Who has never dreamt of visiting Italy walking through the tiny alleys of beautiful Venice or experiencing the art and beauty of Florence and enjoying the best Pizza in Naples. To be honest, i wasn’t one of those people. In fact I had little knowledge of Italy growing up. My only knowledge of the country was by virtue of the fact that my father has migrated there and so the country’s name was always at the tip of my tongue whenever i was asked where my father was.

I moved to Italy myself over a decade ago and no one prepared me for the experience but above all the beauty of Italy. In this post, I share the 10 things I love about living in Italy

1. Safe

Italy is one of the most peaceful places to live in terms of safety and security. This is not to say that you should be reckless and walk in certain areas you shouldn’t because yes, those areas do exist and bad people exist in every part of the world but you can relax in Italy. There have been plenty of times where I have went to bed with my gate and front doors unlocked and there ware no attempts of break-ins. It is generally a safe place to be at without fearing for your life.

2. History

Modern day Italy is surrounded by history. I have always hated history growing up but there is something about living in a country where every where you turn you see remnants of the past and what was. It stimulates your curiosity and Italy if full of that history from the Colosseum, to the Vatican museums, to Pompeii, to Castel del Monte. The list is just endless.

3. Arts and Beauty

Ever heard of the expression “Bel Paese”? “Bel Paese” is an expression used by many scholars to describe Italy. It means the beautiful country and still today the expression is synonymous to Italy. There is art every where and people live in this beauty. For artists, Italy is a dream come true. It is the only place on earth where you can find ancient art from the medieval period, to the renaissance and back to recent times. The entire country if flooded with arts and holds the greatest number of artistic and cultural assets declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. What is more beautiful than this

4. Relaxed culture

It is very easy to judge the way of life of Italians especially when one comes from a very up-beat country. In Italy the concept of “Il dolce far niente” rules. “Il dolce far niente” is a concept and is essentially the Italian art of doing nothing. It is the art of turning the brain off and thinking about nothing. While it is easy to associate this concept with taking a nap or enjoying some time alone by yourself, Il dolce far niente is also going out in public and observing the world move while you sit at the bar over some coffee or aperitivo and watch. It is interacting with people and having a good laugh over some pizza, it is taking a stroll and breathing in your surroundings. It is doing nothing that is work related. This is the concept Italians grow up in and therefore are generally very relaxed people even at work. Once you understand this concept and engage in it yourself, you will realise how essential it is to your well-being.

5. People are nice

It may be a little difficult in the beginning to form connections with Italians as they are very protective of their spaces but once you have been able to break down that barrier, It is easy to get along with them and potentially create a bond that is unbreakable. People are usually nice and will engage in a conversation with you. They are open to learning new things especially from people who come from a different background and are very welcoming.

6. Cost of living is low

Living in Italy is affordable when one lives a simple life. Generally, some cities are like Venice, Milan and Florence are expensive but for the most part, cost of life is not that high compared to other countries. While rent and food are cheap, bills can be expensive even though they arrive every two months. As mentioned before, one can live respectably even with little money provided they are not overly spending.

7. The language

I think the Italian language is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. It is extremely rich in meaning and while it may seem like Italian use many words to convey a message, it is actually beautiful. English is a very simple language and Italian is definitely not simple but easily recognizable and phonetic. Try learning a thing or two and you will not regret it.

8. The food

Italian cuisine is heaven on earth. Italy is known mostly for its Pizza and Pasta but Italy is more than that. They are so many Italian delicacies which is worth trying. In reality there is no such thing as Italian cuisine as the country of Italy was not unified until the 19th century. As a result every region has its own delicacy which can further differ from a city to the other. In Northern Italy for example, the cuisine is similar to the of Central European cuisine where fat, butter and meat is prevalent as opposed to Southern Italy which has a more mediterranean cuisine built on olive oil, tomatoes, garlic and sub-tropical fruits. In essence Italian food is diverse, but the care Italians take to prepare their meals make them really special every single time.

9. The Weather

Italy has a predominantly mediterranean weather and is favorable for travel however the weather and climate may differ depending on the locations of different regions and cities. Northern Italy tends to have colder winters and milder summers than Southern Italy where it is usually hot. In general the Italian weather is well balanced out and ideal to practice the art of “il dolce far niente”

10. Beautiful Landscapes.

The natural landscapes that this country offers are truly magnificent. You will see diversity everywhere you go, from majestic mountains and picturesque lakes to sunny coastlines and stretches of dark green woods. Their mesmerizing views are just one of the many reasons to visit Italy, from the snow-capped Italian Alps in the North, to the Dolomites in the Northeast, to lakes Como, Maggiore and Garda and the vineyards of Tuscany to name a few, there are all truly magical.