Retiring in Italy: A Region-by-Region Guide for Expats
Apr 14, 2025
A quick tour through Italy’s regions from the perspective of retirement.
Thinking of retiring in Italy? You’re not alone — every year, more and more retirees from the U.S., UK, and beyond are drawn by Italy’s lifestyle, climate, and cultural richness. But choosing where to live in Italy can be overwhelming — the country has 20 diverse regions, each with its own charm, cost of living, and pace of life.
In this guide, I’ll take you on a quick tour through Italy’s regions from the perspective of retirement. Whether you’re dreaming of seaside views, countryside calm, or vibrant city life, there’s a corner of Italy for you.
✨ My goal? Help you choose where to retire in Italy, based on real-life factors like healthcare, prices, transport, and lifestyle — with pros and cons included.
Let’s explore the country region by region.
1. Lombardy (Lombardia)
Capital: Milan
Why move: Economic powerhouse, great hospitals, urban comforts.
Pros: Excellent healthcare, fast trains, vibrant cities. Big international airport.
Cons: Expensive, colder winters, fast-paced.
Less-known pearl: Lake Iseo – quieter than Como, but equally scenic.
Fun fact: Not just fashion: Milan Design Week is widely regarded as the largest and most influential design festival in the world.
Best for: Retirees seeking international city life with top-tier services.
2. Piedmont (Piemonte)
Capital: Turin
Why move: Elegant, under-the-radar, with wine and mountains.
Pros: Excellent food, low-key charm, good services.
Cons: Can feel quiet in small towns, chilly winters.
Less-known pearl: La Morra – hilltop wine town with stunning views.
Fun fact: Piedmont is the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, emphasizing traditional cuisine and sustainable farming.
Best for: Lovers of wine, peace, and Alpine views.
3. Liguria
Capital: Genoa
Why move: The Italian Riviera’s allure — think Cinque Terre and Portofino.
Pros: Mild winters, stunning coastline.
Cons: Hills, seasonal tourism, narrow streets.
Less-known pearl: Finale Ligure – beautiful seaside town popular with Italian retirees.
Fun fact: Liguria is the birthplace of pesto alla Genovese, made with basil grown in the region’s sea-kissed hillsides.
Best for: Retirees craving seaside life with a bit of flair.
4. Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta)
Capital: Aosta
Why move: Tiny region with Alpine beauty and French influence.
Pros: Nature, skiing, relaxed pace.
Cons: Remote, expensive, not for sun lovers.
Less-known pearl: Cogne – peaceful mountain town surrounded by national park.
Fun fact: Home to Italy's highest peak - Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco).
Best for: Nature lovers or seasonal retirees.
5. Veneto
Capital: Venice
Why move: From Venice’s romance to Verona’s liveability.
Pros: Culture, transport links, strong healthcare.
Cons: Tourist crowds in Venice, foggy winters.
Less-known pearl: Asolo – nicknamed “the town of a hundred horizons.”
Fun fact: The word “ciao” comes from the Venetian dialect and originally meant “I’m at your service.” It spread across Italy in the 1800s and is now used worldwide.
Best for: Culture fans who want access and beauty.
6. Trentino-Alto Adige
Capital: Trento
Why move: Bilingual (Italian and German), clean, and orderly.
Pros: Great public services, stunning scenery.
Cons: Higher cost, limited English outside cities.
Less-known pearl: Merano – spa town with a mild Alpine-Mediterranean climate.
Fun fact: One of the biggest apple producing regions in Europe.
Best for: Active retirees, mountain lovers, German speakers.
7. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Capital: Trieste
Why move: Quiet, affordable, and diverse.
Pros: Low cost, great wine, Adriatic coastline. Gateway to the Balkans.
Cons: Less known, can be windy and chilly.
Less-known pearl: Cividale del Friuli – ancient Lombard town near the Slovenian border.
Fun fact: Thanks to its geography, you can ski in the Alps in the morning and swim in the Adriatic Sea in the afternoon.
Best for: Adventurers wanting value and authenticity.
8. Emilia-Romagna
Capital: Bologna
Why move: Balanced lifestyle, food paradise.
Pros: Affordable cities, efficient transport, top healthcare.
Cons: Hot summers, flat landscapes.
Less-known pearl: Brisighella – medieval village with pastel houses and a laid-back feel.
Fun fact: The region is the birthplace of iconic Italian foods like Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto di Parma.
Best for: Practical retirees who still enjoy life’s pleasures.
9. Tuscany (Toscana)
Capital: Florence
Why move: A dreamy landscape of hills, art, and history.
Pros: Expats galore, cultural heritage, high quality of life.
Cons: Popular = pricey, especially Florence and Chianti.
Less-known pearl: Pitigliano – “Little Jerusalem,” perched dramatically on volcanic rock.
Fun fact: Florence is known as the birthplace of modern banking, and just next door in Siena, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena was founded in 1472 — making it the oldest bank still operating in the world.
Best for: Romantics, art lovers, vineyard walkers.
10. Umbria
Capital: Perugia
Why move: Tuscany’s quieter, more affordable neighbour.
Pros: Affordable, beautiful countryside, less touristy than Tuscany. 7% flat tax for retirees available in selected areas impacted by past earthquakes.
Cons: Fewer services in rural areas, limited transport.
Less-known pearl: Spello – flower-filled hill town with Roman and medieval ruins.
