Why I Want to Live in Italy: A Personal Journey

If I could pack up my life tomorrow and move anywhere in the world, there would be zero hesitation—I’d choose Italy. Hands down. No debate. No second guessing.

My connection to Italy runs deeper than wanderlust.  It’s in my blood, my upbringing, the stories I grew up hearing around crowded tables filled with loud voices, warm laughter, and way too much food (if such a thing even exists).  Being Italian wasn’t just a heritage; it was a way of life. It was Sunday dinners that lasted for hours, conversations that layered over one another, and recipes passed down like sacred treasure.

And of course… the food.  Let’s be honest, Italy has some of the best food in the world.  I’m a major foodie, so the idea of living among endless pasta, fresh bread, olive oil, and dishes cooked with real love?  That alone feels like reason enough.  Who wouldn’t want pasta galore? But the connection isn’t just cultural or culinary. It’s emotional.

My First Trip Back “Home”

I’ve only visited once—back in my early 20s.  I went to Rome and Florence, doing what every first timer does: staring in awe at ruins older than anything I’d ever seen, wandering through the Roman Forum, standing inside the Colosseum imagining the lives once lived there, and weaving through museums filled with art that didn’t even feel real.

Rome was electric.  It was fast, loud, and very lively.  It was beautiful but buzzing with movement every second.  I found it hard to keep up with the crowd.  It’s a similar feeling to being in Manhattan. All of that hustle and bustle made my anxiety skyrocket, but I wouldn’t have missed being there for anything in the world.    

Florence, on the other hand, felt like a deep exhale.  I felt the tension and anxiety ease in a way that I didn’t expect.  Walking around all of the public squares, being enthralled by the Duomo, and my funny story of searching for Michael Angelo’s David.  It was glorious in every sense of the word, and I instantly fell in live with the city.  

While in Florence, I went on a couple of tours, ate delicious food, and lived a life I could only dream of.  We visited San Gimignano, a place with the best gelato in the world, and the most scenic view of the grassy hillside.  But my favorite area we toured was Siena.  It was magical in a way that I can hardly explain.  There was so much charm, so much history, and some of the most gorgeous architecture I’ve ever seen. 

Tuscany: A New Home

I fell in love with the lifestyle and pace of Florentines.  The cobblestones streets.  The feeling of being tucked away in time.  There’s a gentle, peaceful, magical feeling of waking up to soft sunlight overlooking the Ponte Vecchio.  Strolling the streets shopping, going out restaurants, and just soaking in the life led there.  Nothing felt rushed or loud.  A perfect place for an introverted, neurodivergent person, to find peace. 

I’d love to own a villa in Tuscany.  I’d like to have a warm kitchen with windows that open to rolling hills.  I’d try my hand a gardening, growing fresh tomatoes and herbs.  My writing desk/office that overlooks the vineyards.  Sipping on a glass of Chianti, reading in my little nook.  

A life that would be built on good food, meaningful connection, and simple beauty.  I want and quite frankly deserve to live in an area where my nervous system doesn’t constantly feel under attack. 

Why Italy? It’s Simple.

Italy was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.  And I can’t wait to return—not as a tourist this time, but as someone ready to go deeper, explore more, and reconnect with a part of myself I left there years ago. And maybe someday…I won’t just visit.  I’ll stay.

“Some places don’t just stay in your memory — they stay in your bones. Italy is one of mine.”

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