If you had 6 months to "live" in Italy where would you live?
Aug 18th, 2004, 07:50 AM
#21
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How about Florence. It's big enough to not be bored, has plenty of art, museums,university, etc as well as the general "buzz" of a real city, but it's not overpowering. It's very central - can get to Venice, Rome, Milan, all of Tuscany, the Riviera, etc in less than 3 hours.
Aug 18th, 2004, 07:56 AM
#22
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Wow, Isabel, I couldn't disagree with you more. I DO find Florence "overpowering" --with tourists and theirservices. I was bored there in three days on my second trip, after having seen the fantastic museums. I find little in Florence to entertain me as in other Italian cities, after I've explored the art. But of course, that's just one opinion.
Aug 18th, 2004, 08:03 AM
#23
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Okay - - this answer will make everyone gasp, but I suppose I would put Milan on the list of places to consider.
My answer has more to do with me than Italy. I am thinking too literally, perhaps - - but I am wondering what circumstances would really let/cause me to actually live in Italy for six months. Since this is a fantasy question, I have to (want to?) think that some great opportunity would be the reason - - to combine something uniquely <i>gainful</i> with the chance to live la dolce vita during those hours not consumed by the lavish compensation that brought me there.
Whatever this assignment were, I am guessing that I would want as much of the "modern, American style" infrastructure as possible to accomplish what I was there for. And the comforts of a house that is neither urban nor strictly rural (confession: yes, my first citizenship in the world is in suburbia). An excellent highway connectivity to all kinds of great places, including many I have not explored to my satisfaction - - Lake Maggiore, the Piemonte, ALL of Lake Como (not just the middle), Pavia, Bergamo, Cremona, the Cinque Terre and the Riviera. And great shopping.
If my answer is atypical - - it goes to show that there ARE <i>no</i> bad answers to this question.
Maybe I'll spend a portion of the day speculating what would this great opportunity be?
And what <b>on earth</b> would cause me to come <i>back "home"</i>!!??
Best wishes,
Rex
My answer has more to do with me than Italy. I am thinking too literally, perhaps - - but I am wondering what circumstances would really let/cause me to actually live in Italy for six months. Since this is a fantasy question, I have to (want to?) think that some great opportunity would be the reason - - to combine something uniquely <i>gainful</i> with the chance to live la dolce vita during those hours not consumed by the lavish compensation that brought me there.
Whatever this assignment were, I am guessing that I would want as much of the "modern, American style" infrastructure as possible to accomplish what I was there for. And the comforts of a house that is neither urban nor strictly rural (confession: yes, my first citizenship in the world is in suburbia). An excellent highway connectivity to all kinds of great places, including many I have not explored to my satisfaction - - Lake Maggiore, the Piemonte, ALL of Lake Como (not just the middle), Pavia, Bergamo, Cremona, the Cinque Terre and the Riviera. And great shopping.
If my answer is atypical - - it goes to show that there ARE <i>no</i> bad answers to this question.
Maybe I'll spend a portion of the day speculating what would this great opportunity be?
And what <b>on earth</b> would cause me to come <i>back "home"</i>!!??
Best wishes,
Rex
Aug 18th, 2004, 08:03 AM
#24
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Amy_Zena, indeed that is very much the case re: living in Italy. The cost of living is high there, however the salaries are low, much, much lower than their American counterparts. Despite the strikes, odd hours of businesses, le feste, etc. Italy can still be charming despite its idiosyncrasies. I am hoping to move to Roma next year. The advantage of being in a large city like Roma (compared to Nervi and towns on the slower, laid-back Riviera di Potente coast), is that more businesses are staying open to match other European and larger American cities and their operating hours/methods. Either way, living in Italy would be a dream come true no matter where I ended up! Enjoy your time there while the rest of watch wistfully in envy......
Aug 18th, 2004, 08:07 AM
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It would have to be a city for me for that long of a period. I would go with Rome because of my interest in history. It would give me plenty of time to hit more museums, and it is just a very vibrant place.
