Where to Live in Italy: A Guide for Relocating from the UK

Italy is a long country, stretching from the Alps in the north to the toe of the boot in the far south. The difference between a farmhouse in Tuscany and an apartment in Milan is not just a matter of geography. It shapes your daily routine, your school options, how easily you can reach the UK, and whether Italy feels like home or a permanent holiday. Choosing the right region is one of the most significant decisions in your move to Italy from the UK, and it is worth taking seriously.

This guide covers the areas that come up most often among the UK families and individuals we work with, from the well-trodden hills of Chiantishire to the quieter corners of Sicily and Puglia. Each place has genuine advantages and real trade-offs. Our aim is to help you think clearly about what matters to you, so that when you do decide, you are doing so with a clear picture in mind.

Tuscany remains the first place most UK families consider, and with good reason. The infrastructure for British and international residents is more developed here than almost anywhere else in Italy. Florence has international schools, established legal and financial services geared to foreign buyers, a busy airport with UK routes, and a level of familiarity that takes some of the friction out of arriving.

The Chiantishire belt, the hills between Florence and Siena, is where that British presence is most concentrated. The nickname is no accident: a wave of British buyers came here from the late 20th century onwards and shaped the character of the area. If you want an established English-speaking community nearby, well-run local services, and the kind of property market that understands international buyers, this is the most proven option in Italy. It is also where a significant number of the families we work with have settled.

Property ranges considerably, from restored stone farmhouses and olive groves in the countryside to townhouses in Lucca or Siena. Lucca, in particular, draws a quieter British community, while Siena offers medieval character in a more compact city. Florence itself is liveable and practical, though busier and more expensive than the surrounding countryside.

For families with school-age children, Florence has two established options: the International School of Florence, one of Italy’s oldest international schools, offering the IB Diploma and an American High School Diploma for students aged 3 to 18, and the Bilingual School of Florence for younger children. International school places in Florence are in reasonable supply, though it is worth applying early.

If you are moving valuable art, furniture, or antique pieces, Tuscany is a region we know well in this regard. Our in-house crating workshop builds bespoke cases for items of exactly the kind that often make the journey from a London townhouse to a Florentine farmhouse, and our team can advise on CITES documentation where relevant.

One honest note: Tuscany is popular, and pricing reflects that. The Chiantishire belt in particular carries a premium. If budget is a consideration, Umbria or Abruzzo may offer comparable landscapes at lower cost.

Rome is the choice for families whose relocation is driven by work, diplomacy, or a need to be in a major international city. The diplomatic community is large, the corporate international community well established, and the city has more international school provision than anywhere else in Italy.

Schools in Rome include Ambrit International School (IB programmes for ages 3 to 14), Marymount International School (IB Diploma, co-educational since recent years), St George’s British International School (ages 3 to 18, British curriculum), and Britannia International School (ages 3 to 11). Demand for places, particularly at the British curriculum schools, is high. If Rome is your destination and schooling is a priority, begin making enquiries well before your move date.

The trade-offs in Rome are real and worth naming. Traffic is significant. Bureaucracy can be slow. The pace of daily life can frustrate those accustomed to the efficiency of northern European cities. Rome operates on its own terms, and families who thrive here tend to embrace that rather than resist it.

Lazio beyond Rome is worth considering if you want to be within reach of the city without living in it. The Castelli Romani hills, to the south-east of Rome, offer a quieter residential setting with good road connections. Some families use this area as a base and commute into Rome for work and school.

Milan is the natural choice if professional connectivity matters. It is Italy’s financial and commercial capital, with strong transport links to the rest of Europe via Milan Malpensa and Linate airports. Both serve multiple UK departure points, and the frequency of services makes regular travel between Italy and the UK genuinely practical.

International schools are well represented in the city. The European School of Milan, Sir James Henderson British School, and the American School of Milan all serve the international community, and there are several bilingual Italian-English options for younger children.

The city itself is urban, fast-paced, and expensive. Those who find Milan’s property market demanding often look to Piedmont and Lombardy beyond the city, where the cost of living drops considerably and the landscape opens into wine country, alpine foothills, and smaller towns with genuine character. Turin, in Piedmont, is consistently underestimated as a base: elegant, well-organised, and significantly more affordable than Milan or Florence.

The lakes are often considered part of this northern cluster and are covered in the next section, but it is worth noting that proximity to Milan is one of the practical advantages of the lakes region. You can be in the city in under an hour from most lake villages, which matters if you need to remain professionally active.

Lake Como is among the most established destinations for high-net-worth international buyers, and has been for decades. The combination of natural beauty, privacy, proximity to Milan, and strong infrastructure for private residents makes it a consistent choice for families seeking a considered, long-term home rather than a seasonal retreat.

The western shore, from Como town northward through Cernobbio and Tremezzo to Bellagio, carries the highest property prices and the most developed international community. Average prices in Como municipality reached approximately €2,993 per square metre in mid-2025, with prime lakefront positions significantly higher, often exceeding €12,000 per square metre. American, British, German, and Swiss buyers account for the majority of the luxury segment. The market has shown consistent year-on-year growth.

Discretion is a real feature of life on the lake. The area has a long tradition of hosting international residents quietly, and the infrastructure around property management, private security, and professional services reflects that. If privacy matters to your household, this region has established mechanisms in place that many other parts of Italy do not.

For families with fine art, significant furniture, or valued collections, moves to and from the lakes require careful handling. Our team builds bespoke cases to specification and manages the logistics of moves to lake properties, including access challenges that can arise with older lakeside villas.

