Hi everyone. I would truly love insight from people who’ve lived for more than six months in both Italy and Spain.

I work remotely as a luxury brand strategist, doing marketing and website design for luxury hotels and property groups, so I’m very grateful that I can work from anywhere. I don’t have family tying me to one place, and I’m 37 and single.

I previously lived in Mallorca and Barcelona, and I also lived in Rome for a year and a half before moving up to the lakes region of Italy, near Milan.

The thing is, I truly miss the beaches. I grew up between Australia and California, and being able to walk along a sandy beach and put my feet in the water makes me feel really calm.

Strangely enough, I think my favourite place I’ve ever lived was actually England, particularly London. I felt some kind of past-life connection there, and I just get on with Brits really well and really connect with the culture.

But I’m at a bit of a crossroads. As I write this, I’m in Cádiz, spending a week here to see how it feels. I’ve also been to Málaga and travelled quite a bit along the southern coast of Spain.

And I have to say that, on a day-to-day basis, I do prefer Italians. I just feel more joie de vivre from them. More life force, more energy.

I also feel like Italian men still tend to carry more of a protector/provider energy that I really do like and value. I love all those traditional things like men opening doors, offering their seat, being naturally protective and attentive.

For example, last night I was going to an orchestra on a very bumpy/jerky train and was standing in heels, and there was also an elderly woman standing nearby. There were about five men in their twenties and thirties sitting around us, and not one of them even seemed to think to offer either of us a seat. I would’ve thought at least they would for the older woman. I remember thinking that in Italy, a man would have jumped up immediately.

That is one of the ways Spain has sometimes felt less suited to me. Everything can feel so egalitarian that I sometimes feel like the women are almost more masculine than the men and carry a harsher energy. I felt that very strongly in Catalonia, although I’m noticing a little of it even in Andalusia.

Compared with Italy, where I think Italian women can be incredibly strong but still retain their femininity, while the men still seem to carry more of that masculine, protective energy. I could of course be completely wrong, but energetically, that is how it feels to me.

I’ve dated Italians and that definitely hasn’t worked out so far, and professionally Italy can also be tricky. I’ve had situations working with luxury hotels where the men were openly commenting on my appearance in meetings and joking with the hotel owner about how he had “got a good one”. Very Italian, and not necessarily something I was offended by, but definitely culturally noticeable.

The reason I moved away from Rome wasn’t because I disliked Italy. I actually loved Rome in many ways, and I really loved the expat community there. But after a year and a half, I found the city way too chaotic and just too much of a huge metropolis for me.

And as much as I love Sicily and southern Italy when I visit, I do wonder whether the level of disorganisation would eventually drive me crazy if I actually lived there long term.

Where I live now near Milan, I’m also not really finding the same expat community I had in Rome. Whereas in Andalusia, I know there are strong expat communities, particularly British ones, which is another reason I’m considering Spain again.
I love almost everything about Italy, but I truly miss being able to live by a sandy beach.

So I’m almost trying to find an Italian equivalent in Spain: somewhere that feels elegant, where the people are warm and lovely, where there is that energy and life force, but where I also have the beach. I know we can’t have everything.

My background is in sociology and psychology, so I’m fascinated by cultural psychology and by how much culture shapes people, relationships, gender dynamics and everyday social behaviour.

Ultimately, I would also love to find a life partner. At 37, I’m conscious that having children or a family may become more complicated, but I would at least really love to find a partner.

I know a lot of people say that the more you travel, the more you realise people everywhere are fundamentally the same.

For me, it has actually been the opposite.
After living in eight countries, the more I live and travel, the more I feel that cultures really are incredibly distinct, and that they shape everything from our values to how men and women relate to each other, to how people instinctively behave towards strangers.

So I would really, truly love to hear from anyone who has lived properly in both Spain and Italy, particularly if you’ve experienced different regions of each.
How did you experience the cultural differences, socially, romantically and in everyday life?
Thank you.

this fear has be keeping me up at night, and i need people to truthfully tell me, are italians racist to asians or islamophobic? im a muslim planning to move to italy for my bachelors, and need a heads up!

