15 Dos And Don’t Of Eating In Italy part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

It is important to understand the Italian lifestyle if you consider living in Italy. The history of this beautiful country has greatly influenced how Italians live today. Therefore, understanding the past will help you better grasp the culture and daily life of an Italian citizen.

For example, it can be said that there are very distinct regional characteristics. For instance, someone living in a more rural Italy will typically have a very different lifestyle from someone who lives in a major city. However, Italy is an industrial country, and many corporations provide work for Italian citizens.

Therefore, people all across the country live the Italian lifestyle, which consists mainly of family time and social gatherings. In order to better understand Italian life and how to fit in, we will highlight the lifestyle of a variety of people – from those who live in rural Italy to those living in major metropolitan areas like Rome and Milan.

Even though the Italian lifestyle varies from person to person, there are some common characteristics that almost everyone living in this beautiful country will experience. First of all, work-life and family time is very important in Italy.

Like most other industrialized countries, people typically work during regular business hours and then return home to spend time with their families. If you’ve been surfing the web to check the dos and don’ts of living here, look no further as we’ve got you covered today. Read further to understand better!

Overview of the Pros and Cons of Living in Italy Today

Living in Italy has many pros and cons, with the most important one being the cost of living. There is a high demand for English-speaking jobs, especially those that require less experience, such as call center or help desk work.

Most Italians speak excellent English, with many international schools available. This allows children to become fluent in another language at an early age giving them a head start when it comes to communication in the future. There are both state and private schools available in Italy with teaching in Italian or English depending on the school.

Although Italians speak excellent English, but there is still a large demand for translators and interpreters. This allows native speakers of other languages to find work even if they are not fluent in Italian, as most Italians speak good English.

In this section, we will walk you through the pros and cons of living in Italy as a foreigner. After that, you’ll know the dos and don’ts of eating in Italy as a foreigner. Does that sound like something you’d love to learn? If you answered yes, take a look at what we have for you.

Pros

1.    The Food

Italy is internationally known for its fine and diverse cuisine, and Italian gastronomy has developed through centuries of social and economic changes. This rich tradition, which also includes an abundance of different desserts and sweets, makes eating in Italy an absolute pleasure – there is no need to force yourself to eat simply because it is ‘healthy’: Italian cuisine is about eating the right amount of delicious food.

2.    The Wine

Italy has a long and illustrious history of cultivating vines for winemaking. The country’s fine wines have been exported worldwide for many centuries and are today a major international commodity.

3.    The Climate

Italy has a generally warm and sunny climate all year round, but the country’s diverse topography creates different microclimates across short distances. There is one area where you can experience hot-summer Mediterranean climates with dry, hot summers and mild winters, as well as milder areas on the coasts of Tuscany with mild, wet summers and winters that never suffer too much from cold.

4.    The Art and Architecture

Italian Renaissance period was very influential in developing culture through Europe and had a major impact on philosophy, science, and art. This period also saw advancements in music, such as developing the polyphonic style of organum. Italy is also home to many notable sculptures, such as Michelangelo’s David and the Pieta, in St. Peter’s Basilica.

5.    The Environment

Italy has a long history of producing innovations in transport with the development of new forms of transportation, including railways, aircraft, automobiles, and even hovercrafts. The country is also home to the automotive giant Ferrari as well as many other more-upcoming brands such as Ducati.

6.    The People

Italy has a long-standing tradition of attracting foreigners. The Italian language is often described as the language closest to Latin, making it unique among its Romance-language counterparts and quite different from other national languages.

Italy has always been home to a highly diverse population that coexists very peacefully regardless of their particular origins or beliefs. There are several ethnic minorities in the country, and the number of expats living permanently in Italy is also on the rise.

7.    The Art and Architecture

Italy is widely known for its fine arts and music industry, with many notable names such as Andrea Bocelli, La Scala opera house, Marco Polo, Raphael, and Antonio Vivaldi. Italy is also widely known for its history and culture, dating back to the Etruscan civilization and Roman Empire.

