Italy is located in the south of Europe and when you look at a map, the country will immediately catch your eye. It looks like a boot with a high heel that also kicks a ball! In the north, it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Furthermore, the country is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Are you going emigrate to Italy or do you have a wish to emigrate?
Why do people move to Italy?
Many people think of Italy because of its rich culture and history. Italian people also seem to be the happiest people on earth and don't even get me started on their food! Italian life is wonderful and that is also the reason why more and more people choose to move to Italy. Not completely incomprehensible, right?
Do you also want to live in Italy?
Has the beauty of Italy also enchanted you and have you also decided to live in Italy? Then you probably want some more information about what it is like to emigrate and what you have to arrange for that as a Dutch person. Of course, you can't just move.
The Italian culture
Who doesn't know the stereotypical Italian? The handsome dark, loud and fashion-conscious Italian. Maybe you've already met this Italian yourself and maybe you'll meet this Italian, but Italy is of course more than just these stereotypes. One of the important things you shouldn't forget when emigrating is that you should immerse yourself in the culture of the country. Italy has a rich history and culture. When you understand this, you will also understand more about the modern-day interactions of Italians. These temperamental Italians have a love for beautiful things. but also for Italian food, for example. In the big cities of the country you will therefore encounter many fashion-conscious Italians. Who doesn't know the fashion city of Milan, for example?
Italians are also very touchy. When chatting, they easily touch each other. This can be an arm or a shoulder that is touched, but when greeting, entire arms are also grabbed and hugs are given. Italians are a warm people and they are also real companions. Family and friends are very important within the Italian culture. This also makes them more cordial and helpful than the average Dutch person in the Netherlands. However, Italy is a very large country and the Italians in the north are a bit different than those in the south of the country. The Italians in the north seem more like Western Europeans. In the country, there is a clear hierarchy in the workplace and employees listen closely to the decisions of their boss. Dutch people who work in Italy have a lot of trouble with this in the beginning.
Italian bureaucracy
Italians, like other southern European countries, are very fond of bureaucracy. You will encounter many cumbersome and unnecessary administrative procedures. They also say that Italy has invented a seal for every document in the country. Often, documents are even needed to apply for certain documents! Also, finding the right office is quite a task and you are often sent from pillar to post. You also have to take into account the opening hours of these institutions. It is best to remain calm and be patient with Italian officials, also called 'servitori civili'. If you do not speak fluent Italian at first, it is best to take an Italian with you who can help you arrange your affairs.
The Italian language
Italian is known as one of the most beautiful languages in the world. The language is almost sung and sounds beautiful to the ears. If you are going to live and work in Italy, you will have to learn Italian, because despite a lot of tourism in the country, Italians speak little English. Italy is in the top 20 of most spoken languages in the world. The language is spoken by 66 million people. Furthermore, it is not only the official language of Italy, but also of Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City. Within the European Union (EU), it is also an official language.
Romance language
Italian is a Romance language and is therefore closely related to Spanish and French, for example. Standard Italian differs greatly from the dialects spoken in Italy. The standard Italian that you hear everywhere on TV was created by mass media. In the past, Italians could hardly understand each other when they came from different regions. Standard Italian is based on the dialect of Florence, Florentine. This is of course from the Tuscany region. For example, Romanesco is spoken in Rome, Napulitano in Naples and Veneto in Venice.
It is also good to know that the Italian alphabet only has 21 letters.
The Italian cuisine
Is it true that Italians are one of the biggest bon vivants in the world? Yes. This can be said with certainty. Everyone knows the Italian expression 'la dolce vita'. Literally translated this means 'the soft life', but of course it actually means 'the good life'. It refers to a life without obligations with relatively much luxury and comfort. Through this expression you can see that the Mediterranean life in Italy means that people enjoy themselves. Whether this is in the countryside or in one of the big cities in the country. Everyone enjoys the nice weather, the peace, good food and wine. When you live in Italy you will also notice that you and your friends go out for dinner more often. Italians love good food and many Italians go out for dinner a few times to a restaurant in the neighborhood.
