Living

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Italy: Living

Communities of Expatriates

The Number of Expatriates: The expatriate community includes 3 990 295 people.
Blogs For Expats: Expatriate blog
For Further Information: To get more information about expatriates
Immigration Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Transportation Companies For Moving/Removals: Traslochi Italia
Intlmovers

Ranking of Cities

Cost of Living: The north and the center of Italy, especially the big cities, are more expensive. The cost of living is lower in the south. Milan is in 50th position and Rome in 58th, among the most expensive cities in the world (Mercer 2016).
Quality of Life: The quality of life in Italy differs a lot between the north and the south. Mercer's 2017 Quality of Living Survey ranks Milan 41st and Rome 57th out of 231.
Sanitary Conditions: Italian cities are not known for having good sanitary conditions because of major pollution.
For Further Information: Quality of Living Worldwide City Rankings –Survey - Mercer
Cost of Living Worldwide City Rankings –Survey - Mercer

Renting an Apartment

Description of apartments: Apartments are described by the number of bedrooms in the apartment: "monolocale" for one bedroom, "bilocale" for two, or apartment with X number of bedrooms. ("con numero X")
Normal Lease Term: A year and a half. Notice of leaving must be at least 1 month.
Rental Costs: You have to pay one or two months' rent in advance.
Agencies or Private Rentals: It is better to go through a private agency even if this is not always a guarantee. The best known are TecnoCasa, Gruppo Toscano, Gabetti etc.
Private ads are quite widespread but may turn out to be dangerous.
Rental Agency Websites: Casa Click
Idealista
Private Rentals Announcements Online: Immobiliare
Other Possibilities For Accommodation: Apartments or rooms can also be rented for a weekend or one/several weeks.
For Further Information: Affitti turistici
Trovo casa

School System

School Level: The Italian education system is made up of 3 cycles : the primary cycle, the secondary cycle and higher education. Primary school is spread over 7 years (from age 6 to 13), secondary school over 5 years (age 13 to 18). Higher education from age 18.
International Schools: There are many international schools especially in big cities and university towns, like Fondazione Villa Grimani - International School in Padua, International School of Milan in Milan, Lycée Chateaubriand in Rome.
For Further Information: For further information, consult the Ministry of Education website.

Health System

Quality of Healthcare: The Italian National Health Service (SSN) is a universal, egalitarian public system. That means it guarantees assistance to all citizens without distinction.
In the public sector, unfortunately, you have to wait a long time to be examined (sometimes you have to wait months for an appointment, even for something urgent).
International Hospitals: International Hospital Salvator Mundi
Health Insurance: Yes
Accessibility of the Health Insurance Network to Foreigners: Possible
Health System Insurance Body: The national health insurance website
Health Ministry: The Ministry of Health website

Tourism and Culture

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: Italy is world renown for its many tourist sites. A great number of the most well-known and frequently visited historical monuments are in Rome, including: the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican. Other cities have many visitors, such as: Venice and its famous canals, Florence and its Uffizi gallery and Pisa and its Leaning Tower.
Cultural: The historical centres in Rome, Naples and Florence are great to experience by walking. Tuscany and Umbria are two of the most famous regions, known for their culinary delights and stunning landscapes. The Reggia de Caserta (Palace of Caserta), the Villa d'Este, Villa Adriana and the Necropolises of the Etruscans are also very well-known destination.

Night life in Italy caters for all tastes, including: opera and theatre, bars, discotheques and night clubs.
Nature: Destinations for tourists looking to experience the natural beauty of Italy include: the Aeolian islands, the island of Asinara, the Maddalena archipelago and the Strait of Bonifacio, the Cascades of the Marmore, the vineyards of Langhe, Monferrato and Valtellina. Mount Etna in Sicily is one of the biggest volcanoes in the world.
Religious: While beautiful churches can be found across Italy, the heart of Italian religion can be found at the Vatican, with its famous churches and basilicas.
Thermal: Italy has numerous spas- some of which date back to antiquity. Some of the biggest and best equipped spas and therapeutic resorts in Italy are: Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme (Veneto), Acqui Terme (Piedmont), Chianciano and Montecatini Terme (Tuscany), Fiuggi (Lazio), Porretta Terme and Salsomaggiore Terme (Emilia-Romagna), Sciacca (Sicily) and Sirmione (Lombardy).
Beach: Italy has countless beautiful beaches- including the islands, Liguria, Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily.
Winter Sports: The Alps make up Italy's northern border and the Apennine chain runs the whole length of the country. As a result, Italy is an ideal mountain holiday destination, especially in winter for those who love snow and winter sports.
For further information, consult the Skiinfo website.
Outdoor Activities: Outdoor activities of all sorts- climbing, sailing, trekking and golf- are readily available.
Shopping: Italian products are recognised all over the world for their class and high quality- many of which are made by local craftsmen at attractive prices.
Florence, Milan and Rome are known the fashion centres and have a tremendous variety of retail destinations. Some places are known for specific products: Como (Lombardy) for silk, Prato (Tuscany) for textiles, Empoli (Tuscany) for the production of bottles and glasses in green glass, Deruta (Umbria) and Faenza (Emilia-Romagna) for pottery, Carrara (Tuscany) for marble, Torre Annunziata (Campania) and Alghero (Sardinia) for coral crafts, Cremona (Lombardy) for violins, Castelfidardo (Marche) for accordions, guitars and organs, Valenza (Piedmont) for goldsmiths, Vietri sul Mare (Campania) for ceramic tiles and Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) for mosaics.

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Coliseum
Castel San Angelo
St Paul's Basilica
St John's Basilica
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
St Clement's Basilica
Trevi Fountain
Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth)
I Fori (Imperial Forums)
il Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)

Top Highlights of the Country
The canals of Venice
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Sistine Chapel
Trulli (Stone Dwellings)
Palace of Caserta
Cinque Terre Coastal Villages
Etna
St Peter's
Abbruzzo National Park
Dolomites

Tourism Organisations: ENIT, National Tourist Office
Cultural Organizations: The Ministry of Culture website
For Further Information: The National Tourist Office website

Individual and Civic Freedoms

Political Freedom: Widespread
Civil Liberty: 1/7
: World Ranking of Freedom of the Press According to "Reporters sans Frontières", 2021 report : 41/180
Free Access to the Internet: Widespread
Rule of Law: Not wholly embraced.
Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: Respected
Women's Condition: Women have the same rights at the legal level but there is still discrimination at work.
For Further Information: Consult the Freedom House website

Religion

Degree of Freedom: Religious freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution. A Concordat revised by the Vatican in 1984 declared Italy to be a secular state.
Beliefs: Catholic 83.4%, No religion 16.1%, Other 0.5%.
Role of Religion in Society: Dominant

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