Moving to Italy? Read These Books First
If you’ve ever dreamed of moving to Italy, it probably started with a story. Maybe it was a memoir about restoring a crumbling farmhouse in Tuscany, a novel about reinvention on winding Venetian canals, or a blogger sharing their daily life in a tiny Umbrian hill town. Stories make the idea of living in Italy feel real—and possible. And books, especially memoirs, are some of the most honest windows into what life here actually looks like.
Because the truth is this: moving to Italy isn’t just a romantic idea. It’s paperwork, cultural adjustments, language stumbles, slower systems, unexpected challenges…and then moments so beautiful they feel cinematic.
Below are the best books to read before moving to Italy, whether you’re dreaming, actively planning, or already knee-deep in the visa process.
My Move(s) to Italy
I’ve actually moved to Italy myself—twice.
The first time was when I was 12, which probably doesn’t fully count. My biggest concerns were whether I’d get the largest bedroom (oldest child perks!) and how hard it would be to make new friends at school. I wasn’t dealing with visas, paperwork, or bureaucracy—that part was handled for me.
The second time, in February 2025, was very different—and admittedly a bit unique. I work for the U.S. Government, which means I had a built-in support system and access to people who had navigated the process before. I had help securing my visa and Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit), and I’m fortunate to have access to things like U.S. mail and even a small U.S. grocery store.
That said, living in Italy still came with plenty of adjustments I had to figure out on my own, like:
- arranging a chimney sweep and sourcing firewood
- adjusting to riposo, when almost everything shuts down in the afternoon
- navigating buses and trains in a foreign language
- and embracing Italy’s famously slower pace of life
Before my move, I read a lot—memoirs, novels, blog-turned-books, and stories from people who had already made the leap. Those books didn’t teach me how to apply for a visa step by step, but they did something just as important: they helped me understand the emotional side of moving abroad. Leaving your home country, adjusting expectations, learning Italian (slowly), and figuring out where you fit in a new community.
I haven’t read every single book on this list, but I’ve done my research—including talking with expats who credit these stories with helping them make the move themselves. Now that I live here, I see these books a little differently. Some feel more idealistic in hindsight; others feel deeply familiar. Either way, they all offer valuable insight into what it’s really like to live in Italy—not just visit it.
Best Books to Read Before Moving to Italy
Whether you’re dreaming of sipping wine in the hills of Tuscany, navigating the canals of Venice, or starting over in a quiet Umbrian town—these memoirs and stories offer a true glimpse into life after moving to Italy.
Books about Moving to Tuscany
Tuscany is one of Italy’s most popular regions – it has long inspired dreamers, writers, and romantics. These books show what it’s really like to call this region home.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Author: Frances Mayes
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
One of the most well-known books about moving to Italy, Under the Tuscan Sun is the story of Frances Mayes’ decision to buy and restore a villa in Tuscany. The book is far quieter and more reflective than its movie adaptation (though I do love that, too), focusing on the slow, often frustrating process of rebuilding a home and a life. Mayes writes beautifully about food, seasons, neighbors, and patience, capturing how Italy reveals itself gradually over time. This isn’t a practical guide to visas or residency, but it offers a deeply sensory portrait of what it means to settle into a place and let it change you.
Note from Jen: I do love this book and the movie, but for very different reasons (because they’re very different). I will say I was slightly disappointed in the audio version, though, so stick with a physical read if you’re able.
Buy this if…you’re dreaming of rebuilding a home in the Italian countryside and want a lyrical, sensory-rich portrait of settling in, not a step-by-step how-to.
Love in a Tuscan Kitchen
Author: Sheryl Ness
Genre: Memoir, Romance, Food & Wine
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Love in a Tuscan Kitchen tells the story of an American woman who moves to Tuscany to work as a nanny and unexpectedly finds love with a local chef. While the premise may sound idyllic, Sheryl Ness doesn’t shy away from the realities of cultural adjustment, communication challenges, and the compromises required when building a life (and a relationship) in another country. Food plays a central role in the story, serving as both a bridge between cultures and a source of comfort during difficult moments. The memoir blends romance, travel, and culinary traditions, offering readers a sensory-rich portrait of Italian life.
Note from Jen: There are plenty of recipes in this one, too!
Buy this if…you love food as a bridge between cultures—and want a memoir that blends romance, recipes, and real challenges of expat life.