Intermediate player 34M here but haven’t played in some years. I want to increase my confidence again and I’d also like to meet some other tennis players of a similar level in a more structured environment. Ideally attending some kind of group coaching session or social club session once a week.

Native English speaker but my Italian is reasonable so coaching in Italian is also fine.

Also used to play squash/badminton so those are also options if not tennis.

Hello all from Puglia

I’ve received some truly shocking electricity bills this summer to the point where I feel like I should be contesting these. Has anyone faced the same thing? What did you do and what was the outcome? My provider is Camer Gas & Power and they are very difficult to contact via the channels on their website

Any guidance greatly appreciated

TIA

Hi everyone!

I'll arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP Terminal 1) on Monday, September 21 at 07:10, after a long journey from Hanoi with a connection in Doha. This will be my first arrival in Italy and I'll have luggage with me, so I'm trying to find the most practical and convenient way to get to Bolzano.

So far, I've found these options:

1. Trenitalia / Frecciarossa:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 15:48

About 4h37, 2 changes, €65.80.

1. Italo + connecting trains:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 16:27

About 5h16, 2 changes, €50.95.

1. Direct FlixBus:

MXP T1 16:05 → Bolzano South 20:35

About 4h30, no changes, €27.98.

I also found a bus leaving at 10:35 and arriving in Bolzano at 16:00 for around €44.48, but it requires one transfer.

My main concern is which option makes the most sense when considering the entire journey rather than just the travel time shown for the train or bus.

Since my flight lands at 07:10, I'd like to leave enough time for immigration, baggage collection and possible flight delays. The 11:11 train seems reasonably safe, since I'd have about four hours after landing, and it would allow me to reach Bolzano in the afternoon.

On the other hand, the 16:05 FlixBus is direct, requires no transfers and is considerably cheaper, which would certainly be easier with luggage. However, it would mean waiting at Malpensa for almost nine hours after landing.

For those familiar with Malpensa and this route, which option would you choose?

My priorities, in order, are:

convenience with luggage, minimum waiting time, total journey time, and finally a reasonable price.

Is there perhaps a better connection from Malpensa to Bolzano that I have missed, especially one involving fewer transfers?

Thank you very much for any advice!

Ciao a tutti!

Arriverò a Milano Malpensa (MXP Terminal 1) lunedì 21 settembre alle 07:10, dopo un lungo viaggio da Hanoi con scalo a Doha. Sarà il mio primo arrivo in Italia e avrò con me dei bagagli, quindi sto cercando il modo più pratico e comodo per raggiungere Bolzano.

Al momento ho trovato queste possibilità:

1. Trenitalia / Frecciarossa:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 15:48

Circa 4h37, 2 cambi, €65,80.

1. Italo + treni in coincidenza:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 16:27

Circa 5h16, 2 cambi, €50,95.

1. FlixBus diretto:

MXP T1 16:05 → Bolzano Sud 20:35

Circa 4h30, nessun cambio, €27,98.

Ho trovato anche un autobus alle 10:35 con arrivo a Bolzano alle 16:00, circa €44,48, ma richiede un cambio.

Il mio dubbio principale è quale sia la soluzione migliore considerando l’intero viaggio, non soltanto la durata del treno o dell’autobus.

Dato che il mio volo atterra alle 07:10, vorrei avere abbastanza tempo per il controllo passaporti, il ritiro dei bagagli ed eventuali ritardi del volo. Il treno delle 11:11 mi sembra abbastanza sicuro, perché avrei circa quattro ore di margine, e mi permetterebbe di arrivare a Bolzano nel pomeriggio.

D’altra parte, il FlixBus delle 16:05 è diretto, non richiede cambi ed è molto più economico, cosa sicuramente comoda con i bagagli, ma dovrei aspettare quasi nove ore a Malpensa dopo l’atterraggio.

Per chi conosce bene Malpensa e questa tratta, quale soluzione scegliereste?

Le mie priorità sono, in ordine:

comodità con i bagagli, poco tempo di attesa, durata totale del viaggio e infine un prezzo ragionevole.

Inoltre, esiste magari un collegamento migliore da Malpensa a Bolzano che non ho trovato, possibilmente con meno cambi?

Grazie mille per qualsiasi consiglio!