Italy’s capital city, Rome, was once the center of an empire that stretched across a large segment of Europe and North Africa; Ancient Rome has been credited with the invention of concrete (made from volcanic ash and lime), which allowed the construction of the many impressive monuments such as Colosseum, Pantheon and The Roman Forum.

Cons

Being Late Is a National Sport

If you’re a person who hates being late, Italy may not be the right place for you to move to. Even though Italians are usually very friendly and approachable, this does not necessarily reflect their punctuality. If you manage to arrive at your appointment on time, consider yourself a genius. However, if your interview is planned to begin at 3 PM, expect yourself at the premises around 4-4:30 PM.

The Bureaucracy in Italy Can Be Overwhelming

After moving into an apartment that you’ve found via Craigslist or Airbnb, one of the first things you will probably do is look for a job. If you’re looking for work in Italy, be ready to go through the bureaucratic red tape. The Italian bureaucracy consists of three main steps:

• The first step is registration with the Anagrafe at your local town hall (Ufficio Dello Stato Civile)
• After you’ve registered yourself with the Anagrafe, you can look for a job and search through the vacancies.
• The third step is applying for your tax code (Codice Fiscale), which allows you to work, file for contracts and do all other legal activities.

During these three steps, ensure that you have all the required documents ready. These may include proof of your registration at the Anagrafe, proof of address, and more. As an expat in Italy, you will be asked to present all three steps while attending a job interview or looking for work. Make sure that you understand what is expected from you before arriving for any crucial appointment.

Job Interviews Can Be a Challenge

Many Italians may believe that a job interview is simply an opportunity for the employer to ask you questions about your experience and qualifications while also trying to understand more about who you are as a person. This is not always the case in Italy, where job interviews can be quite challenging.

You Should Know Italian to Get A Job

One of the cons of living in Italy is that you will be expected to speak Italian if you’re looking for an office job. Even if your profession doesn’t require you to speak Italian, this language may come in very handy when dealing with authorities and bureaucracy. Although there are English speakers who can help you translate, this doesn’t change the fact that a good command of Italian is a huge advantage.

Italy Is Expensive

Italy can be an expensive place to live. Many people tend to forget about hidden expenses such as transportation and taxation when looking at the initial cost of living in this country. You should also keep in mind that rent, food, gas, and other expenses are relatively high in Italy. We all know that pasta is delicious, but it may not be the most cost-effective meal to have every day.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

If you’ve been considering moving to Italy but you’re still convinced of the right place, it’s high time you focus on this article. Although we think of Italy as a wholly blissful country, but there are many things to explore. You’ll find that north and south are hugely different. But, have you checked the pros and cons?

If that sounds like a no, you need to go through our previous post. We compiled earlier the benefits of relocating to Italy. Here, we discussed about the pros and cons, benefits, what makes the country special, and many others, to mention a few. Aside from this fact, you still need to know why Italy is unique.

We could go on for days mentioning all the reasons that make Italy an incredible place to live. From the ancient buildings, metro areas, and coastal regions, this country is full of amazing towns and spectacular benefits. Moreover, it’s stunning that in some cases, the hardest part is to locate the right places to live.

However, to help you decide what part of the country is suitable for you, we have compiled a list of notable cities. Have you been surfing the internet to get the right places to live, but it seems difficult? You need not worry again as this is the right platform for you. Does that sound interesting to you?

Well, in this article, we will walk you through the benefits of living in Italy again. Aside from this fact, we’ll proceed to explaining the concepts behind living in expats, what to enjoy, and the cost of living. Also, we will walk you through the top ten places to live in Italy as an expat. Read further to know more.

Interesting Facts about Italy Today

It’s no surprise that me and you love Italy! In fact, it’s one of our favorite destinations in today’s digital world. More so, we have to admit that we knew quite a lot about the country, but we hope what we are about to unleash will leave you surprised. Without further ado, below are the interesting facts about Italy.

Once Part of Ancient Greece

Many people don’t know, but we’re telling you today that much of Italy used to be part of Ancient Greece. In fact, the Romans used to call the whole of Sicily and the foot of the boot of Italy Greater Greece. Amazingly, some pockets of Greek cultures have remained in the country to this day. Besides, the tiny Girko community speaks a form of the Greek language that’s believed to derive from the colonies of Magna Graecia.