At Least You’re in Tuscany: A Somewhat Disastrous Quest for the Sweet Life
Author: Jennifer Criswell
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Jennifer Criswell is a former New York lawyer who leaves behind her structured city life for the rolling hills of Montepulciano. What begins as a dream of living in Italy quickly becomes a crash course in cultural adjustment, financial stress, and the harsh realities of trying to build a new life abroad. Criswell writes candidly about bureaucracy, the challenge of finding legal work as a foreigner, and the ups and downs of integrating into a tight-knit local community. She balances humor with vulnerability as she navigates language struggles, friendships, love, and the emotional toll of starting over without a safety net. Ultimately, it’s a story about resilience, reinvention, and the stubborn hope required to chase a dream across continents.
Note from Jen: This is one of the books that came recommended from the “Americans living in Italy” Facebook group where someone said “Her book helped inspire me to believe I could make the move happen, and I did with my husband!”
Buy this if…you’re starting from scratch—no job, no plan, just determination—and need a reminder that resilience (and humor) are the real expat superpowers.
Our Italian Journey
Author: Ilene & Gary Modica
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Written by award-winning bloggers Ilene and Gary Modica, Our Italian Journey documents their decision to obtain a visa and spend a full year living in Italy. Told through alternating perspectives, the book reads like a series of connected short stories that follow the couple as they travel through different regions, adapt to Italian daily life, and navigate the realities of living abroad legally. This book includes more practical insight into the logistics of long-term living—such as visas, paperwork, and adjusting expectations—than some of the others on this list, without becoming overly technical.
Note from Jen: You can follow along with their adventures on their blog.
Buy this if…you’re craving practical insight alongside memoir—especially around visas, paperwork, and what it really takes to live legally in Italy.
Women in Sunlight
Author: Frances Mayes
Genre: Fiction
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Women in Sunlight is a novel by Frances Mayes (finally, fiction!) that explores themes of aging, friendship, and reinvention through the story of four women living in Tuscany. While fictional, the book draws heavily on Mayes’ own experiences in Italy and captures the rhythms of daily life, seasonal change, and community. The story centers on women at a turning point in their lives, using Italy as a place of possibility and renewal. Though not a guide to moving abroad, the novel reflects many of the emotional reasons people are drawn to Italy later in life—curiosity, freedom, and the desire to live more fully.
Note from Jen: It was harder to find a fictional book about moving to Italy than I expected and since it was written by Frances Mayes (who wrote Under the Tuscan Sun above), it certainly still has a lot of truth to it.
Buy this if…you’re looking for a beautiful novel that imagines what life could be like if you really made the leap—and have friends who did it with you.
Books About Moving to Central Italy
Perfect for those dreaming of small-town life or a peaceful pace in central Italy.
Il Bel Centro
Author: Michelle Damiani
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Umbria, Italy
In Il Bel Centro, Michelle Damiani documents her family’s move to a small town in central Italy, offering a thoughtful look at what it means to raise children abroad. Originally born from a blog, the memoir explores language barriers, schooling, cultural differences, and the challenge of building community as a foreign family. Damiani reflects on how Italian values—particularly around family, time, and connection—contrast with those of her home country. The book balances practical experiences with emotional insight, making it especially relatable for readers considering a move to Italy with children. It’s a quiet, reflective account of choosing a slower, more intentional life.
Buy this if…you’re moving with your family and wondering how kids, school, and daily life will actually work abroad—especially in a small town.
A Rosie Life in Italy
Author: Rosie Meleady
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Dublin, Ireland and Umbria, Italy
A Rosie Life in Italy follows Rosie Meleady and her husband as they leave Ireland after a series of difficult and traumatic life changes, setting their sights on a fresh start in Italy. More than the other books on this list, this memoir centers on the emotional journey leading up to the decision to move abroad. Rosie writes candidly about grief, uncertainty, hope, and the slow process of rebuilding a sense of self in a new country. Italy becomes both a backdrop and a catalyst for healing, offering moments of beauty, humor, and connection even when plans don’t go as expected.
Note from Jen: I was surprised at how much I liked this one, probably because it felt so honest—messy emotions, doubts, and all. (And because I’m a tiny bit jealous of her job as a destination wedding planner.) This is actually the first in a full series about Rosie’s life in Italy, so check them all out if you want to know more!