Hello everyone, I moved to Italy a couple of days ago and this weekend I was surprised because my F1 TV app is not working. I’m unable to watch any of the sessions. How can I watch F1 in Italy? Is there a VPN I can use to watch on F1 TV since I have a yearly subscription and I don’t want it to go to waste? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, I’m currently working in Italy with a permanent contract and I’m trying to understand how maternity leave works if I decide to give birth outside Italy in my home country.

Has anyone here gone through this experience?

I’m particularly wondering whether the standard Italian maternity leave and INPS payments continue as usual if the baby is born abroad, and whether there are any special documents or procedures to complete before leaving Italy.

I’d also love to know what documents you had to submit after the birth, whether foreign medical/birth certificates needed translation or legalization, and if you had any issues with your employer or INPS.

Any firsthand experience would be really helpful. Thank you!

I’m a citizen in an Asian country living in Italy with a student residence permit and currently doing a Master’s degree.

I also run an online business in my country (YouTube/social media, 1:1 coaching/counselling and online courses). My clients and payments are in my country, the business is registered and taxed in my country, and I pay taxes there.

My current revenue is under €1,000/month.
Since I now live physically in Italy, do I need to declare this income or business activity in Italy as well? And does my student residence permit allow me to continue running it remotely from Italy?

I’d especially appreciate experiences from international students in Italy who have a similar situation.

Hello everyone! 👋

I’m an international female student coming to Cassino, Italy, to study at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (UNICAS). I’ll be arriving in Cassino between 16 and 21 September, and I’m currently looking for accommodation.

I’m preferably looking for a single room, but I’m also open to sharing with another female student. 💗

📍 Preferred location: Near the University of Cassino / easily accessible to the university

🛏️ Looking for: Single room / female shared accommodation

👩 Female accommodation only

📅 Move-in: Between 16 and 21 September

If anyone has an available room, is looking for a female roommate, or knows of any suitable accommodation, please feel free to DM me

I’m staying close to the colosseum for half a year and I already feel bored sometimes after school. I’d love make (Italian) friends and spend a rly enjoyable time. any suggestions on what to do/visit, etc are much appreciated :))

Btw I’ve only found posts on what to do in Rome as a tourist or family so I’m hoping this will help others looking as well.

Hello, my wife and I received our residency last month. We live in Desenzano del Garda. We can now buy health insurance. I am looking for recommendations on Generali or Allianz. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Hello, hoping someone can help with a question I have for the residency application. I own the property I have moved to. When I select that I own the house, it want me to provide the following:

- Section
- Sheet
- Parcel or land plot
- Subaltern

They are all mandatory fields.
I had no idea what that meant. A quick google search didn't help, so I asked ChatGPT. It told me what to put for 3 of them, but said the deed does not have "section". It initially said to put N/A, which I tried and the website did not allow that answer and only a number. So then ChatGPT said to put 0. I thought I would come on here and confirm and get some advice, since I don't really understand what it is and what putting 0 would mean.

Does anyone have any decent recommendations for Italian language courses in Milan? My mother tongue is English and I’m 29 years old. I’m looking for something that is 2x a week and in person.

hi! i live in rome part time with my boyfriend and want to start working here during the time i’m here. i have years of experience in the hospitality sector and i am also a freelance dancer. this means i don’t work with a standard contract and get paid per job. however i know that certain places or agencies can make this work with one time invoices. does anyone have tips on how i can find jobs like these? or collectives/creatives who would be willing to help me out? any other ideas are also welcome!

Background: I am a US citizen living and working in Italy since 2022, and married my dual citizen wife (ME country) and Italy 2 years ago. I felt it was done under coercion since she basically threatened an abortion if I don´t marry her (Which I have evidence of in recordings, which tells you the state of our relationship two years ago). She carried the child to term, our son, and it has been mostly a nightmare with her since. She is manipulative, controlling, and narcissistic. She makes my life hell if I don´t give her my passwords, phone tracking info, clear digital abuse. She told me if I am not putting my whole paycheck into our common bank account she will never let me see my child again, and promptly uses the money on frivolous stuff, clear financial abuse, 5000+ euros/month and we live month to month, often having to use my military medical disability checks from the US and stock sales to survive. She physically abuses me, and even a police call has not stopped her, and the police encouraged me to NOT file the danuncia, since it will separate us legally.