Home to Europe’s Oldest University

Perhaps one of the best-known facts about Italy is that the University of Bologna was founded in 1088. And since its inception, it has been the oldest university in the world. Again, of the top ten oldest universities in the world, four of them are based in Italy. So, you could give it a trial by learning in one of the best universities in the country.

Italy Police Use Lamborghinis

If one thing is for sure, Italian car thieves might be rare. And this is because; the police car is quite expensive. Then again, there are expensive cars used by common people in the country. However, if you’re looking or wanting to see the latest Lamborghinis products, Italy is the right place.

Superstitious is Rampant

In today’s 21^st century, it’s quite commonly suggested that Italians might be the most superstitious countries in the world. Let’s quickly walk you through some of the superstitions in the country.

• Dropping olive oil into a bowl of water is prohibited
• Wearing the Corno amulet to ward off curses on men’s manliness
• As an expat or local, don’t let you’re broom touch your feet when someone is cleaning the floor
• You’ll be praised whenever you hear a cat sneeze in any location
• Always placing a loaf of bread face up, lest you affront Jesus Christ

Locals are Generous

If you’re lucky enough to be entertained in any Italian home, you’ll be well aware of just how generous Italian people are to guests, and this is much when it comes to food. However, what you might not know is that the locals are generous while the country as a whole is a charitable nation too. Even though it’s a tourist destination, it was started by Italians, and all proceeds go towards local charities.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Amazingly, Italy still remains one of the largest countries with over 50 UNESCO world heritage sites. Aside from this fact, there are 12 minority languages officially recognized in the country. Some of these languages include Albanian, German, Greek, Slovene, Sardinian, Catalan, and many others, to mention a few. In addition, the average Italian consumes 25kg of pasta per year, and that’s even funny to believe.

Biggest Gender Gap

In Italy, gender equality is something that matters to Italians, and it’s a subject that’s constantly being addressed for improvement wherever possible. This way, you should expect the biggest gender gap ever. That being said, Italians are also very traditional when it comes to their household, and women do most of the work. Meanwhile, Italian women do, on average, 21 hours of more housework weekly compared to their male counterparts.

Largest Producers of Wine

Have you ever wished to know the countries with the largest producers of wine? Well, worry less, as Italy made it to the top in the world. Depending on the season and harvest, this accolade is actually shared with Spain. But, the fertile land that spans north to south has made the country a lovely location for just about every grapes-strain on the planet.

Number 17 in the Country

If you still doubt, it’s high time you believe that Italians don’t like the number 17. And this is because; the number is considered a highly unlucky number in the country. Moreover, there are even  old hotels and buildings that purposely skip the 17^th floor in floor for fear of it bringing bad energy to the space. Ironically, they don’t consider number13 to be unlucky. On contrary, they’re not bordered by the number unless they find themselves on a special occasion with a total of 13 people.

Educated and Football Fanatics People

In recent years, national statistic proves that around 99 percent of the Italian populations are able to read, understand, and write. However, this is an impressive and praise-worthy statistic for any country to have obtained this achievement. On the flip side, they are football fanatics, and you can hear their names around the world. Thankfully, they are good in football, and they also compete in the top positions.

Outdoor Activities to Explore in Italy

When it comes to choosing the best expats destination or tourist attractions, Italy might not make it to the top. However, if you’ve traveled to different parts of the world, you’ll know that there are many places to explore in this country. Without much talk, let’s take a look at the best places to visit in Italy.

1.    Tour Rome with Bike

Biking is one of the best ways to get around in this country. Even if you’re traveling at high speed or just taking a leisurely cycle around, you can tour the whole of Rome by bike. And for the fact that this city remains the central hub for history and cultures, you’ll enjoy cycling around with your bike. More so, you can treat yourself to a Rome city break, hop on a bike, and cruise along with the Colosseum.