It was a close one though, as I would love to have that much time to see and photograph every corner of Venice.
It was a close one though, as I would love to have that much time to see and photograph every corner of Venice.
Aug 18th, 2004, 08:32 AM
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i think i'd prefer to stay in a small hill town like lucignano or sinelunga which has easy access to all of eastern tuscany as well as arrezo, cortona and parts of umbria.
my primary reason is that given their smallness, over a period of six months one is going to be able to better develope a broad range of relationships. you're inevitably going to keep bumping into the same folks and a sense of community evolves which may well last a lifetime.
my primary reason is that given their smallness, over a period of six months one is going to be able to better develope a broad range of relationships. you're inevitably going to keep bumping into the same folks and a sense of community evolves which may well last a lifetime.
Aug 19th, 2004, 03:08 PM
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Subcon, I find your post very interesting. I know that most people always feel that a small town is more "intimate", but lately I've been finding the opposite to be true. I've gone to the same dry cleaners here in little downtown Naples, Florida for about 20 years now. Each time they ask me to spell my name and give my phone number. While spending a month in midtown Manhattan, they did the same the first time I took shirts to a neighborhood place. After that I was greeted by name each time I went, and they knew I didn't want starch, and wanted the shirts on hangers. I have found that in a big city, you often have a greater closeness with those in your immediate neighborhood than you might have in a small town. While staying in Rome just one week, the man outside the restaurant at the end of our street spoke to me every time I passed by after we ate there just one night. The clerk at the supermarket spoke to me in English the second time I went there to buy cereal, milk, and bottled water. I'm just not so sure that you can't have the same or even more closeness in a big city that you have in a small town.
Aug 20th, 2004, 01:29 PM
#29
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I think Amy makes an excellent point...it's different being a tourist than actually living in a country. I lived in Europe for a year (mostly Munchen), and am very glad I did, but find that I enjoy it more now on vacation than I did when I actually lived there. Of course, maybe that has something to do with "being on vacation," and there are times I think about living there again for a year or so, but they are different experiences.
Aug 20th, 2004, 02:12 PM
#31
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Monty:
You don't say if you?re a currently a city, Suburban or country dweller. I think this might influence your choice. If you currently live in Manhattan, moving to a small village in the boonies might be fun for the first few weeks, but drive you stir crazy for six months. If you currently live in the country, moving to Rome might drive you nuts within a fortnight. Seven years ago, when I lived in the center of a city, I would have said ROME, without hesitation. Now that I have lived in the suburbs for 7 years, I would have difficulty living in any city, regardless of what it has to offer, for six months, because I have developed a dislike for noise, pollution and traffic. However, I have to say, I would probably be able to put up with all three, if I could spend six months in Rome J
If it were me, before making the choice, I would first decide on a region, based on the time of year ? summer or winter months. Personally, I don?t like the heat or humidity, so, if the six months spanned the summer months, I would have to find a place that was relatively cool during summer or close to somewhere cool to which I could escape in the very hot weather.
I would then that a 2-3 week trip to the region and look at it, not from a tourist's eye, but from resident's eye. In other words, I would try to see both the positives AND negatives: check out the transportation system, the services, think of an average day and what I would do with my time, does it offer me what I want.
I would be inclined to consider somewhere on the edge of a small city or large town within easy transportation distance (less than 3 hours) to Rome. I'd weigh this up against the cost of renting a place for six months, as I assume that there are budgetary constraints. Having recently checked out rental villas in France for October, there is obviously a very large difference between the Cot d'Azur and the Languedoc-Rousillon areas. Rome is always expensive, two hours from Rome, much cheaper. Do you want a cottage with a garden or do you like apartment living?
Personally, based on my own criteria, I would probably consider Umbria, as, from what I have read, it appears to fit all my criteria and has many interesting larger towns.
Good luck with your search.