Fun fact: Umbria is defined 'The Heart of Italy', not only for its central and landlocked position, but also for being the birth place of the famous patron of love - Saint Valentine.
Best for: Nature lovers, slower-paced retirees.
11. Marche (Le Marche)
Capital: Ancona
Why move: Rolling hills meet the Adriatic coast — a rising star.
Pros: Low cost of living, scenic variety, authentic towns. 7% flat tax for retirees available in selected areas impacted by past earthquakes.
Cons: Rural areas can be isolated, fewer English speakers.
Less-known pearl: Offida – lace-making town with a fairy-tale feel.
Fun fact: Le Marche is the birthplace of Italy’s renowned shoemaking tradition, with its “Shoe Valley” remaining one of the best places for shoe manufacturing across the globe today.
Best for: Retirees looking for value and tranquility.
12. Lazio
Capital: Rome
Why move: From Rome’s splendour to coast and countryside nearby.
Pros: Great healthcare, history, and international community. Big international airport. 7% flat tax for retirees available in selected areas impacted by past earthquakes.
Cons: Traffic, bureaucracy, high prices in the capital.
Less-known pearl: Civita di Bagnoregio – the “dying city” atop a crumbling cliff.
Fun fact: Rome has over 900 churches — more than any other city in the world.
Best for: City lovers and culture seekers.
13. Abruzzo
Capital: L’Aquila
Why move: Mountains, national parks, and the Adriatic Sea.
Pros: One of Italy’s most affordable regions, rich in nature. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Rural, limited expat scene.
Less-known pearl: Scanno – picturesque mountain town with heart-shaped lake nearby.
Fun fact: Abruzzo is 30% protected natural parks — one of the “greenest” regions in Europe.
Best for: Nature lovers on a budget.
14. Molise
Capital: Campobasso
Why move: Italy’s least-known region — quiet, untouched.
Pros: Extremely low prices, authentic life. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Few services, remote.
Less-known pearl: Termoli – colourful seaside town with great food and beaches.
Fun fact: The phrase “Molise doesn’t exist” became a meme due to how little-known it is. Small, but packed with beauty!
Best for: Off-grid retirees and adventurers.
15. Campania
Capital: Naples
Why move: Vivid life, Amalfi Coast beauty, strong traditions.
Pros: Amazing food, lively culture. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Bureaucracy, uneven public services.
Less-known pearl: Castellabate – charming coastal village south of Amalfi.
Fun fact: Home to over 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Pompeii.
Best for: Retirees who embrace vibrant, messy beauty.
16. Puglia (Apulia)
Capital: Bari
Why move: Olive groves, sunny beaches, and baroque cities.
Pros: Affordable, gorgeous coastline, relaxed lifestyle. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Infrastructure is improving but not perfect.
Less-known pearl: Locorotondo – circular hilltop town with whitewashed houses.
Fun fact: Puglia’s town of Alberobello is famous for its trulli — over 1,500 white stone houses with cone-shaped roofs, often decorated with mysterious pagan or zodiac symbols.
Best for: Retirees looking for sunshine and slower rhythms.
17. Basilicata
Capital: Potenza
Why move: Home to the incredible city of Matera. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Pros: Quiet, authentic, very affordable.
Cons: Isolated, limited public services.
Less-known pearl: Maratea – the “pearl of the Tyrrhenian” with a Christ statue larger than Rio’s.
Fun fact: Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Best for: Curious souls seeking something different.
18. Calabria
Capital: Catanzaro
Why move: Untouched beaches and a warm welcome.
Pros: Among the cheapest places in Italy, scenic coast. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Healthcare and infrastructure challenges.
Less-known pearl: Tropea – perched above turquoise waters, with dramatic cliffs (and the best onions in the world!).
Fun fact: Calabria produces over 90% of the world’s bergamot (used in Earl Grey tea).
Best for: Budget retirees wanting peace by the sea.
19. Sicily
Capital: Palermo
Why move: Island life with deep history and sunshine.
Pros: Affordable, vibrant, delicious cuisine. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Slower pace, some infrastructure concerns.
Less-known pearl: Ragusa Ibla – baroque beauty away from the crowds.
Fun fact: Sicily is home to some of the most spectacular and best-preserved Greek ruins outside of Greece.
Best for: Retirees seeking sun, culture, and value.
20. Sardinia (Sardegna)
Capital: Cagliari
Why move: Laid-back island life and longevity culture.
Pros: Beautiful beaches, low crime, relaxed lifestyle. 7% flat tax for retirees available in cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Cons: Island logistics, expensive in Costa Smeralda.
Less-known pearl: Bosa – colorful riverside town with a medieval castle.
Fun fact: Sardinia is a global Blue Zone – one of the regions where people live longest.
Best for: Nature-loving retirees who want tranquility.
🧭 Final Tips: How to Choose the Best Region for Your Retirement?
Ask yourself:
Do I want to live near the sea, in the hills, or in a city?
How important is international connectivity (airports, trains)?
What’s my monthly budget for living expenses and housing?
Will I need access to English-speaking doctors or communities?
Do I want a calm retreat or vibrant social life?
Each region has something unique — the real key is matching the lifestyle to you.
💬 Need Help Deciding Where to Retire in Italy?
That’s part of what we help with. From exploring the right region to building a full relocation plan, Mitos Relocation Solutions supports expats every step of the way.
📩 Reach out for a free initial consultation
🌐 Or explore services here