2.    Scuba Diving in Italy

Located near Napoli, the Parco Sommerso di Baia is known as a flooded city lying just south of Rome. Unlike most dive sites, Scuba is different! Here, you can see buildings and statues that are still intact today. Therefore, if exploring the Sunken ancient cities isn’t your thing, you can also head to the Cristo del Garda for some awesome freshwater diving in the country.

3.    Explore the Colorful Valley

Exploring the colorful valley is another thing to enjoy while visiting this country as an expat. The flyover Castelluccio, Umbria, which is one of the highest villages in the Apennines, is a fantastic experience that would be pretty hard to top. So, if you want to enjoy your stay in the country, try to explore the colorful valley.

4.    Food Tour in Italy

You might have been hearing food tour but do you know that Italy seems to be the best country to enjoy this vacation. And in fact, it’s one of the country’s number one outdoor activities. This food tour could last for about four hours, and this can also be an avenue to get to know Rome through its people and culture.

5.    Sip Awesome Wine in Tuscany

As we’ve mentioned earlier, Italy is one country known to produce the best wines. With that being said, you can enjoy your time while drinking red wine under the setting sun. Meanwhile, a trip to the rural vineyard in this country provides the opportunity to indulge in sipping the best wines. In addition to this, the best time to visit this place is around April to September that happens to be the hottest and busiest time of the year.

6.    Visit the Lake District

This Lake District is located in the north of the country, and it’s a region home to five magnificent clear water lakes; Lugano, Como, Garda, Iseo, and Maggiore. If you’re ready to make a splash on your Italian holiday, then a trip to this place is an absolute must as you’re in for endless fun, including romantic boat rides, lakeside wine tasting, and the visit to picture-perfect villages.

7.    Visit Local Vatican Museums

If you’ve been visiting other places, but you didn’t explore this place, it means that your journey to this country is not complete. This is a perfect place, and they are made up of Christian and art museums found inside the city’s perimeters. On the other hand, if you’re looking forward to a cultural awakening place in Italy, this seems to be the right place.

10 Best Places to Live in Italy

As an expat, the best cities to move to are definitely the places to consider when driving in a new location. With over 7,000km of spectacular coastline, charming towns, and beautiful mountains, Italy has several things to offer you. Nevertheless, you need to know the place suitable for you to live. Without much talk, below are the top ten places for expat to reside in Italy.

1.    Rome

Of course, before we choose any other place, the city center remains the first location to think of. Rome is home to a variety of top-notch private and international schools. Aside from this fact, it’s also a friendly city that makes it easy for expats to feel comfortable and get acclimated to Italian life. More so, this walkable city is best known for having a comfortable atmosphere for expat to live and get acclimated to Italian life.

2.   

Florence is another location for expat to enjoy their lifestyle. This city offers an outstanding balance between city living and a village lifestyle. In fact, it has its own airport, and this makes it an excellent choice for anyone in the pharmaceutical industry or financial space. However, its home to many foreigners, and it’s a beautiful city that’s easy to navigate. Not only that, but it has a lot of exciting things to do that’ll keep you active while living in Italy.

3.    Bologna

Living in bologna will make you have a feel of what living in Italy entails. This safe, walkable city is known for being welcoming and friendly to expats. Not only that, but they could function as one of Europe’s main educational centers as it holds exceptionally high standards for education. And for music lovers, Bologna remains one of the leading cultural centers and a recognized UNESCO city of music.

4.    Pisa

Pisa is another location for expat to reside in Italy. This beautiful city is full of several outdoor activities, including wineries, cathedrals, museums, and many others, to mention a few. That being said, Pisa is a walkable city that’s safe for expat to travel to. Not only that, but it’s one of the cities that offers a great nightlife experience for those who would love to go out and let off some steam.

5.    Genoa

Your visitation to this country isn’t complete without mentioning this city. And this is by; it’s a historical port city known to accommodate expatriates who haven’t yet honed their Italian language skills. Besides, it’s a great place to work, and it’s an LGBT-friendly town that makes it very comfortable for a variety of different people across the universe. So, be rest assured that you don’t have to worry about threats from the police while residing in this area.