Lake Maggiore, to the west, and Lake Garda, to the east, offer alternatives at slightly different price points. Maggiore is less well-known internationally but comparable in beauty, and can offer better value in certain areas. Garda is larger and more varied: the southern shore is family-friendly and relatively busy, while the northern end, around Limone and Riva del Garda, is quieter and more dramatic. Both lakes have international communities, though neither quite matches Como’s depth of established international infrastructure.

Liguria runs along the northwestern coast of Italy, from the French border in the west to the edges of Tuscany in the east. The climate is among the mildest in Italy, the coastal scenery is striking, and the Riviera di Levante, east of Genoa, is where most internationally-minded buyers focus their attention.

Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure are the names that come up most often. Portofino is one of the most recognisable villages in Italy, with a resident population of fewer than 400 people and property prices that reflect both its scarcity and its prestige. Santa Margherita, just around the headland, is more liveable, combining a busy waterfront with year-round services and an established British presence with roots stretching back to the Victorian era.

Genoa’s airport connects to several UK departure points, though with less frequency than Milan or Rome. For families planning regular UK trips, this is worth factoring in. The Cinque Terre villages, further east, are beautiful but not practical for permanent living, given their limited infrastructure and the constraints of their protected status.

Liguria suits families who want coastal Mediterranean living without the southern heat or the infrastructure variation that can come with Sicily or Puglia. The trade-off is that the international community is smaller and more dispersed than in Tuscany or the Lakes, and the wider range of services available in Florence or Milan is not on your doorstep.

Sicily’s appeal among international buyers has grown considerably in recent years, and the profile of that interest has shifted upward. Palermo, Taormina, and the Val di Noto in the south-east have all attracted serious attention from UK and wider European buyers, drawn by the climate, the architecture, and the value that still exists relative to Tuscany or the Lakes.

The island’s climate is the warmest in Italy. The pace of life is slower, the landscape dramatic, and the food culture distinctive even by Italian standards. The Val di Noto, a UNESCO-listed cluster of Baroque towns including Ragusa, Modica, and Noto itself, has developed a quiet international community with a particular draw for buyers looking for restoration projects of genuine architectural significance.

There is a tax consideration worth noting briefly. Italy’s 7% flat tax regime applies to foreign income for new tax residents who move to qualifying southern municipalities. The scheme was updated in April 2026 to include municipalities with populations up to 30,000, broadening eligibility across Sicily and other southern regions. This is a specialist area, and any decision should be made with qualified Italian tax advice, but it is relevant context for buyers considering Sicily or other southern locations.

The honest trade-off in Sicily is infrastructure. Services, broadband, healthcare provision, and road networks vary more than they do in Tuscany or the north, and the variation between urban centres and rural areas is pronounced. Palermo and Catania both have airports with UK connections, and domestic flights make the island accessible from the mainland. Taormina is well served by Catania airport, roughly an hour’s drive away.

For families with school-age children, Sicily has limited international school provision. This is a significant practical consideration if your children are not yet of secondary age or if an English-language curriculum is important to you.

Umbria is often described as Tuscany without the tourists, and that reputation is fairly earned. The countryside around Perugia and Spoleto is genuinely beautiful, property prices are lower than in comparable Tuscan locations, and the pace of daily life is unhurried. It is a considered choice for families who have researched Tuscany carefully and want the landscape without the footfall.

Abruzzo, east of Rome on the Adriatic coast, is growing quietly as an option for international buyers. It offers coast and mountains within close reach of each other, very competitive property values, and a lifestyle that feels authentically Italian rather than internationally curated. The expat community is less established than in Tuscany or Liguria, which suits some buyers and gives others pause.

Puglia is the area where the most significant shift in HNW buyer interest is currently playing out. Foreign buyers now account for around 40% of transactions in central Puglia, with the Itria Valley, home to Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Martina Franca, drawing buyers looking for trulli estates and restored masserie. Salento, in the south, has a different character, flatter and more coastal, with Lecce as its elegant centrepiece. Brindisi airport provides UK connections, though less frequent than the major hubs.

UK flight connections 

Flights vary significantly by region. Milan, Rome, and Venice have the most consistent year-round UK services from the widest range of UK departure points. Sicily is well served from several UK airports via Palermo and Catania, particularly in summer, though frequency drops out of season. Naples, Pisa, Bari, and Genoa all have UK connections, but route availability and seasonal frequency should be checked carefully against your specific travel patterns before you commit to a location. Routes do change, so treat any specific timetable as a snapshot rather than a guarantee.

International schools 

Schooling is most strongly represented in Florence, Rome, and Milan. If an English-language curriculum is important for your children, these cities offer the greatest choice and the most established provision. Other regions have bilingual options but far fewer fully English-medium schools, and places are limited. Research school options early, as demand in Florence and Rome regularly outpaces supply.

Italian language 

Language skills vary in importance by location. Tourist-heavy areas and major cities tend to have more English-language services, but in rural Tuscany, Abruzzo, or southern Sicily, daily life requires Italian. Learning the language meaningfully improves day-to-day quality of life wherever you settle, and it is worth beginning before you arrive rather than after.

Local infrastructure 

Infrastructure follows a broadly north-to-south gradient, with the northern regions generally offering more developed healthcare systems, faster broadband, and better road networks. This is not a rule without exceptions, but it is a relevant factor if consistent, high-quality services matter to your household.