A Russian woman honestly talks about the pros and cons of life in Italy

How Russian emigrants get to Italy

What are the chances of emigrating from Russia?

Italy is a country that year after year attracts crowds of emigrants from Russia.
However, not everyone will be able to obtain a residence permit and become a full-fledged European citizen. The most realistic chance to get the long-awaited residence permit is to reunite with parents, children or spouse already living in the country. There is also the concept of “chosen place of residence”. For this reason, any foreigner can live in a local house and obtain a residence permit. But there are restrictions - a migrant must be financially wealthy and have a large passive income that does not require work.

The last two methods are related to work. Both an employee and a freelance businessman can become a full citizen. If you don’t want to start your own business, start investing.

Brief description of visa options for entering Italy

Before applying for citizenship and obtaining a residence permit, you need to obtain a visa. At the same time, the same principle works here as in all civilized countries - the more times you receive permission for a visa, the greater the likelihood of opening a residence permit.

The following options are available:

• Schengen visa, category C. Suitable if you plan to stay in the country for 3 months. You will be able to travel freely, participate in conferences, festivals and events.
• Tourist. The principle of operation is equal to Schengen. Suitable for just looking at local attractions and visiting friends.
• National visa category D. Can be issued for a long period. Allows you to work or study, buy real estate.

Is there a problem with illegal migration?

Recently, the world has been rocked by wars taking place in Asia. Syria, Libya, Iraq and Iran - all these states have not seen peaceful life for a long time. Their economy is destroyed, and the danger of repeated battles constantly hangs over their heads. It is not surprising that the inhabitants of these countries rushed en masse to Europe.

Italy suffers slightly less from the problem of illegal migration than France or Germany. Between January and March 2021, the government allowed approximately six thousand refugees to enter the country. 24 thousand illegal migrants end up here every year.

All this significantly spoils the reputation of a sunny state with cozy courtyards. If the migration trend of Easterners continues to gain momentum, Italy will become less attractive for emigration.

About the chances of Russians to immigrate to Italy

Despite the fact that the traditional favorite countries of Russian emigrants are the USA, Germany, and Israel, the Italian destination continues to remain in the field of view of a fairly large circle of applicants for moving to prosperous Europe. And above all, Italy is interested in labor migrants from Russia and other countries of the post-Soviet space. If an EU citizen can come to Italy and take up a job without meeting additional conditions, then non-EU citizens must prove that they meet Italian migration requirements and go through the visa and work permit process. The latter document can be provided to a foreigner only if there is an Italian employer who agrees to take on the hassle of overcoming the bureaucratic obstacles to obtaining a permit. As a rule, the employer must conduct an advertising campaign for an existing vacancy in Italy and the EU and convince the migration services that a specialist with the required qualifications could not be found in the EU. A foreign applicant must have extremely compelling arguments in his favor for the employer to be interested in his candidacy. Considering that the unemployment rate in the country is one of the highest in the EU and is about 11%, highly qualified specialists in professions in short supply in the country today have a real chance of finding a job in one of the Italian companies. To some extent, this is due to the large number of illegal immigrants in the country.

Video: Russian about personal experience of living in Italy

When deciding to get an education at one of the Italian universities, a Russian or a resident of another CIS country should first of all familiarize himself with the requirements of the chosen university for foreign applicants. As a rule, on the university website you can find information about the number of places provided for foreigners. The applicant for training must speak Italian at level B2 on the CILS scale: the corresponding certificate can be obtained upon completion of language courses at one of the accredited educational institutions, for example, at the branches of the Italian Institute of Culture in Moscow or Kyiv.

Many dialects

Life in Italy for Russians is significantly different from living in their native state. They use an unusual and melodious dialect, and the local mentality is very different from the traditions accepted in the Russian Federation. Of course, without knowledge of English and Italian it is impossible to build your life in a new country.

However, you can learn a language not in your native country, but directly in Italy. Then it will take you no more than six months to get used to the local dialect. If everyone around you speaks Italian, the language will quickly become native.

There are no free courses. It is better to study the adverb in an organization called “Leonardo da Vinci School”. Here you can both get acquainted with the peculiarities of the language and delve into the local culture.

Investment attractiveness of Italian real estate

Why are wealthy people from all over the world so attracted to Italy ? Investing in Italian real estate is a profitable and safe investment . Despite some price fluctuations , the total cost of housing and land here is constantly growing . Even the recent economic crisis has not reduced either the price or the demand for apartments in big cities. This is especially true for luxury homes in fashionable areas and historical sites . Thus, real estate in Rome , as the largest tourist and cultural center, has never fallen in price in recent years.

Inexpensive real estate in Italy also exists and is also in demand. Budget small apartments in residential areas are actively being purchased by single and married youth without children. Secondary housing is also relatively inexpensive , and sometimes you can even buy it furnished . It happens that at a very favorable price you can buy a good apartment, townhouse or villa on the coast.

Work situation

Who gets paid the most?

The import-export operator makes a lot of money here. Despite the name, this is not your average factory job. A person will have to manage shipping routes, regulate the volume of transported cargo and enter into contracts with other companies. On average they pay 30 thousand euros per year.