Buy this if…you’ve been through something big—grief, change, loss—and want a hopeful story about healing and starting over in a new place.
I Can’t Believe We Live Here: The Wild But True Story of How We Dropped Everything in the States and Moved to Italy, Right Before the End of the World
Author: Matt Walker and Zeneba Bowers
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Lazio, Italy
In I Can’t Believe We Live Here, musicians Matt Walker and Zeneba Bowers share their journey from the fast-paced world of American orchestras to a slower, richer life in the Italian countryside. After years of burnout, they decide to reshape their lives by moving abroad—trading commutes and rehearsals for village life, musical freelancing, and the rhythms of daily life in Tuscany. Their alternating voices create a warm, honest portrait of what it means to rebuild careers, identities, and routines in another country. More than a simple “we moved to Italy” story, it’s about rediscovering creativity, embracing imperfection, and finding joy in a community-centered lifestyle.
Buy this if…you’re feeling burned out and craving a creative, quieter life in Italy—and want a story that reminds you reinvention is possible.
Books About Moving to Northern Italy
For anyone considering Italy’s north—more structured, sometimes less touristy, and filled with unique culture.
Extra Virgin
Author: Annie Hawes
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Liguria, Italy
Extra Virgin chronicles Annie Hawes and her sister’s impulsive decision to move to Liguria after securing jobs grafting roses—despite having little understanding of what that work entails. The book is filled with chaotic misadventures, misunderstandings, and humorous encounters with locals as the sisters attempt to adapt to rural Italian life. Over time, what begins as a temporary escape turns into a deeper connection to the land, the people, and the culture. Hawes writes with humor and self-awareness, capturing both the frustrations and joys of learning how to live abroad without a clear plan.
Buy this if…you’re not a big planner—but love the idea of jumping into Italian life feet-first, even if chaos follows. This one’s for the adventurers.
The Venice Experiment
Author: Barry Frangipane & Ben Robbins
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Venice, Italy
In The Venice Experiment, Barry Frangipane and his wife decide to escape the stress of daily life by spending a full year living in Venice. Rather than focusing on sightseeing, the book explores what it’s like to experience the city as a resident which is very different than a tourist—navigating acqua alta (when the city floods), dealing with crowds, and learning how to function in a place designed more for history than convenience. Frangipane writes with humor about language barriers, cultural differences, and the logistical challenges of living in one of the world’s most unique cities. The result is a light, entertaining memoir that balances romance with realism, showing that even the most magical destinations come with everyday frustrations once you stay long enough.
Buy this if…you’re considering a sabbatical or “gap year” abroad and want a playful, honest look at what it’s like to live in a postcard-perfect city full time.
Living in Italy: The Real Deal
Author: Stef Smulders
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Lombardy, Italy
In Living in Italy, Stef Smulders offers a humorous and insightful look at expat life from a distinctly Dutch perspective. Smulders zeroes in on the everyday realities of living abroad—particularly Italian bureaucracy, cultural quirks, and the small frustrations that arise when systems and expectations don’t align with what you’re used to. Through a series of amusing anecdotes, he explores topics like paperwork, communication styles, and adapting to Italian norms, all while maintaining a warm and self-aware tone.
Buy this if…you want someone to tell you exactly how frustrating Italian bureaucracy can be—but also remind you why it’s still worth it.
Pinch Me: Waking Up in a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse
Author: Barbara Boyle
Genre: Memoir, Food & Wine
Location(s) Featured: Piedmont, Italy
Touted as an “updated twist on the classicUnder the Tuscan Sun”, Pinch Me is the story of Barbara Boyle and her husband leaving San Francisco and buying a 300-year-old stone farmhouse in Piedmont. As expected, the book goes into some of the frustrations that come with rebuilding such an old home, especially when doing so in a different culture, but it also goes into Boyle’s experiences adjusting to her new town including some of the interesting people she meets and befriends and the enticing food and wine in the region (the book includes recipes!). It’s sweet and inspiring.
Buy this if…you’re seriously considering buying a home in Italy (especially a fixer-upper) and want to know what that actually looks and feels like.
Books about moving to Southern Italy
It isn’t always the most popular part of Italy, but the Southern part offers a different pace, a different price point, and a very real version of Italy.
