This section exists because we have watched people make preventable mistakes. Not to discourage you. Moving to Abruzzo can be genuinely wonderful. But the mistakes that lead to disappointment, financial loss, or giving up after a year follow recognisable patterns, and most of them are avoidable if you know what to look for. Better to read about them here than to discover them with your savings on the line.
Why This Section Exists
The internet is full of content that makes moving to Italy sound easy. Beautiful photos, enthusiastic vlogs, breathless articles about cheap property and dolce vita. What it rarely shows you is the couple who bought a farmhouse on holiday and sold it at a loss two years later, or the family whose renovation budget doubled before the roof was even finished, or the retiree who lasted one winter in a mountain village before moving back. We are not here to sell you a dream. We are here to help you succeed, and that means being direct about what goes wrong and why.
Essential Reading
All Reality Checks
Common Mistakes
The list we wish someone had given us, compiled from real experiences, not hypotheticals.
Read guideCost Myths
Dismantling the most common myths about cheap Italian living with numbers that reflect reality.
Read guideHoneymoon Phase
Year two is when most people either settle in or start planning their exit. Here's how to prepare for both.
Read guideWrong Decision
Honest signs that you should reconsider, delay, or test longer before committing.
Read guideJust Move Myth
Italy rewards preparation and punishes improvisation. This isn't pessimism,it's pattern recognition.
Read guideThe Pattern of Failed Moves
Romantic Idea
A holiday visit, a beautiful village, a cheap listing online. The idea takes hold before any serious research begins.
Rushed Decision
Property bought on a summer visit with minimal due diligence. The estate agent says someone else is interested. The price seems too good to wait.
Honeymoon Year
Everything is new and exciting. The weather cooperates, the neighbours are friendly, the problems seem charming. Buying bread at the forno feels like an achievement.
Reality Year
The novelty fades. The renovation costs twice what was quoted. Winter is cold and isolating. The language barrier stops being charming and starts being exhausting. The social life that seemed to materialise effortlessly in summer does not survive January.
Exit
Property sold at a loss, sometimes significant. Return home with less money, a bruised ego, and a story about how Italy did not work out. The dream is over, and the post-mortem is painful.
This pattern is not inevitable. But avoiding it requires understanding what goes wrong, why it goes wrong, and at what stage you can intervene. That is what the articles in this section are for.
Prepare Instead
The antidote to most of these mistakes is preparation. Not optimism, not enthusiasm, not "just going for it." Preparation. These resources help you plan with your eyes open.