Customs officers are also very popular. If you decide to work for the state, you will receive a salary of around 50 thousand euros. A programmer, referred to here as a “computer engineer,” will also not be left without work. Even a starting position implies a salary of 30 thousand euros.

Energy engineers who help optimize the distribution of resources at an enterprise are paid about 24 thousand. Translators from rare oriental languages ​​are paid 30-40 thousand.

In-demand professions for immigrants

This is interesting

As in the rest of the world, “blockchain specialist” is in the first place of the most required specialties here. Electronic currency is the future, and mining can bring really big money to farm creators. The second in-demand position is data scientist. This is a profession that simultaneously combines search, analysis and processing of information.

Almost every business needs an experienced cybersecurity specialist. An information systems manager will also come in handy. The vacancy of an online store manager often appears on websites.

For people far from the information sphere, there are many positions in agriculture. Farms in the suburbs need seasonal workers in the summer. You can work as a waiter or cook.

The attitude of the state towards business

The state treats small businesses with due cordiality. Antimonopoly legislation in force in the European Union helps small firms exist on an equal basis with international corporations. A person who is not a citizen of the country can open a business. However, you should have approximately 100 thousand euros in your account.

But if you decide to open your own business, prepare for the local mentality. It is not customary here to run after unattainable goals; Italians do not try to earn all the money in the world at once. They can easily be half an hour late for a meeting.

In addition, in all areas preference is given to “our own”. Businesses are run by entire dynasties, and contracts are most readily concluded with relatives.

Income of Italians and visitors

Minimum salary

The disadvantages of living in Italy are that there is a fairly large gap between specialties. People employed in the information sector receive really high salaries. Working people working on local farms can earn mere pennies.

In Italy there is no uniform rate obliging all employers to pay their employees the same salary. The local government has long concluded an agreement on the distribution of the minimum wage by industry. They pay the least in the field of agriculture - 24 thousand per year. Most of all - financiers, 43 thousand.

On average, the minimum salary is 700 euros per month. In addition, the regions here are characterized by high unemployment rates. It is difficult for young boys and girls to get a job, especially if they do not have a higher education.

Net average income per capita after taxes

An ordinary average family in Italy receives approximately 22 thousand euros per year. This number is slightly less than the total family income for all OECD countries - approximately 26 thousand euros per year. There is a serious gap between poor and rich people.

The percentage of the middle class here is standard in Europe - 60%. The poor and rich will receive 20% each; their share is almost the same. But the income is catastrophically different. The average wealthy Italian earns 6 times more than a representative of an impoverished regional family.

Not such a large number of people are employed - about 57%. However, only 4% work at high rates of overtime. Moreover, this method of earning money attracts mainly men.

“Blat is even more developed here than in Russia” The story of a Russian woman about life in Italy

For Lydia from Moscow, one trip to Italy was enough to fall in love with this country. Five years ago she moved to Rome and entered university. As part of a series of materials about Russians who have moved abroad, Lenta.ru publishes her story about what she learned about Italy and Italians.

I never planned to leave Russia and was indifferent to travel. Until the age of 25, my English was at the level of London is the capital of Great Britain, not to mention other foreign languages.

But everything changed when I first came to Italy in May 2011. I will always remember this feeling: I am standing on the observation deck of the dwarf state of San Marino and, in a state of some kind of ecstatic stupor, I look at the sun-drenched green Italian hills and the sea on the horizon. It was a standard sightseeing bus tour of Italy, so after just a couple of days I found myself in Rome. There I realized: this is my city, and my place is here.

Rome is love at first sight, it is a place of strength, weakness, chaos, faith and beauty, a magical place with its own special atmosphere, for which absolutely everything can be forgiven.

In 2012, I started learning Italian from scratch, and in the summer of 2013 I came to Rome for a whole month at a language school. I rented a room in a quiet area of ​​Ostiense and, as it turned out later, very close to my future university. I rode the bus to school past the rector’s office building and looked at it in awe. Entering an Italian university seemed like something out of science fiction to me at the time. However, when I seriously asked myself the question of how I could move to Italy, the university option, on the contrary, turned out to be the most realistic of all.

In the last year of my life in Moscow, I worked for a large media company and at the same time was working on a large project as a freelancer, so there were almost no days off. In August, I quit my job with great relief and left for complete uncertainty. There were entrance exams to the university ahead and there were no guarantees that I would pass them. But, of course, I knew that I would pass, it simply couldn’t be otherwise.

On August 31, 2015, a completely new life began for me. From the Moscow outskirts I moved to the very center of Rome, to the San Giovanni district, from where the Colosseum is less than half an hour’s walk. It just didn't fit in my head!

By Russian education, I am a journalist, but when I moved, I immediately abandoned the idea of ​​enrolling in a master’s program in journalism due to the specifics of the profession. Still, it is tied to the language, and Italian is not my native language. Therefore, I decided to start from scratch and entered a bachelor’s degree in Languages ​​and Foreign Cultures at the University of Roma Tre.