Regards ? Ger
You don't say if you?re a currently a city, Suburban or country dweller. I think this might influence your choice. If you currently live in Manhattan, moving to a small village in the boonies might be fun for the first few weeks, but drive you stir crazy for six months. If you currently live in the country, moving to Rome might drive you nuts within a fortnight. Seven years ago, when I lived in the center of a city, I would have said ROME, without hesitation. Now that I have lived in the suburbs for 7 years, I would have difficulty living in any city, regardless of what it has to offer, for six months, because I have developed a dislike for noise, pollution and traffic. However, I have to say, I would probably be able to put up with all three, if I could spend six months in Rome J
If it were me, before making the choice, I would first decide on a region, based on the time of year ? summer or winter months. Personally, I don?t like the heat or humidity, so, if the six months spanned the summer months, I would have to find a place that was relatively cool during summer or close to somewhere cool to which I could escape in the very hot weather.
I would then that a 2-3 week trip to the region and look at it, not from a tourist's eye, but from resident's eye. In other words, I would try to see both the positives AND negatives: check out the transportation system, the services, think of an average day and what I would do with my time, does it offer me what I want.
I would be inclined to consider somewhere on the edge of a small city or large town within easy transportation distance (less than 3 hours) to Rome. I'd weigh this up against the cost of renting a place for six months, as I assume that there are budgetary constraints. Having recently checked out rental villas in France for October, there is obviously a very large difference between the Cot d'Azur and the Languedoc-Rousillon areas. Rome is always expensive, two hours from Rome, much cheaper. Do you want a cottage with a garden or do you like apartment living?
Personally, based on my own criteria, I would probably consider Umbria, as, from what I have read, it appears to fit all my criteria and has many interesting larger towns.
Good luck with your search.
Regards ? Ger
Dec 11th, 2004, 10:55 PM
#34
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Topping, because I had not seen this thread before and it is interesting.
No doubt in my mind, I would chose Rome.
And was interested in Patrick's comments. I agree.
There are places in SF that know more about what I want than in the town I live in.
No doubt in my mind, I would chose Rome.
And was interested in Patrick's comments. I agree.
There are places in SF that know more about what I want than in the town I live in.
Dec 12th, 2004, 12:39 AM
#35
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I agree about the need to be near Rome for the same reasons as Patrick stated, but when I decided to come over here to do the same thing, my original choice was Verona. Afterwards, I changed everything and now STILL live in Le Marche region, but I think the idea of being in or near a big city makes sense.
Now that I see Italy a little more clearly, I think I would choose Le Marche from the start--the countryside and activities you can do there (hiking etc.) is necessary for me. Even though I love Bologna, I am not sure I could choose it based on the flat countryside all around. It's like back home in Indiana!
Therefore, I'd say Rome or somewhere here in Le Marche, or maybe Perugia in Umbria. I can't make up my mind.
Now that I see Italy a little more clearly, I think I would choose Le Marche from the start--the countryside and activities you can do there (hiking etc.) is necessary for me. Even though I love Bologna, I am not sure I could choose it based on the flat countryside all around. It's like back home in Indiana!
Therefore, I'd say Rome or somewhere here in Le Marche, or maybe Perugia in Umbria. I can't make up my mind.
Dec 12th, 2004, 05:39 AM
#38
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I thought I answered this before, but I don't see my answer. I really don't want to live in another country at this point in my life, but if I were to choose to live in Italy, I think I'd pick some place in Umbria. I've never been to le Marche, but from what I'd heard that would also be a likely choice for me.
I love Basilicata and have a tremendous love, attachment and fascination for Sicily, but I wouldn't want to live there. (My ancestors already did that for many generations!)
I love Basilicata and have a tremendous love, attachment and fascination for Sicily, but I wouldn't want to live there. (My ancestors already did that for many generations!)
Dec 12th, 2004, 06:02 AM
#39
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I would stay in the Umbria region, probably in a small town near Perugia, but with good transportation to Perugia. Then, I would take several overnight (of more than one night each) trips from there to other places of interest to me, to include Rome, various places in Toscana, into Le Marche, Venice, etc.
--Marv