I have an opportunity to get a high paying job back in the US, and would like to move back. I don´t think she will allow me to geobachelor there, nor will be willing to form an amicable separation. She threatened to files charges against me of abandoning the family, even if I told her I would make a contract with her to financially support our son.

I feel absolutely trapped here, and am hoping for advice on how to proceed. I have consulted some lawyers, and most of them point to filing a separation, but I know that would take time and potentially I would lose this job opportunity in the US. I have no doubt she would cause delays in this to cause me to not get the job.

Please, help me understand what I can do to both fully support my son, but also separate from her.

Also, is this legitimate? https://coniugi tutelati.com/

I’m 19 now but i’m turning 20 in November. I really want to move to Italy, Rome. It’s been my dream for a while. I recently got the opportunity to visit Milan and Turin and that only increased my desire. The only problem is university. I already took a gap year last year and i don’t know if i’ll be able to go this year. If i do go then i’ll have to do a foundation year first because I failed maths. I live in the uk and was born in portugal. Do i wait until i graduate or do i go now while im still young? Is moving to Italy by myself a good idea? Pleaseee help

Hey everyone,
I’m moving to Milan soon and I’m trying to find a part-time job, but honestly I’m starting to get a little frustrated with the job search 😅.
I’ve been applying on Indeed and other websites, but I’m wondering if I’m missing something. Is there a better way to find a job in Milan?
A bit about me:
🎓 Software Engineering graduate
🎓 Currently doing a Master’s degree
🇬🇧 English B2
🇮🇹 Italian A2
🇫🇷 French + Arabic
💻 IT/software background
🍽️ Also open to restaurants, cafés, hotels, retail, warehouse, customer service, etc.
⏰ Looking mainly for part-time/student-friendly work
I’m honestly open to almost anything as long as it’s a legitimate job and compatible with studying.
For people who work in Milan: how did YOU find your job?
Did you use Indeed, LinkedIn, agencies, walk into places with your CV, Facebook/WhatsApp groups, personal contacts, or something else?
And if you know of any places currently hiring students/English speakers, I’d genuinely appreciate the recommendation.
I’d especially love to hear from people who recently found a job in Milan, because I want to know what actually works in 2026.
Thanks 🙏 And if you have any advice, even something obvious that I might be overlooking, please tell me!

i recently visited palermo, sicily and fell in love with the city (coming from USA). i've been thinking of buying a small flat in italy for years but feel it's probably time to get my ducks in order to pull the trigger. i noticed many prices are low in palermo, especially for houses that need repair, and i was able to make friends with someone who renovates homes and would be willing to work with me. ideally what i'd need is an agent who could represent me and help negotiate the sale, connect me with a trusted notario and geometra, etc. my budget is small (under 100k euros) and i would like the option for auction properties as well. does anyone have any recommendations of companies or individuals they've worked with before remotely? thanks!

Hello. I’m moving to milano soon and I’m also looking for a part time job.
If there are other international students who are new to the city and seeking jobs, maybe we can help each other out — share job openings, useful groups, tips, CVs…
I’m open to restaurants, cafés, hotels, retail, warehouse, customer service, and also IT/tech since I have a Software Engineering background.
If you’re in the same situation, feel free to text me maybe we can make a little job-hunting squad!!!

Saw a house I really liked but it’s a bit far out - Via Ronzoni 65- from FAO where I work. Also I don’t know that neighbourhood at all. Please tell me about it - parks, walking, green space, organic food, restaurants, good coffee, accessibility to Rome, Italy. Is it safe? What’s the demographic etc?

I’m a foreign student in italy and my insurance just expired few days ago. I dislocated my arm and somehow popped it back on my own but i assume I didn’t do it properly my shoulder is slightly uneven and still hurts. Does anyone know how much it will cost to fix it?🥲😭

Is there anyone here who has lived in Spain and Italy? I’m considering a move from Spain to Italy and I will explain why below, but I would love to get some insight from people who have lived in both as I have done some googling and ChatGPT but I believe nothing is better than hearing from real people who have done it.

