Who We Are

About Moving to Abruzzo

The story behind MovingToAbruzzo.com, our approach, and our way of working.

My name is Elliott. I moved from London to Abruzzo in 2018 with my Italian wife Silvia and our young son, drawn by the same things you are probably researching right now: space, pace, affordability, and a life that makes more sense.

Since then, we have built a life here, not just a house. Together with a local landowner and his family, I founded Naturacustica, a cultural association that organises music and arts events across the region. Silvia founded an Asilo Nel Bosco, a forest nursery for outdoor education, because nothing like it existed locally. That kind of involvement does not happen without speaking the language, understanding the bureaucracy, and earning trust on the ground.

Moving To Abruzzo exists because deciding whether to relocate is a big deal, and the information available is either hype or scattered across a hundred forums. This is the resource I wished existed when I was figuring it out myself.

Elliott DJing at a local restaurant in Abruzzo
DJing at a local restaurant. Music has been a thread through everything here.
Sunset over Penne Lake from a canoe, mountains in the background
Penne Lake at sunset. The Abruzzo most people never find.
Naturacustica festival stage setup in the Abruzzo countryside at golden hour
Setting up for a Naturacustica festival. Culture happens when you make it happen.
Relaxing in the garden overlooking the Abruzzo hills with the family dog
The view from the garden. This is what a Tuesday evening looks like.

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How I Approach This

Honesty Over Hype

Cold winters, language barriers, bureaucracy that tests your patience, villages that are dying. I write about all of it because you deserve accurate information, not marketing copy.

Practical Focus

Heating costs, residency paperwork, renovation budgets, what life actually looks like on a Tuesday in February. Specific and actionable, not philosophical musings about la dolce vita.

Problem First

I start with the difficulties and let the genuine advantages speak for themselves. If Abruzzo is right for you, you will not need me to sell it. You will need me to prepare you for it.

What I Don't Do

Independence is the foundation of everything on this site. If I take commission from property agents, my advice is compromised. If I am paid to feature specific properties, my credibility is gone. So:

I do not sell property or receive sales commissions. I do not accept payment for featuring specific properties, agents, or services. I do not offer immigration or legal advice, though I connect you with professionals who do. Paid consultancy is available only to retreat graduates who want hands-on support taking their next steps.

This structure exists to protect you. If I recommend something, it is because I think it is good, not because someone is paying me to say so.

Get in Touch

I read all messages, though I cannot always respond individually. For specific questions about content on the site, I do my best to reply within a few days.

Email

ciao@movingtoabruzzo.com

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Free 30-minute intro chat

Interested in the Retreat?

Three days in Abruzzo, meeting the professionals you will need, seeing properties with educated eyes, deciding whether this is right for you. The waitlist is the best way to hear about upcoming dates.

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