In Italian cuisine, olive oil, tomatoes and garlic are used a lot. Furthermore, many different types of pasta, bread, rice and vegetables are eaten. In other countries in Southern Europe, olive oil and garlic are also used a lot in cooking. This is not only very tasty, but also super healthy. It is said that the Mediterranean diet is actually the best diet there is.
The breakfast – colazione
An Italian breakfast naturally includes coffee. It is good to know that any coffee with any, so whether it is a caffé latte or a cappuccino, may only be drunk at breakfast. Furthermore, Italians like to eat some bread with butter and jam at breakfast. Sometimes this is also replaced by cantuci. This is an Italian almond cookie. It also sometimes happens that Italians eat a 'cornetto' or a croissant or brioche for breakfast. This is a cake filled with cream or chocolate.
Italians who prefer something salty for breakfast often eat focaccia.
The lunch – pranzo
Italians enjoy a long lunch. This is often from 13:00 to around 15:00. Of course, they work until late. Italians don't go home until around 20:00. Lunch is an important moment of the day. Living in Italy means that you have to participate in this of course. Lunch is often eaten in a bar or at home and it is warm and quite extensive. They usually start with a soup, some pasta with meat and vegetables and finish with a pastry and coffee.
Because some Italians prefer to have one meal a day, they eat a tramezzino with a coffee. A tramezzino is an Italian sandwich that is often filled with tuna or Parma ham.
Snack – merenda
The merenda is a snack that is eaten between lunch and dinner. This can be cookies, nuts, but also pastries.
The dinner – cena
Italians don't eat their evening meal until around 9:00 PM. This is often pasta, pizza or risotto. Meat and chicken are also eaten here of course. Italians often end their dinner with some fruit.
The Italian nature
Italy is very large and therefore every region and province is different. It is therefore not without reason that so many foreigners travel to Italy to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. For a holiday there is no 'best province' to visit, because every region in Italy has its own beauty. In Italy, nature is very diverse. You will find green forests, but also rugged mountains. There are also beautiful quiet vineyards and beautiful beaches on the coastline. This means that there is something for everyone.
The climate
Italy officially has 3 different climates. The vast majority of the country has a Mediterranean climate. This means that you can enjoy warm summers and mild winters. You will only see rain here in the winter. This makes the country very suitable for sun holidays. In the north of Italy there is a maritime climate. This means that the weather is mild all year round and there is a lot of rain. Also in the summer. The Alps are very far to the north and there you have a high mountain climate. The summers are mild, but the winters are very cold. This means that there is more rain and of course snow. It is therefore not an unknown area for skiing winter sports enthusiasts. The Dolomites are also a favorite among winter sports enthusiasts.
Cost of living
Living will cost you a lot less in Italy. This applies not only to food in the supermarket, but also when using public transport. Below we give you a few examples of the price differences in the supermarkets:
- In Italy you will pay approximately 18% less for bread than in the Netherlands.
- For tomatoes you will pay 3.5% less.
- For wine you also pay about 17% less than in the Netherlands.
- Bananas are about 30% more expensive.
- In Italy you also pay about 12% more for cheese.
Over the past year, prices worldwide have of course risen sharply due to the corona pandemic.
Finally..
Do you also want to move to Italy? Then you should remember that thousands of Dutch people have already taken the step and left for Italy before you. What you can do is think about what you really want to achieve with your emigration and look carefully at your personal wishes and expectations. Perhaps you can join Facebook groups of Dutch people who already live in Italy. In these groups, everyone helps each other and who knows, you may also be able to join them. In any case, make sure that you prepare yourself well for your emigration to your new place in the coming period and then we know for sure that everything will be fine.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about emigrating to Italy, you can always read the other articles on our website. Hopefully your question will be answered in one of the other articles.
