My name is Andy and i am from Canada. Recently our company moved over to a complete Internet-Based Business package called 'Netsuite'.
This has suddenly given me as an employee the possibility of living almost anywhere and working over the Internet.
I am not sure where to start other than to simply ask everyone their opinion about how difficult it would be to move to Italy.
When looking on the internet, it seems that accomodations in the Cities are very expensive. I am thinking of moving with a friend of mine who know some
Italian so this helps but we want to live in one of the major cities (Rome or Milan) because we have been to both cities.
The other concern i have is that working over the Internet is a new phenomenom and i am not sure how the Italian government categorize this type of work.

Thanks

Good question.
Probably Milan is however not such a break from the Noth American culture it is Italy and it is great city but busy. Rome is usually much more appreciated by American. For a more relaxed lifestyle my suggestion is to look into small towns like Siena ( just voted best town to live in Italy ) or Perugia in Umbria. In Peruglia lifestyle much more relaxed and cost of living is a fraction of what it will be in Milan or Rome. I think I should probably write an articles with suggestions - Also Maybe Marta who lived in Rome as a foreigner an Karin who lives in or near Milan can help.
My choise is Rome however. I was born in the north ( Brescia ) near Milan but I lived in Rome 20 years.

Do you know where i can find information on the cost of a furnished Apartments/Flats in Rome or Siena ?

Thanks

I am not familiar with Siena. I am pretty familiar with Rome however and you will have to apy a minimum of 1200 Euro a month + Utilities so lets say 1500 Euro for renting an apartment. You could be lucky but it is harder and harder since Rome rental is in very heavy demand.

Paolo

Hi Andy,
I am writing to encourage you to move to Rome. I lived there for 2 years and absolutely loved it! It's like living in a beautiful outdoor museum. Just taking a walk is a treat.
You will have a roommate to share expenses, which is a great advantage. Rentals a little further out from the city center are much less expensive and buses and Metro are easy to get used to and so affordable.
You won't have to spend a lot on food. Somehow the best places to eat are often the least expensive and absolutely have the best ambiance. Shopping in the outdoor markets are an incredible bargain - great food for good prices. If you get a little homesick for English, you'll be able to find movies and books in a large city like Rome. And Santa Susanna church has a great English library. I could go on and on and on...I hope you decide to go for it. I'll never regret the time I spent there.
Martha

Hi Andy,

I love Rome, and would live there at any price.
And the reasons are exactly the reasons to live in any city around the world, and Martha is right about everything: it's like a huge museum every day, and it's also part of today's world; it's exciting all the time, every day and night; the food is amazing and yes, you can eat inexpensively; you get to meet people from all over the world; and it's just amazing to be there.

Siena, on the other hand, is also a place I would live, and for all kinds of reasons, some the same as with Rome but some different. It also is historically exciting, the food is just as good, and you get to meet people from all over the world. The difference is that Siena is quieter by tons, not as many tourists visit, and if you're the kind of person who needs constant stimulation, it's not for you.

My ideal life, one I will live when I can, is to live in Siena and travel to Rome on the weekends two or three times a month (it's an easy bus or train ride).

Let us know what you decide!

Teresa

My suggestion too would be Rome. Milano is not a pretty place, and youre not apart from the hustle and bustle of a big city life. Rome as apposed to that, is a big city tending to have a slower way of living. You will find many smaller towns outside Rome, and housing to rent for as low as 500 a month, within 30 min of Rome. The transportation system is great, and if you work on the computer, you dont have to be so considered about moving back and forth every day.
If you would like to experience the older Italian life-- the small towns would be a good choice for you...like the Castelli Romani towns-- Frascati and Castel Gandolfo are the two most expensive. They have more Americans living there, but it depends how low you want to go in price. The experience you cannot regret, life is a short one.