Damien O’Farrell’s story will resonate with many people who have fallen for Italy’s charm: he moved to Rome for a three-month stay, which has now turned into almost three decades. He has spent much of that time working as a relocation coach, assisting others hoping to make the same move - and warning them of the pitfalls to avoid.
When Audrey Fielding first came to Puglia, she was expecting "a barren landscape", based on what she's heard and read. Instead, she found vibrant towns, chatty locals, a rich culture and delicious food that kept her coming back year after year.
Ana Stanciulescu moved from Bucharest, the modern capital of Romania, to Naples almost two years ago. She shares her photos of the city, where she works as a tour guide, and tells us how it changed her life - and why you should give it a chance.
The British government announced on Thursday that it would lift a ban on citizens voting in UK elections if they had lived longer than 15 years outside the country.
When The Local spoke to Rosalind Pratt, she had a batch of cupcakes in the oven and was fielding questions from the youngest of her four children, who had just come home from preschool.
Always wanted to learn Italian but didn't know where to start? The huge number of language-learning apps now available means it's easier than ever, and The Local has rounded up five of the best.
John Werich moved from chilly Sweden to Tuscany, originally to pursue interior design studies at Florence. A decade later, he's still there and running a successful olive oil farm in the Italian countryside.
"Our little valley spoke to us like nowhere else had before and we both said together 'this is it!'" said Sarah Fopps, who set up a holiday rental business in Le Marche in 2007.
"Come home, then". This was a comment I received on Twitter a few nights ago in response to a point I had made about the situation of expats in the era of Brexit. Although curt, this comment was nothing like as rude as others that we 'remainers' have been subject to in recent months.
When you first arrive in a new city, it's easy to either fall in love with everything, or feel out of place. So what happens once the honeymoon or adjustment period ends? Expat John Henderson, who blogs about life in Rome at Dog Eared Passport, talks about the things he still loves, or has learnt to love, three years down the line.
Most of us probably don't remember the good intentions we had at the start of the year by the time December rolls around, but why not make this year the year you set resolutions you'll actually want to keep. Here are seven goals which will help you make the most out of life in Italy.
Expat John Henderson, who blogs about life in Rome at Dog Eared Passport, muses over those who have touched his life this year and what they deserve for Christmas.
Nico and Stef Smulders moved to Italy from the Netherlands, and eventually a temporary stay turned into a permanent move. The Local speaks to Stef about the sometimes frustrating, sometimes funny aspects of moving abroad, which are the subject of his newly published book.
Networking as an expat woman means overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers - but it can be the key to success at work. Marketing and communications consultant Mary Wieder Bottaro unravels the mystery of networking Italian style.
Journalist and blogger Rosie Benson left a stable job in the UK to spend a year in Rome, learning the language, how to cook, and how to live life the Italian way. She tells The Local about her decision to book a one-way ticket to Italy - against the advice of almost everyone she knew.
Most of us who have made the move to Italy have at one point wrestled with the decision of how to define ourselves. If you're a foreigner living in Italy, does that make you an expat? Or an immigrant?
Karoline Steckley moved to the northeastern city of Trieste 10 years ago, and says it makes a pleasant change from the more popular Florence and Milan. She speaks to The Local about embracing the local dialect and setting up business, as well as the Slovenian influence on the city.
Whatever motivated you to move to Italy, The Local's got you sussed. From diplomacy to wine, we've picked out the top ten expat tribes in Italy. Which one do you belong to?
Thought you couldn't put a price on living the Italian dream? You thought wrong. Luckily, a new website is here to show you if you've been ripped off or found a rare bargain.
Living in Italy, cooking and eating Italian food… for a living. It sounds like a dream, but here are three women who made it happen. They tell The Local how they fell for Italy and its cuisine, and how they made a career out of it.
There’s always a time of reflection when milestone birthdays come and go. Pessimists think, Where have I been? Optimists think, Where am I going? I turned 60 two weeks ago, and I’m looking at it from a different perspective.
Almost half of expat mothers don’t ever plan to return to live in their home country, believing that the quality of life in their adopted nation is far better.
