Lifestyle in Italy

Italy is flying high in 2025 with an impressive 487 Blue Flag beaches—more than almost anywhere else in the world. With such a vast and varied coastline (and a few sparkling lakes thrown in), you’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes to Italy's many blue flag beaches.

These less touristy beach towns near Rome don’t get the glossy international attention of Amalfi or Cinque Terre, but that’s precisely the point.

Imagine swapping your usual four walls for a whitewashed roundhouse with a quirky pointy hat, right in the heel of Italy’s boot.

When you picture your golden years, does an image of sipping espresso in a historic Italian piazza come to mind? Many retirees dream of living out their later years in luxury, and Italy offers some of the best retirement opportunities in the world.

Italy and pasta go hand in hand—it's not a cliché, it's just the simple truth.

Central Italy is where rustic countryside flavours collide with city flair, and the region’s pasta dishes are all about bold simplicity and proudly local ingredients.

Northern Italy’s pasta scene is all about comfort, richness and an eye for proper detail. The region’s love affair with creamy sauces, eggy fresh pastas, and plenty of cheese shines through in each dish, with local ingredients giving classics their unmistakable northern twist.

Among the many historic buildings and magnificent residences in Vatican City, not everyone knows exactly where Pope Leo XIV resides. The home of the Pope in Rome is the place the Holy Father chose upon his election on 8th May 2025.

Planning a beach holiday in Italy with your dog? You're in luck – Italy is increasingly dog-friendly, with many of its beautiful beaches welcoming four-legged visitors.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of northern Tuscany, Barga is one of those small Italian towns that quietly wins you over.

Palermo is one of those places that refuses to be pinned down. With a population circling 650,000, Sicily’s capital is all about contrasts.

Southern Italy doesn’t make a big fuss—food’s woven into the day almost without thinking.

In 2001, fast food giant McDonald's decided to expand further into southern Italy, opening a large branch in the city of Altamura, in the province of Bari. However, the story of the Altamura McDonald’s is more than just an anecdote — it represents a key moment in the broader debate between globalisation and the preservation of local traditions in Italy.

If you’re planning a move to Italy but don’t fancy blowing your budget on big-city living in places like Rome or Milan, you’re not alone.

Looking for the most beautiful beach in the world in 2025? According to the World’s 50 Best Beaches 2025 ranking, the top spot goes to Cala Goloritzé, a breathtaking hidden gem located on the Baunei coast in Sardinia, Italy.

Finding your feet in Italy doesn’t have to mean shelling out for a city flat or jostling with tourists on the coast.

There’s something a bit magical about life in an Italian village.

Moving to Italy with family in tow is one of those ideas that sounds like a daydream, but it’s a more grounded and rewarding choice than you might imagine. Beyond the visions of la dolce vita, Italy offers a lifestyle that is genuinely family-centric.

While Italy’s city life thrums with energy and history, there’s something quietly captivating about the countryside. Think rolling hills dotted with olive groves, vineyards that seem to stretch for miles, and rural villages where every neighbour knows your name.

Trieste might surprise you with just how much there is to do, no matter how long you’re around, or what the weather’s up to. You can happily while away a sunny afternoon on the seafront, dip into grand old cafés, or hunt out relics of the city’s literary past.

Perched on Italy’s far northeastern edge, this seafront city often feels like a crossroads — not quite like the rest of Italy, but not completely apart.

Tucked away in the far north of Italy, Trento is a small city with big personality and just the right mix of Alpine air, Italian flair, and a relaxed pace.

Nestled right down in the heel of Italy’s boot, Lecce is called the “Florence of the South”, known for its extravagant Baroque architecture and winding old town.

Retiring in Italy on a budget isn’t just a daydream—it’s something a growing number of people are actually doing, and with good reason. Life here has a knack for moving at its own rhythm.