"My Time in Italy is 95% Less Stressful"

Working as a corporate attorney in south Florida with a hellish two-hour commute, Alma Benedetti was ready. Ready to leave the rat race and corporate America and head to Italy for a kinder, gentler lifestyle.

"I've always been fascinated by my Italian roots because of my nonna (grandmother), who was the lovely matriarch of our family," she says. "After vacationing in Italy a few times, I began to think about making a future there."

On one of her trips, she visited her ancestral village near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy and fell completely and totally in love with the town and its residents. She even got acquainted with some cousins she didn't know she had! She began making plans to move to Europe to enjoy the Italian lifestyle.

Alma found an apartment in the village and began doing the "Schengen Shuffle"—staying the 90 days allowed as an American tourist and returning back to the States for 90 days, where she kept her Florida condo and a campervan for fun adventures exploring the US when stateside.

Because Alma has ancestral ties to Italy, she applied for citizenship recognition last year. Until her approval comes in, she spends as much time as possible in her apartment on the lakefront and explores Europe as well. She's visited Denmark, Spain, and Portugal with plans to check out Poland this year.

When asked what motivated her to begin her move to Italy, Alma talks about how friendly and welcoming the people in "her" beautiful village are. Going for a casual walk through town is a pleasure, as neighbors and friends stop to greet her, say hello, chat about the weather, and ask how life is going. "The pace of life prioritizes relationships, health, and well-being," she remarks.

Although the town is somewhat isolated and away from major cities, she loves that. "I live in a tiny, peaceful village on the shores of an alpine lake in northern Italy, just an hour away from a major city and an international airport. I'm surrounded by beautiful mountains, and there are picturesque villages nearby. It's idyllic," she smiles.

"The cost of nearly everything in Italy is less than what I pay in the States… groceries, clothing, transportation, and utilities are all far less than in the US. The food tastes better and is healthier, too.

"Some things are more expensive, such as household appliances, imported goods, and shoes! But the lower cost of living in Italy has let me cut back my work to part-time, and I've been able to save more money than ever before!"

As she works less, Alma has found more time to do things she loves, such as hiking in the hills surrounding her home, kayaking and attempting stand-up paddle boarding on the lake, knitting and crocheting, painting, and handicrafts.

"We've got some charming cafes serving baked goods and coffees and very nice high-end and casual restaurants along the lakefront serving wonderful and delicious quality food—everything from pasta to seafood to burgers and salads. A nice oven-baked pizza with local fresh ingredients, a glass of wine, and a delicious tiramisu is only €20 or so."

Alma Benedetti splits her time between the US and Europe while waiting to become an Italian citizen.

Across the street from her apartment, a friendly local couple owns a fabulous charcuterie bistro, and they have the most divine cheeses, delectable meats, local wines, and olive spreads.

Rents in Alma's neighborhood are quite affordable, ranging from €450 ($470) for a studio apartment of 45 sq. meters / 485 sq. ft to an average-sized two-bedroom, one-bath apartment of 95 sq. meters / 1022 sq. ft for €780 ($816). A studio apartment can be purchased for €58,000 ($60,703), and a two-bedroom, one-bath condo on the 4th floor with views of the lake is priced at €110,000 ($115,126).

Alma looks forward to being able to use the healthcare system in Italy, as it is very highly regarded and available to all citizens at no cost. But because she isn't an Italian citizen yet, she relies on travel insurance for any medical needs she may have abroad, and when she's back in the US, she sees her doctor for yearly checkups.

When asked to advise someone considering moving overseas, Alma smiles and says, "It is wonderful! I highly recommend it… but remember, nothing worthwhile is easy. Be prepared for obstacles, rewards, challenges, changes, and disappointments."

Despite the ups and downs and frustrations, she's a big fan of Italian life. "I feel like my time in Italy is 95% less stressful than when I'm in the States. There's healthy food, healthy air quality, kinder/gentler people, a slower pace of life… and their values align with mine."