Embracing the Italian Dream: Americans and Britons Flock to Italy for a Better Life
Italy's Attraction: Exploring the Allure That Lures Many for a Vibrant New Life
A striking trend has emerged in recent years: instead of Italians fleeing their homeland, it's now Americans and Britons who are heading to Italy in search of a brighter future - what they call the 'Italian dream.'
For centuries, Italian families left their home country in pursuit of the 'American' or Western dream. However, it seems that this migration pattern has been flipped on its head. More and more Americans and Brits are finding Italy to be the perfect place to call home.
Sandy and Keith Webster, a Scottish-American couple in their sixties, are prime examples. They left "expensive" London in 2012 and moved to the remote village of Irsina, in Basilicata. In this charming Italian village, they found a gorgeous, multi-storey old dwelling with a panoramic balcony overlooking the old town. They refused to disclose the purchase price, but they did reveal that renovation costs were four times that of the purchase - something that would have set them back a hefty one million dollars in the U.S. Sandy, who hails from California, shared that their rural Italian lifestyle is healthier, slower-paced, and cheaper, allowing them to maintain a high living standard in a place where costs are relatively low.
David Greene, a graphic designer, made the move from the UK to the village of Ronciglione in the Lazio region. David, who was born in Chicago but raised in the UK, was able to escape just in time before Brexit. He found Italy, with its efficient public healthcare and reasonable costs, to be a far more inviting location than the UK. His two-bedroom Italian home, overlooking the valley, costs only €300 a month in rent, compared to his £800 mortgage back in the UK. His electricity and gas bills are just €150 per month, and he pays €50 a week for a cleaner. His weekly grocery bill amounts to around €80, and he gets around Lazio using a €24 weekly public transport ticket.
Amy Clarke, a 50-year-old writer from New York, is another American drawn to Italy. Last year, she moved to the fishing village of Sperlonga, where she purchased a dazzling white one-bedroom apartment tucked away in a quiet alley for just €70,000. Similar-sized homes in New York would have cost nearly a million dollars. In Sperlonga, Amy spends just €150 per week for groceries, and can dine out six times a month without breaking the bank.
So, why are more and more Americans and Brits trading their old lives for the Italian lifestyle?
For some, it's the appeal of Italy's rich culture, stunning landscapes, and delicious cuisine. The country offers a slower pace of life that many are drawn to. Tax incentives and job opportunities, such as remote work visas, are also major factors.
For those coming from the UK, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the strong ties Italy maintains with the EU are big draws. For Americans, the current political climate in the U.S. is causing many to seek out a more welcoming and stable environment.
Whatever the reasons, there's no denying the allure of Italy for asylum seekers from the U.S. and the UK. Whether you're drawn to the country's culture, financial benefits, or simply in search of a simpler, more fulfilling life, Italy offers a dream that's proving harder and harder to resist.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Sandy and Keith Webster, now residing in the quiet Italian village of Irsina, discovered the benefits of food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and relationships in Italy, reveling in a healthier, slower-paced, and cheaper lifestyle compared to their expensive London days.
- David Greene, a graphic designer on the move, chose Italy over the UK due to efficient public healthcare, reasonable costs, and the allure of fashion-and-beauty, living incômodiously in a picturesque valley view home for a fraction of his UK mortgage costs.
- Amy Clarke, a writer from New York, purchased a charming one-bedroom apartment in Sperlonga for seventy thousand euros, relishing the simplicity and affordability of food-and-drink, with the added bonus of keeping up to date with global events through travel and personal relationships.
- The Italian dream beckons more Americans and Brits, enamored by Italy's rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and delectable cuisine - a slower-paced life made possible by tax incentives and job opportunities like remote work visas.
- For those emigrating from the UK, the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and Italy's strong ties with the EU serve as compelling reasons to embrace the Italian lifestyle and residence.
- US citizens, on the other hand, seek out Italy as an escape from the turmoil of the current political climate, aiming for a more welcoming and stable environment that fosters personal growth and self-fulfillment.
- As the world grapples with complexities, Italy's Italian dream offers an irresistible escape, luring asylum seekers from the US and UK with its promise of an idyllic, simpler life marked by robust food-and-drink, picturesque home-and-garden, and the chance to reconnect with themselves and others through travel and relationships.
