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I agree. Go where your heart is! Thank you for watching!

[@Mauro41180]

Actually Palermo sounds like the best option for you considering what you are looking for... Best luck!

[@rudolphvalentinoconnection8298]

@@Mauro41180 Oh, I know...but I most likely won't have a car and getting around the island on public transport, from what I've read, isn't that reliable. My family originates from Campofelice di fitalia about 25 KM to the SE of Palermo. I know Palermo is having a resurgence of sorts and it has a NaturaSi, which I need because I'm on special diet.

[@robertharry7652]

What did you think of living in Salerno?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Overall it was a positive experience. If we’re just talking about the city itself I felt it was fairly well organized and I like the fact that it wasn’t a major city. In a sense it gives you some breathing room compared to living in Rome or Naples.

[@josephaugello1527]

It's nice there. 50 Miles from napoli easy access to go there. Check reggio calabria it looks nice there and affordable. I'm sure Lilly can help there it's calabrias largest city

[@reno.zed1]

Sardinia.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Sure why not. Great beaches

[@reno.zed1]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly I hope to be able to move there next year.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Nice. I hope you can make it happen

[@pulse4503]

If wanna all these things + closeness to the Sea,then go to Romagna LOL

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

🤣🤣

[@liukize]

Italy is not a country, there are 3 different countries inside it! Great job great video!

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you Luca! Buon Anno 🎆!!

[@tonytagliaferri1254]

In the north there is a better organization,but the speaker doesn"t know that the major part of the people in the north is southern people.Second,since the occupation,1861,the central gov.invests in the n.,10 times more than in the s..According to Eurispes in the last 16 years,840 billion euros for the south,were denied to the south and spent for the north.

[@shebamut]

Great video as always David..my parents came from La Spezia, and my mom from Carrara. So my favorite is Liguria, especially Lerici. If I had millions, I would buy a house in Forti di Marmi. But i'm told thats all been scooped up by russian mafia...just sayin...

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thanks for the "as always"! If I had millions I'd buy a villa in Tuscany too in the middle of a forest or near the sea but not in a vacation area.

[@Mauro41180]

I do work in Marina di Carrara right now, and temporary living in Massa. Forte dei Marmi is nearby. You don't really need to spend millions to get that kind of life. You may find amazing houses in very nice places if you just move out of internationally reknown places where everything is way too expensive. I think Tuscany in general is what foreigners tenda to think to as a first option, but please trust me, it's plentiful of nice places in Italy pretty unknown to non-locals where life can be great (of you like the kind) and much cheaper.

[@sunbaths.]

That’s my favorite area too! Tellaro 😍

[@andrewdiprose]

Rome actually has many downsides

[@francescobasile517]

Ciao ma tu dove vivi?

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Ciao Francesco. Io abito a Roma. Tu?

[@lisamarieroserobin]

They probably wouldnt think its too crazy if they had to spend a year in Canada 😢

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

No no. Unacceptable. The major of Italians don’t do cold.

[@lisamarieroserobin]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly us Canadians don't like it either but we don't have the choice 🤣

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Well, I don’t like cold per se but it is nice to wear warm clothing and not sweat your brains out in hot humid heat. Let’s face it though, if I had to live another winter in Connecticut, I probably would say that I hate the cold too!

[@joshlowell3075]

In all honesty Alto Adige is what can be considered a colonized part of Austria by Italy. Yes that part of Italy is the best run, wealthiest part, most advanced part of Italy with the least amount of real Italians because they are Germanic descendants.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

true, it once was apart of Austria. When I was there I didn't feel 100% in Italy.

[@RicMorn]

It’s a nice region, but about “wealthiest part” (“best run” is also debatable) you’re wrong. Just look at the numbers…

[@osama-in3ox]

That’s really informative information, Naples seems like a really dangerous place and I don’t like the vibe of the people, seems like a third world country when I went there, the people are more impolite. One quick question, where in Italy has the most mafia? and how is Sicily because I want to really visit there.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Thank you. Your question is very difficult to answer, however. The south generally has always had that reputation. I believe however that they extend all part of Italy, unfortunately. Their presence however, is more felt in the south.

[@gnuffola1979]

dear sir, actually every nation has its own organized crime, ours is just more notorious

[@lindax911]

Gotta say, "it depends" is just about the worst answer that can be given.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Why ?