Head Over Heel
Author: Chris Harrison
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Puglia, Italy
In Head Over Heel, Australian author Chris Harrison tells the story of how his life took an unexpected turn when he fell in love with an Italian woman from Southern Italy—and, in the process, with the region itself. This book offers a refreshing look at life in the south, where traditions, family ties, and local culture play a central role. Harrison writes with warmth and humor about navigating language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and the complexities of becoming part of an Italian family. Over time, he learns that truly living in Italy means embracing a different pace of life and a deeper sense of community.
Buy this if…you’re curious about life in Southern Italy or fell in love with an Italian and need a relatable, funny, and romantic expat experience to reassure you.
Books Focused on the Emotional Journey of Moving to Italy
While all of the books on this list include emotional lessons, these two are especially about identity, change, and finding your place abroad.
You Deserve Good Gelato
Author: Kacie Rose
Genre: Memoir / Lifestyle
Location(s) Featured: Florence, Italy
In You Deserve Good Gelato, Kacie Rose shares the story of how moving to Italy reshaped not only her daily life, but her values and priorities. After relocating to Tuscany with her Italian boyfriend, she began documenting her experiences on social media—capturing the small cultural differences, moments of frustration, and unexpected joys that come with living abroad. This book is a collection of those stories, woven together with reflections on slowing down, embracing imperfection, and redefining success. Rather than focusing on the technical process of visas or residency, Rose leans into the emotional side of moving to another country: learning to be patient, letting go of hustle culture, and finding happiness in simple pleasures (like really good gelato).
Note from Jen: The book reads more like a series of personal essays than a traditional memoir, making it an easy, uplifting read for anyone dreaming about a different pace of life and some of those life lessons can be applied even if you’re not moving to Italy.
Buy this if…you want a cozy, uplifting read that reassures you it’s okay to feel lost at first—and that finding joy in imperfection is part of the magic.
Not in a Tuscan Villa
Author: John & Nancy Petralia
Genre: Memoir
Location(s) Featured: Tuscany and Parma, Italy
As retirement approaches, John and Nancy Petralia finally decide to pursue their long-held dream of moving to Italy. What they imagine as a smooth transition quickly turns into a crash course in Italian bureaucracy, cultural differences, and patience. Not in a Tuscan Villa offers an honest, often humorous look at the realities of living abroad—from navigating paperwork and language barriers to adjusting expectations about daily life. Rather than focusing on an idyllic fantasy, the Petralias share what it actually feels like to build a life in a new country later in life. Their story highlights the emotional ups and downs of leaving a familiar home country, redefining routine, and learning how to truly live as residents rather than visitors. This book is especially helpful for readers who want a grounded, realistic portrayal of expat life in Italy.
Buy this if…you’re over 50 and wondering, “Is it too late to move to Italy?” This book answers with honesty, humor, and a big-hearted yes.
Tips for Moving to Italy
While these books focus on experience, real-life moving to Italy requires practical planning. Depending on your situation, you may need to research:
- Which visa you qualify for (digital nomad visa, nomad visa, investor visa)
- Whether you’re pursuing Italian citizenship or long-term residency
- How to apply through your Italian consulate
- Required health insurance
- Rules for residence permits, work, and length of stay in the European Union
The process varies based on your home country and goals, and it often takes months—or years. Since my moves to Italy fell under such a specific/unique way of moving, I’m not the best resource for those specific tips, but I recommend joining the Americans Living in Italy Facebook Group or following Smart Move Italy blog.
Aside from those practical steps to the move, the best advice I can share from my own experiences is to: be patient, be flexible, and give yourself from grace. Moving to Italy is very different from visiting Italy, so when you realize you’re not spending every day drinking wine with an amazing view, it’s okay. Be patient and know those magical moments will come.
In the meantime, these books about moving to Italy should at least entertain you and keep you motivated until you’re ready to make the move yourself. (And maybe write your own book?!?) Once you have moved, they’ll also remind you that your frustrations are okay.
Final Thoughts
Books won’t schedule your consulate appointment or fill out your visa paperwork—but they will prepare you for the emotional side of moving to Italy. They’ll reassure you that feeling overwhelmed is normal, that frustration is part of the process, and that beauty often shows up in small, quiet moments once you settle in.
Whether you’re just beginning to imagine the leap or already packing your suitcases, these memoirs offer inspiration, honesty, and a window into the everyday realities of Italian life. And who knows? Maybe one of them will give you the courage—or the clarity—to take the next step toward your own life in Italy.
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