What is a good city in Italy to live?

Question

By this time next year I'll be 18. So when I leave home I'm starting out in Italy. I live in the U.S.A. now so I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing. So I need a cheap single apartment to live in. I just need to get the gist of a good city in Italy to live in. So I can look at apartments and see how much money I'll need. Can anyone help??

Answer 1

If you want to live in a city that is pure Italian, Catania is a great place. The island of Malti  (may have spelled that wrong) is a great place. The people there know english.  

Answer 2

There are a lot of cities here to live, but it's more expensive than in the US. My one bedroom apartment here costs about the same as my 4 bedroom house in Colorado. You should also be aware that an unfurnished apartment here is different than in the US - you'll need to supply all the appliances and even light fixtures. Gas was roughly equivalent to $8.50 per gallon where I filled up this morning.

However, you've got a lot of research to do before starting to think about apartments. You can't just  pick up and move from the US to Italy. If you're a US citizen, you can only stay here for 90 days as a tourist without a visa. It also isn't legal for you to work here without having a work permit and a visa that allows you to do so unless you're from the EU. Generally, you cannot apply for a work permit yourself - the company has to apply for it which means you need to have a job lined up. This website of the Italian government has visa information: http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp.  

Jobs for people outside the EU are difficult. EU citizens have the right to move and work within the EU, so there's a much smaller burden for a company to hire someone from here than from the US. You have to have the visa before you arrive here. Here in Italy, you will also need to apply for a permesso di soggiorno after you arrive and get a codice fiscale (the equivalent of an SSN).

You might consider applying to a university in Italy and coming as a student. However, for an education visa, you need to be able to demonstrate that you've got resources of at least 350.57 euro per month for you stay on top of a place to stay.

A good starting point for planning this type of move is to do some research on the expat websites for the countries you're interested in. This is a good way to get current information and make in-country contacts. These are sites for expats in Italy with general info on living and working and a couple with jobs listings:

http://www.us-expatriate-handbook.com/

http://www.expatsinitaly.com/

http://www.jobonline.it/

http://italy.jobs.com/

The trick is finding a job that pays enough that you can support yourself. I was fortunate enough to move here through my existing job. There are not a huge number of available jobs right now, and people from the EU will have preference. I already had a job here and the paperwork took 8 months. (Note - I've been here 9 years, but the process hasn't changed much other than the specific forms changing).

As an American expat, you would have to file tax returns both here and in the US.  

If you want to work here without working, you would need a "documented and detailed guarantee of substantial and steady private income private income (pensions or annuities) from property, stable economic and commercial activities or from other sources".

Answer 3

Milano is a very stylish city, lots of really cool shops and cafes, but for real cosmopolitan flavor it has to be Roma.

Roma, as well as being the capital city is steeped in history and at the same time has loads of cafes, bars, clubs and theaters, the street life is terrific and the parks and open spaces are delightful.

Answer 4

Hmmmm the nicest one must be Venice...or Rome...

Answer 5

Milan rocks, but it is costly my dear, so more likely somewhere else in Lombardia.

Maybe Monza, Bergamo or Brescia.

Good luck in your choice.