[@gueyshart5476]

I’ve heard it’s hard to get a job unless you know someone of importance.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Very often this is true. It's called raccomandazione.

[@sailingvesseljulianne8230]

I must respectfully disagree with the desire to retire in a small town in italy. My husband and I purchased a home in Tuscany 2 years ago. Bad move. I am from Los Angeles and my hubby is from NY. I feel completely lost in Tuscany. It is beautiful but NOT a place an older person should move. I have never seen a fireman or police officer in Montopoli. As we age the thought of not having an officer, fireman, or ambulance arrive in short time is frightening. I would love to sell our home and find a place in Rome or venice (where my grandmother was born). Also I have had medical care in both venice and Rome and had no issue with language. I actually found more English being spoken in venice than I have in Los Angeles. I know that may be shocking but at cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, most employees tend to be from The Philippines or Mexico, and their English is not very good. Also lack of fire department in our small village, is also frightening as I fear the home could burn to the ground before any help arrives. Needless to say, a native of one of the largest cities in US, I am not comfortable in A very small and rural area.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Hi. That is an interesting story, thank you for sharing. Yeh, I can identify with the downsides of living in a smaller town as well as the ones you just mentioned. If you’re going to consider Rome, I suggest living in the suburbs as you have the best of both worlds.

[@sailingvesseljulianne8230]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly thank you. My hubby is not crazy about big cities and after years of being a cruise ship captain, longs for the quite life. However not completely “out in the woods”. Maybe a more houses than apartments (like Los Angeles) whereas I would prefer the “City” where we could walk everywhere instead of driving everywhere, as we must do when on our boat in San Diego CA. (Maybe a home near the American Hospital? I had an ER visit and if I recall looked like homes instead of high rises.

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

There are plenty of neighborhoods in Rome which are a mix of urban and quieter places. basically the further you get away from the center and along the GRA you're more likely to find them.

[@anna_m59]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly Rome has extremely high crime most of the part of city.

[@anna_m59]

Since when are we walking in LA? Everyone is driving because the public transportation is poor mostly used by Hispanic to get to work and home. The only what I can thinking is Beverly Hills where you can take very short walks between some streets as I did. Use to live in Beverly Hills (Rexford drive). Moved out from city to Malibu area because the city life was too stressful .. about the healthcare workers: It is very common in the States that they are from Philippines or Hispanic. Am working in surgery department another hospital but I never heard anyone to speak poorly. What I know from many employers from cedar who come to our hospital ( UCLA) that many of patients from Beverly Hills treading poorly the nurses and stuff. I hope you can settle and enjoy more the quiet relaxing Tuscany !

[@tonytagliaferri1254]

Most dangerous cities in Italy according to the statistics:1)Milano,2)Rimini,3)Torino,4)Bologna,5)Roma,6)Imperia,7)Firenze,8)Prato,9)Livorno,10)Napoli.Citta'piu'pericolose d'Italia.

[@cindyloppnow1621]

You could easily be talking about the US when describing the differences between north and south 😂

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

True. I have noted similar characteristics

[@ONDCHIEVO]

North Is Better

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

Yes. Can you think of other reasons why it’s better other than the ones mentioned in this video ?

[@ONDCHIEVO]

@@DavidsDoseofItaly more job's opportunities , less crime , more organized mentality ,friendly but still reserved people (except for the big city Milano , Torino ,Venice they are more chaotic ) . Obviously There are exceptions but in most cases this Is the case

[@DavidsDoseofItaly]

I would agree with this.

[@vitorn6496]

@@ONDCHIEVO it's not just about north and south, it's more about living in a big cities and living in a small town

[@RicMorn]

@@vitorn6496 true, but in general if you choose the North you have: More job opportunities More expenses Better healthcare and transportation Worse weather Less criminality (I’m talking about the criminality that can actually affect your life as an individual, not the organized crime infiltrations) Luckily the food is great everywhere, so it’s a matter of taste. Of course these are general guidelines: you can find places in the South with excellent hospitals and a very low criminality rate and places in the north with a very good climate… If I was a foreigner considering Italy as a place to live I’d try to get rid of all that aura usually associated with the most known places (Tuscany, Venice, Rome etc.). It’s like watching NY through Woody Allen’s eyes: attractive but not exactly adherent to reality…