When relocating to Italy with Nuss, you are guaranteed to get the most reliable and professional removal and relocation service. Nuss is part of an established global network of quality International Removalists, which means that our service meets very high standards in moving industry. You can expect a full range of supportive services when relocating to Italy, as well as professional advise from Nuss consultants during the preparation for your move. For those of you who have not been in Italy, you may find the following information useful.
Relocating to Italy – Introducing the Country
Italy is considered to be the cradle of European civilisation – established by the Roman empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church. As Europe’s richest and craziest culture, today’s Italy bubbles with emotion, corruption, inflation, traffic jams, strikes, holidays, and people who are shaking their fists at each other one minute and walking arm-in-arm the next. When you enter Italy, promise yourself to relax and accept it all as a package deal.
The country itself is reasonably small in size and shaped like a boot (116 000 square miles, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia) and it’s very well connected with freeways and train lines. Population is close to 60 million (Capital is Rome, 2.7 million), comprised almost entirely of indigenous Italians who speak Italian (German and French are spoken in some Alpine regions). Italy also has approx. 5000 miles of coastline and very attractive summer holiday destinations.
Italy, home of the Vatican, is still 90% Catholic, but not particularly devout. Italian people would never think of renouncing their faith, but they also hold modern opinions on social issues, often in conflict with strict Catholic dogma. Today’s Italy is a democratic society whose common language is decidedly secular. However, some traditions are still strong in Italy today as they have ever been. Italian families and communities are still more close-knit than many others in the modern world.
The Two Italys – Milan vs. Rome
If you are relocating to Italy, you should be aware of the difference in life style and temperament based on regions. It is often said that there are two Italys – the one in North, and the other one in South. The North Italy is industrial, rich, aggressive, fashionable, “time is money” in its outlook. The weather is temperate, and people are more like their Northern European neighbours. On the other hand, South is hot and sunny, crowded, poor, relaxed, traditional, warm-hearted and funny. Families here are very strong and usually live in the same house for many generations. Loyalties are to family, city, region, soccer team and country – in that order.
The two distinctive parts of Italy and their respective capitals (Milan in the North, and Rome in the South) have been bickering about each other for generations. The Milanesi say the Romans are lazy and the Roman government jobs come with short hours, cut even shorter with many coffee breaks and three-hour lunches. There’s still a strong Milan-based movement seriously promoting secession from the South.
Romans, meanwhile, dismiss the Milanesi as uptight workaholics with nothing else to live for – gray like their foggy city. Everything in Rome- from finding a babysitter to buying a car – is done through family or friends.
Italian Food – marinated with life, prepared with love
There’s a food, and then there’s Italian food. Of course, every country has it’s own flavours and recipes, and in that respect Italian food is just one of many we are familiar with. However, the way food is prepared and enjoyed in Italy is essentially different from what most of us are used to when cooking “italian”. If America’s specialty is fast food, Italy’s is slow food: locally grown ingredients, is season, bought daily, prepared with love, and enjoyed in social circumstances with friends and family.
Even in modern cities in Italy, big supermarkets are rare. Instead, people buy their bread from the baker and their meats from the butcher, enjoying a chance to catch up on gossip with the shopkeeper. Italians buy foods in season, celebrating the arrival of fresh artichokes in the spring and porcini mushrooms in the fall. The three-hour meal is common and for many Italians dinner is the evening entertainment. They eat in courses, lingering over each one. Of course, no meal is complete without the desert (Italian gelato is considered the best ice cream in the world), accompanied by coffee or a desert drink.
Ready to move to Italy?
You must be getting very excited, and for a good reason indeed. However, it is essential to prepare for moving in advance, and most importantly, to find the right removalists who will organise your relocation for you. As we are the International Relocation specialists, you need to look no further for relocation to Italy service.
