ILA Magazine: The World’s Best Places to Retire Overseas Subscribe Now and Save 35% about subscribing to International Living Magazine 
Whether you choose to live near the Mediterranean, the Adriatic or the Alps, Italy offers the kind of life that can’t be duplicated anywhere else on the planet.
Known for its romantic cities, timeless hill towns, snowy mountains, idyllic islands and beautiful coastline, it’s one of Europe’s most magical and vibrant countries. The watery beauty of Venice. The heritage and art of Florence. The Eternal City itself, Rome.
And big-city life is only one option. Italy has many small art towns, which offer great attractions…medieval gems set amongst the lost-in-time landscapes of Le Marche, Umbria and Tuscany. These regions make up central Italy…and they’re places you could easily imagine yourself living. Towns like Urbino, Orvieto and horse-mad Siena. Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis…San Gimignano of the starry nights and medieval stone skyscrapers…
If you enjoy the good things in life, you should take a look at Italy. And that applies whether you’re considering buying an affordable home in the sunshine for retirement…or as a bolthole for holidays. Italy is the perfect place for enjoying extended adventures. Stay a month, stay a year, stay forever…
With thousands of miles of coastline and a mountainous spine, in spring the sea and mountain combination means you could be skiing in the morning and beach-bumming by the afternoon.
The sands on the Adriatic Coast are smooth and golden. And even in winter, the waves sing of summers to come. It’s a country of sizzling sunshine and balmy evenings, of fishing trips and harbours jostling with white-sailed yachts. Piazzas erupt with parties. Lengthy meals are enjoyed al fresco.
And the views from every village, town and city are sensational. You can always see another collection of spires, towers and rooftops lying like buried treasure in the folds of the mountain foothills.
For many people, where to find the world’s most passionately indulgent lifestyle is no secret. At the last official count, 4,570,317 foreigners were living in Italy. Living there and enjoying la dolce vita. That’s local lingo for ‘the sweet life’. And at a much lower cost than you might think.
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There are many appealing reasons that inspire expats to move to Italy. The country has given us Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli. Pizza, gondolas and scarlet Ferraris. Opera, ice cream and Prada handbags. Who wouldn’t want to move to Italy, Europe’s most intriguing and seductive country? Just think of its warmth, style and wonderful food…
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