What is the best place for an American family to live and work for a year in Italy?

Question

We are applying for dual citizenship right now with our ancestorial blood rights. We would like to immerse our children in Italian culture for a year, where they can go to school and we can get work and be exposed to Italian family life.

Answer 1

I think that it depends by how much you can spend, initially. Italian culture can be lived either in a big city or a small village (the first often being a more expensive life) and probably a big city might be more cosmopolitan than a smaller one. Traditions are well kept all through Italy but it's in the small cities your family can experience the  true Italian culture.

Do you speak Italian? That will be helpful to be able to fully integrate to the place you will be staying, often in small cities very few people speak English.

Of course, depending on your family origins you might want to choose a place either in North, Center or Southern Italy.

Just my thoughts :)

Answer 2

I lived in your country for 2 years. In the cold north and in the hot south. But for what I concern the american way of life, the sprawl, live in houses, the garden, the barbecue, the pool....its hard to find.

But maybe you are living in Chicago or New Yprk, the life in the city, and the traffic, LOL, is pretty the same.

In many big town like Rome or Milan, you will find american schools, so the kids will be share time with Italians kids and speak both languages. In a big city is easy to move forward about the cultural shock.....believe me, there is.

You are not going to find 7 Eleven, Mejer, Walmart..... I mean sometimes, you need something and is not like over there, easy to find.

Anyway if you dont like the urban life, I suggest you a lot of little town, in Umbria, Toscana, just let me know.

Let me know.

Best regards

Answer 3

It is difficult to live in Italy.  You will have quite a bit of culture shock.  Many things that we take for granted in America are not even a possibility in Italy.  Living here is like the US back in the 1940's.  Just go into it with your eyes open and not believing all the hype and romance.  I can't wait to get back to America!

Answer 4

well yahoo answers is not the best place to seek such critical advice as this , try Barnes and nobles.  If money is no object you will make it anymore just fine. Its quite expensive over there which I am sure you know.

Answer 5

well for my point of view you should live in the north, where services are better and where all the big comanies have HQ. said that, i reckon if u can afford it ,you should live in little town

in  lake COMO ,LECCO or VERBANIA (arona or ispra)area, there are little beautyfull village there and u will be  a commute distance  to Milan way(which is the ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY with many career opportunity and many good schools).

But this is only my opinion

Answer 6

Ho my god !!!,  are you  sure?  you  want to move  your  kids  there??  and FIND A  JOB ????   do you know  the  reality in Italy  "right now" ?? , there is not enough jobs even for the Italians,  My family is also  from Italy,   I was there  for many times,   think  about  what is better for your kids... !!!!

Furthermore, think about the mentality of Italians from Italy are very different from the Italians "oriundos" abroad

AS Exotix said: If money is no object you will make it anymore just fine. Its quite expensive over there which ..

anyway: good luck

Answer 7

it depends if you want to live in a big city or a small town. generally, big cities are better because more people know english and offer more diverse schools, while in small towns only a handful may speak it and have only a couple of schools. however, small towns are more family oriented.

Answer 8

The best place to live and work in Italy, is Milan. This city have everything, but is a big city and the city more expensive in Italy.

you can live also in a city of Toscana, is a beatiful place and is offer a lot works.

ciao