What Is It Like Being an Expat In Calabria? Is It Safe?

[@christinec.6685]

Please thank the Scalea Police, Antonello, Bonnie and the others for the warm greetings. I turned 63 this summer and can't wait to retire in Calabria!

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

I will! Bonnie is lovely and is really enjoying her retirement! We will look for you!

[@aNFTraining]

Omg u have no idea how much this is a topic I'm dying to know bout. Safety is a huge deal to me. I'll check this out now ...ty for doing this

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

You are welcome! It is much safer than most American cities. I feel safer in our village than in San Jose, Ca.

[@floridastitcher1]

Bonnie is courageous to move to Italy for her retirement. Good for you Bonnie!

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

She is and it has paid off for her! She is doing great!

[@patrickhughes3411]

What a wonderful video! Everyone there is so welcoming and kind. Thanks for sharing such an uplifting video Chris. It is wonderful to see everyone and all the wonderful, genuine smiles. I cannot say this enough - we absolutely love our new home and cannot wait to see everyone again soon.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Thank you Pat! I love watching this one over and over again! The people are so amazing and I cannot say how happy we are toe be part of the community. Antonello told me yesterday that our absence is heavy on them. How sweet! Your absence is heavy too!

[@patrickhughes3411]

@@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC we love you guys and miss everyone!

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Thank you Chris for sharing such beauty and friendliness. You’ve encouraged me to dare to dream….

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Hi Tyra! You are so welcome! Calabria is a wonderful place! I cannot wait for you to experience it yourself!

[@poliver12345]

Such warm beautiful people, thanks so much as I did grow up in Montreal and lots of my really great friends I grew up with were Italian families! Grazie Mille!

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

You are so welcome! I had an American friend tell me recently that it wasn't until he came to Italy that he had true friends and family. Very sweet!

[@janetlombardi2314]

A great video, Chris.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Thank you Janet!

[@sappypics5377]

Hi Chris, I have followed and watched all your vids for a long time. Being both an Italian and US Cit, I do want, think constantly, and plan to buy a property in the south of Italy (and by plan I mean mostly dream and look at places on Immobiliare) lol… I’ll make this shorter… this is one of my favorite videos of yours becasue we get to see and hear a lot of the local Italians there and it really makes it more of draw to feel that. Thanks for all your vids and please thank the people there for spending some time with you to share with us… :) So nice to see… #can’tleaveLosAngelessooneough….. hahahaha

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Thank you! When we return in Jan I will do a lot more of these. Everyone seems to like the videos of daily life. We look forward to seeing you in Calabria!

[@sappypics5377]

@@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC perfect, have a great holiday!

[@govinda102000]

Grazie al capo della polizia e a tutte le persone presenti nel video. La Calabria è molto sicura e mi piace visitare la tua spiaggia ogni anno per 2 mesi e spero di viverci un giorno. Siete persone gentili e invitanti. Che Dio vi benedica.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Grazie mille, tutto che hai detto e vero. I calabresi sono il popolo più caloroso e generoso del mondo. Ci hanno accolto fin dall'inizio.

[@3581tossit]

Safe is a relative term. Statistics from 2018 show that Calabria had almost 900 Mafia-related crimes for the year. In comparison, Liguria, along the Italian Riviera, had two Mafia-related crimes. Lazio (Rome) had 107 and the island of Sardinia had 25. Sicily, long believed by Americans to be the area where most Mafia-related crimes are experienced, had 760. So, what does this mean for the average American wanting to move to Calabria? Who really knows. Murder statistics for Italy are very low compared to other European countries and the United States, less than 300 yearly in a population of around 58 million. Quite amazing! However, Mafia-related crime still exists in Calabria and the majority of homicide occur in the southern regions of Italy.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

The Mafia in Calabria do not really care about tourists and expats. They focus more on businesses. That said there is a huge effort to clean them up. In our area we have the police, Guardia di Finanza and the Carabinieri working hard on this and they have made many arrests. Our situation was not Mafia but a jealous stalker who is likely not even Italian.

[@3581tossit]

@@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC ...unless those expats are participating in the local economy in a significant way through business or large real estate holdings. True, tourist are safe.

[@mradventurer8104]

@@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC Ok but if I am thinking of starting a business in Calabria it may affect me!?

[@wondergupta]

With the new government, how is the experience of living in Italy for people of colour? Have you heard anyone saying their experience/safety has recently changed?

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

We have people of all nationalities and descriptions in our village and they are loved as much as anyone else. Nothing has changed.

[@wondergupta]

@@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC Thats nice to hear. These kind of things I feel I need to keep vigilent about when travelling (due to experience). I'd love to move to Italy one day 💕

[@mercy615]

I'm from west Africa, I was was in Rome from 2018 to 2021 as a diplomat wife and I can tell you that Italy is one of the best countries for people of colour, we where the only black on our street and some of my kids attended the public school, people where nice to us everywhere. Though it's important to learn a little Italian to help you get by...we are back to Africa now but I hope to come back to Italy soon 🙌🏾

[@wondergupta]

@@mercy615 Thank you for sharing. Ive also had very good experiences in Italy, so I will return. Its just worrying hearing about the recent politics.

[@lvc23]

I am Asian American and have been in Scalea twice this year ( July and November ). Left Scalea earlier and going to another town. I have only been away from the states for 3 weeks and already 3-4 shootings 😢 Wth. I feel super safe here in Scalea. I am not afraid to walk at night in this town ( just as long as I can see where I am going) 😂.

[@robertharry7652]

Is Reggio Calabria good retirement destination?

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

It depends how you define "good" and what's important to you.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

It is a very beautiful town and the people are really warm and welcoming. Plus it is close to Sicily! Lots to recommend it!

[@robertharry7652]

Does it have good public transportation, or would car be necessary? Thank you for all of your information.

[@mercy615]

❤💖

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Thank you Mercy!

[@hanss5030]

What are you doing in CALIFORNIA Why aren’t you back in CLAABRIA.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

We are here to be with our kids for the holidays. We will head back after Christmas.

[@jcc369]

Why are these women carrying those dogs like babies. It’s obvious they want to be put down on the ground.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

They are their dogs. I think they know what is best.