Best Places To Live In Italy | 8 Best Places to Buy a Home in Italy
Italy is known worldwide for its beautiful landscapes, delicious food, historical monuments, art and culture, and friendly locals. Are you looking to move to Italy? Or are you already living there? Either way, these cities offer something special to visitors and residents alike.
Italy has over 4 million citizens residing within its borders, and while they number in the millions, they also represent a diverse and unique cultural blend. These cities provide the ideal setting for those seeking to experience Italy’s rich history, meet new people, and explore their surrounding beauty.
Italy is truly a land of contrasts. From the stunning natural beauty throughout the country to the bustling cities and towns, each city offers an incredible destination to visit. The main focus of this article is to highlight seven of the best places to live in Italy.
Lombardy
With its rich history, natural beauty, and varied climate, Lombardia offers some of the best experiences for anyone who wants to spend time in sunny Italy. The city of Milan is the capital of Lombardy. It’s famous for being the epicenter of Italian fashion, design, music, sport and art. People flock here for its world-class museums, fine restaurants, and lively cultural scene.
Its natural beauty and rich history attract tourists from around the world who seek out its unique cities and countryside. No matter if you are looking to visit fashion boutiques and fine dining establishments or relax in luxurious spas, the Lombardy region has got you covered!
Sights
• Villa Malcontenta GardensGardenGolf course and spa resort located in the town of Varese.
• Lake Como
• CathedralCity of Milan
• Duomo Square
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Tuscany
Tuscany occupies the central-eastern region of Italy. The area is known for its rolling hills and vineyards, olive groves, art galleries, and medieval cities. It’s best known city is Florence, home to the Uffizi Gallery and famous for being the birthplace of Michelangelo.
Tuscany is the largest region of Italy, located in central Italy. Its capital city is Florence, which was once one of the richest cities in the world. In the middle ages, Tuscany became a center of the wool industry and silk production. After falling under the control of France in 1796, Tuscany slowly rose back to its former glory. Today, it is known for its olive oil and wine vineyards.
Florentine
Florence is the oldest university town and the home of many famous people, including Dante Alighieri. Florence was also the birthplace of the Renaissance movement. It’s historical district is filled with beautiful architecture, especially the Duomo Cathedral. Inside, visitors can see Michelangelo’s Pisa leaning tower.
Lucca
Lucca is considered the gateway to Tuscany because of its proximity to the Tuscan coast. It is known for its Lucchesi wines and delicious cakes.
Siena
Siena is a walled medieval hill town where students were taught by some of the greatest minds in history. It was here, in 1348, that the first-ever recorded public hanging took place.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is best known for its medieval towers, but today, it’s home to over 50 towers. It’s surrounded by farms that produce olives, grapes, and beans.
Volterra
Volterra is known for being the birthplace of the Etruscan civilization and their temple remains can still be seen today. Guided tours allow visitors to explore the ruins of these temples.
Arezzo
Arezzo is a small town just south of Florence. Arezzo is now well known for its leather works, which have been producing high quality footwear since 1845.
Campania
Campania is the southernmost region of Italy. Its capital city is Naples. Known for its beaches and resorts, Naples is also famous for the Mount Vesuvius volcano.
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is located in Central Italy and is famous for its natural hot springs and mountains. The major city in Abruzzo is Chieti. Other popular places in the region include Pescara and Sulmona.
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Puglia
1. “The Puglia Region – A land of natural beauty”
The Puglia region in Southern Italy has been referred to as “the garden of Europe”, “Italy’s green lung”, and “a paradise for nature lovers”. There is no doubt that Puglia’s climate, topography, and fertile soils have contributed to its reputation as a country-park destination. But the truth is, Puglia offers much more than just green spaces; it also boasts beautiful beaches and coastline, historic towns and villages, and impressive historical monuments.
2. “History And Culture”
The history of Puglia dates back to the early Middle Ages, when it was inhabited by ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Romans, and Normans. Between the years 1000 and 1500 AD, the area became part of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1571, it was united with Naples to form the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (also known as the Regno di Napoli e delle Due Sicilie). After Napoleon took power over France, he granted the territory to his brother Joseph Bonaparte.