6.    Oristano

Located on the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea, is this wonderful city. It offers a lower cost of living to expats than most Italian cities. Here, you can enjoy beautiful beaches surrounded by clean water. Also, it’s a perfect place for any expat looking to have a perfect, quiet, and slow pace of life.

7.    Turin

If you’ve not heard, we are telling you today that Turin is the first capital in Italy. As research disclosed, this city finds itself on the western bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Western Alps. On the other side, it’s long known for becoming the European focal point of international industry, commerce, and trade. Meanwhile, this has resulted in a broad International mentality and a thriving expat community.

8.    Bolzano

This is a brilliant and vibrant location suitable for expats with their families and friends. It’s peaceful, safe, quiet, and surrounded by most of the beautiful mountains in the country. Moreover, you can find small picturesque mountain villages, seemingly endless vineyards that produce local wines, and many other things, to mention a few. In spite of that, this city itself has everything you need for a comfortable day-to-day life, including restaurants, doctors, open markets, and more.

9.    Brescia

Brescia is basically an industrial hub in the country. It’s quite hefty on financial services, and there’s a pretty sizeable expat population living and working in this dynamic city. With that being said, you should be aware that this place is well connected, both internationally and within the country. More so, when you’re in this city, you’ll have access to travel around the whole country and beyond. Meanwhile, it takes you 1 hour to travel to Mantova and Verona and less than 3 hours to travel to Venice and Padua.

10. Liguria

Liguria is a fantastic location with its own microclimate. While residing in this place, you’ll never experience a harsh temperature. Aside from this fact, Liguria is considered the only Italian region to have the Alps, Apennines, and the sea all quite close together. Not only that, but it has a unique transportation network that can convey everyone to their community with ease. Again, it’s a place where you can enjoy several outdoor activities and acquire a lovely coastal home without breaking the bank.

Cons of Living in Italy As an Expat

Whatever your reason to relocate to a new country, it’s always better to know the pros and cons. In our previous post about ‘Living in Italy as an expat’, we highlighted some of the positive and negative impacts of relocating to Italy. However, we still need to walk you through some disadvantages as this could help your relocation further.

High Rates of Unemployment

You might think that it’s only a few countries in Africa, and India has the highest unemployment rates in the world. If you assume this way, you’re totally wrong, and this is because; Italy made it to the list. In fact, research made it known that the rate is high compared to other parts of Europe. Moreover, as of 2019, the unemployment rate in the country was 12%. This way, if you’re planning on finding a job in Italy, it might take you a little while to get the right one.

Italy is Expensive to Live

While there are high rates of unemployed graduates in this country, living costs are high. Meanwhile, if you prefer the social nature of the Italian lifestyle, then small apartments that are sparse on modern furnishings would be compared to the New York City prices. This way, it would be better to do good research or plan before relocating to a new country. In other news, that’s why we’ve created this platform to guide you through the processes involved.

High School and Holistic Curriculum

This is one of the first things to notice if you genuinely want to give your child the best education. In Italy, high schools do not provide a holistic curriculum. This means, when your child attends a high school in the country, they will learn a specialty instead of receiving a generalized education. This means you must enroll your child in a high school that teaches special skills or things that they’d learn.

The road is Surprisingly Dangerous

If you picture yourself driving along an open road with rolling hills, then you’ll want to check back to reality. This story implies that driving in Italy could be a bas experience and even aggressive. Also, you may find connections waiting for you on most major roads, and drivers are not that patient when it comes to rush hour in traffic.

Long-term Lease in Italy

This is one common thing expats could face during their visitation to this country. That’s why we keep advising people to plan to stay for long if they want to rent an apartment in the country. However, if you’re not purchasing a property outright, then you might need to expect a transitory lease for your apartment or flat to last up to 18 months. On the other hand, you can find some long-term agreements that could last for 36 months when you move to some cities. Also, you may find some homeowners pushing the time out for four years.

Conclusion

There’s more to explore in Italy aside from the varying architectures and buildings. Remember, Italy is also known to be the home for fashion jargon and trendy designers. But, if you choose to live in this country without disturbance from immigration or any uniform offices, it’s better to understand the best places to reside. Nonetheless, refer to this guide for a detailed explanation.