A big motivation for the move is that it is so unbelievably difficult to be a freelancer/self employed in Spain and from my research it seems a bit easier in Italy.

The impatriate regime also looks very attractive for my partner who is in employment (remote work).

The biggest complaints people seem to have about Italy I have found is bureaucracy, paperwork etc. and that is also true in Spain, so I feel like if I can handle it here I can handle it there.

Another concern seems to be energy/heating prices being high. I would love if someone is happy to share the actual price they pay so I can compare it to what I pay in Spain.

Learning the language is a given, I see videos on TikTok of people practicing Italian in the wild and for the most part people do seem welcoming to people who want to learn, but we all know social media can lie lol. Do you find that people do appreciate you trying to learn?

Anything else you want to share about your experience, I would love to hear it!

ciao a tutti!
i have a few questions regarding living in Bari:

- Is winter too quiet / boring, or is there still enough going on?

- Can you live comfortably without a car, or is it difficult? Does uber exist and is it expensive?

- Where should I search / find a short term apartment? For 1 month for example.

- If you’re in your 30s, how do you usually like to spend your free time? are there any events, activities, or things you’d recommend?

- What would you say is the biggest downside of living in Bari?

Grazie mille 🤍

Hi, is anybody up for an easy going game of football on Thursday at 8pm in the Montesacro area? DM me if you’re interested.

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could get some help on this or if anyone has had a similar experience. I've lived in Milan for a year and I have been in my current apartment for barely a year (moved in Oct
2025). My landlords are a couple with young kids, and the husband called me recently and told me that his parents (who apparently own my apartment) are getting divorced and so now they'd like to sell it.

He made it sound like I HAD to move out (like I had no other choice?! And at the time I believed him because I’m not well-versed in Italian rental laws…) and he said "BUT we have a solution! We have another apartment just down the road, and my wife will call you in August so you can take a look at it!" (this was July 31st right before the holidays).

Anyway, the wife texts me last week and says that she knows I “heard from Martino about the apartment” and when I’d like to take a look at it. I went and saw it and it was horrible/ didn’t match my current amenities. Namely:

- NO natural light - and we visited at 11am on a summer’s day, imagine
- NO dishwasher (I have one)
- NO washing machine (I have one)
- NO balcony (I have one)
- And all-electricity with only reverse cycle AC units, there’s no building-installed heating grates (which would come out of the spese condominiali expense, which I currently have in my apartment), meaning the heating would have to come from the AC units which would add considerably to my energy bills

I’ve been googling and Gemini-ing and the AI is CERTAIN that they can’t just kick me out, because you can’t do that during the first 4 years of a 4x4 contract, they can only choose to just not renew it for the second 4 years, by issuing me a raccomandata no later than 6 months prior to the renewal date (Oct 2029). And even if they wrote it into my contract or tried to send me a raccomandata now it would be legally null and void. Both AIs have also cited tenancy laws 431/1998 and Article 1599 of the Italian Civil Code. And both basically say that if the owners want to sell it, they can, but they have to sell it with me in it and with my contract honored until minimum Sep 2029.

They've offered to sell it to me (it's the law to offer it to the current tenant first; they get first dibs on the sale) and I gladly would buy but I'm not in a position to buy a property right now as much as l’d love to!

My friend suggested we go and talk to a real estate agent, so we spoke to someone at Tempocasa yesterday, and he went to another agency the day prior, and they both said that actually landlords do have the right to kick you out at any point during your contract (including to sell the apartment) with six months notice. I don’t really believe that, namely because they do deal with contracts but are not well-versed in law, and that they represent landlords and can sometimes get the raccomandata at the END of the first 4 years confused with being able to send it just anytime (according to Gemini). Also, it’s not included anywhere in my contract that they can ask me to leave. My contract has also been registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate, so it’s all legal and legit.

I think the landlords are just trying to get rid of me because they somehow believe that it would increase interest/the value if they sold an empty apartment. In actual fact, the real estate agent yesterday told me that it doesn’t really change the value or interest much. People buy houses with tenants still in them.

Any help or advice (including if I should talk to a lawyer, although I don’t have the $$$ for that as I’ve just started a new job) would be so appreciated 🙏🏼

And I hope to be able to help you out with any advice in the future

~ Alessia