He later sold the territory to Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy-Aosta (who ruled until 1861) who in turn ceded control to King Umberto I of Italy. The southern provinces were then organized into two separate regions under the rule of Fascism between 1919 and 1943. On September 8th, 1970, these two regions were merged together to create the present day province of Salento
3. “Architectural Gems”
There are numerous castles, monasteries, basilicas, villas, churches, and museums scattered throughout Puglia. These architectural gems provide insight into the rich cultural heritage of Puglia and its people. Among them are the Castello Aragonese, built in the 14th century in Barletta; the Cattedrale dell’Assunta, built in the 16th century in Otranto; Lecce’s Cathedral; and the Basilica di San Nicola built in the 12th century in Gallipoli. Other notable sites include the Roman amphitheater at Pozzuolo Verde, and the Greek Theatre at Grottarossa near Brindisi.
4. “Local Cuisine”
The food of Puglia is heavily reliant on fresh local produce, including olive oil, wine, seafood, vegetables, fruit, beef, lamb, chicken, pork, game, and cheese. Typical dishes include pasta, polenta, risotto, frittelli al pomodoro, cuscusi, tortelli, caciofiore, arancini, frittata, spaghetti alle vongole, gnocchi, and pizzelle. Seafood is abundant and includes shellfish, mussels, octopus, anchovies, sardines, squid, cuttlefish, clams, shrimp, sea bream, and sea bass.
Vegetables include artichokes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, radishes, asparagus, beetroot, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beans, carrots, onions, garlic, lettuce, chicory, celery, cabbage, endives, cucumbers, leeks, and potatoes. Fruits include citrus fruits, figs, grapes, strawberries, cherries, melons, watermelons, apples, peaches, plums, pears, nectarines, apricots, bananas, pineapples, avocados, and mangoes. Game includes rabbit, venison, wild boar, quail.
Lazio
Lazio is the biggest region of Italy and includes Rome, the capital city. It is situated at the center of the country and is bordered by Umbria, Marche, Tuscany, Latium, and Abruzzi.
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Sardinia
Sardinia is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is famous for its beautiful beaches and clear waters. It is often referred to as la Bella Sardegna or “the beautiful Sardinia.” There are many things to do in Sardinia including swimming in crystal blue seas, hiking on rugged mountain trails, and taking in breathtaking views of mountainous terrain.
Sardinia Geography & Climate
The island of Sardinia is located off the western coast of Italy. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. There are three main seasons: spring, summer, and autumn/winter. Spring begins in March and lasts until May and sees highs above 80F (27C) and lows below 40F (4C). Summer runs from June to September and brings temperatures between 60-70 degrees F (16-21C), and falls to around 48 degrees F (9C) at night. Autumn/Winter spans October and November and is considered the coldest period where temperatures drop between 30-40 degrees F (-1-4C). Rainfall averages about 55 inches (140cm) per year with snow occurring between December and February.
Sardinia Agricultural Practices
In the early 1900’s many farmers turned to chemical farming methods to increase yields. Overuse of pesticides led to a rise in environmental pollution and many farmers began switching back to organic farming practices. Today, Sardinian agriculture emphasizes eco-friendly practices and is committed towards protecting their environment and preserving biodiversity. They believe in using natural resources instead of synthetic ones and use only local products for food production.
Sardinian Cuisine
Italian cuisine is known for its rich tradition and diversity. Sardinia shares much of these same characteristics and is famous for their unique dishes. Sardinia’s cuisine is based on traditional Italian ingredients but incorporates local specialties and influences from neighboring countries. Popular dishes include agnolotti di mare, which are pasta stuffed with seafood, and spaghetti con le sarde, which is spaghetti topped with sausages. Other popular dishes include risotto al pesto e cipolla, which is a creamy rice dish flavored with basil pesto and onions; and cacciuète con carciofi, which is a lamb sausage seasoned with cheese, olives, pepper, tomato sauce, garlic, and herbs.
Sardine Culture
The Sardinian culture revolves around the sea. Fishing is extremely important to the livelihood of the people of Sardinia and they have a long history of fishing since ancient times. In fact, Sardinians are sometimes referred to as “the fish eaters of Europe” due to this cultural trait. Sardines are abundant in the waters surrounding the island and are considered a delicacy in Sardinia. Sardines are harvested by hand and cured before being sold fresh. Sardines are enjoyed raw in salads or marinated and baked. Many varieties exist including albacore, baccalà, tunny, and spigola, which is smaller than the others.
Molise
Molise is a region located in the south-central part of Italy. It is the least populated region of Italy and is considered one of the least visited regions. Molise takes pride in its Roman roots, particularly around the capital city of Campobasso. Campobasso is home to some of the oldest streets in Europe and is rich in history.