Photo: @lisazh

Education at public universities in Italy can be either paid or free. The amount of payment depends on the total income of the student’s family and the availability of real estate. At my university, amounts range from a symbolic 16 euros to two thousand euros per year. The study is structured in such a way that it gives you a certain degree of freedom in choosing subjects and drawing up a curriculum, but the responsibility also falls entirely on you. In addition, there are quite a lot of organizational nuances that the university secretariat does not talk about, and you will have to read about them yourself in documents regulating the educational process, or ask in thematic forums and groups on Facebook.

How easy or difficult it will be to study depends on the chosen specialty, your Russian background and, of course, your desire. The standard period of study is 3.5 years for a bachelor's degree and 2.5 for a master's degree, but in reality you can study at the university for your entire life. The main thing is to pay for training regularly.

For the first two years, I continued to work remotely for a Russian advertising agency. In the second year of living in Rome, I added a part-time job on weekends at a nightclub in the city center. A bonus was the breathtaking views of a completely empty night Rome. In the third year, I started working with a Russian event agency, which conducts quests, excursions, master classes and organizes various events in Italy.

It is generally accepted that it is difficult for immigrants to find work in Italy. This is not entirely true. Of course, there are no technology startups here, and you are unlikely to get a job in a bank, but there are always vacancies in the service sector - travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, shops, and knowledge of the Russian language will be a definite advantage

They often find work through friends, because blat, which in Italian is called nepotismo, is even more developed here than in Russia. Of course, we can’t talk about any tourism now due to the coronavirus pandemic, but sooner or later life will return to normal.

There is a fairly large Russian-speaking diaspora in Rome and in Italy in general. Many people study Russian at the university; there is a great interest in Russia and Russian culture in general. One of my classmates, for example, learned Russian from the TV series “Kitchen” and rap battles.

Some Italians, when they find out that I am from Moscow, worked on television and gave it all up to live and study in Rome, clutch their heads: “Why did you even come here?” Many people want to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg, there are even those who dream of taking a train ride along the Trans-Siberian Railway!

Photo: @lisazh

Stereotypes about Russians are amusing, but sometimes saddening. Once, my friend and I were asked in all seriousness how we managed to leave the country. I had to laugh it off that we were the children of diplomats!

Italians are afraid of the Russian winter, they don’t believe that it’s hot in our summers, they are surprised when I say that I don’t drink vodka, and they think that Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world. Some people believe that they are also the most affordable.

Russians in Italy are constantly freezing, which causes sincere bewilderment and constant jokes from the Italians. But the fact is that in Russia we are accustomed to heating 24/7 in winter, but in Italy few can afford such a luxury. The situation is aggravated by the fact that many Italian apartments have marble floors, which simply do not have time to warm up in the few hours when there is heating. As a result, all Italians have a chronic runny nose from October to April.

In winter you have to sleep in warm pajamas, woolen socks and under two blankets. One particularly cold winter I even slept in a hat

In general, Italians love to complain about the weather, in winter about the cold and rain, and in summer about the heat. The change of seasons occurs quite abruptly. Yesterday you were still wearing boots, but today you can change into sandals. I wear many of the off-season items that I brought from Moscow only a couple of times a year; there is simply no suitable weather for them in Rome.

I propose to immediately discard all the stereotypes about Italian men, all these “Italians live with their mothers until retirement”, “Italians are the best lovers”, “Italians look after beautifully”, except for one thing: the average Italian man really looks good and dresses stylishly.

On Italian Tinder you can meet both a womanizer looking for adventure and a serious man looking for a life partner. However, Italians are in no hurry to start a family. This is partly due to the fact that divorce in Italy is a long, complex and expensive process that often leaves a man with nothing, especially if there are children in the family.

Many couples have been dating since school, for 15-17 years, and formalize the relationship and have children closer to forty. It is not uncommon to meet men slightly over 40 who have never been married; this is the norm in Italy.

The concept of “youth” among Italians has very vague age boundaries. For example, by Italian standards, at 35, I’m still very young, and it’s too early for me to think about family and children

In Italy, it is still accepted that the man pays on a date, however, the pendulum has already swung in the other direction, and this is due to overly emancipated Italian women who prefer to pay for themselves (and sometimes also for the man) so as not to depend on anyone. But personally, I have never encountered a man in a restaurant offering to split the bill.

Italian women, for the most part, are not particularly beautiful or well-groomed, and on top of that, they often neglect sunscreen, as a result of which they look older than their age. Young girls wear jeans and sneakers in everyday life and hardly use makeup. But Italian seniors 45+ are a completely different matter! Elegant, with neatly styled hair, wearing heels - it’s impossible not to admire them!

Anyone who has ever been to Italy will tell you that Italians are incredibly friendly, sociable and open. This is only partly true. Everyone really smiles at you everywhere, gives you compliments, invites you to come to Italy again and treats you to “Limoncello” at the expense of the establishment. But all this is somewhat superficial. As my university English teacher, a Londoner who has lived in Rome for over 35 years, once said: “It takes years for Italians to invite you to their home for Sunday lunch.”

This phrase very accurately reflects the attitude of Italians towards strangers. They are friendly and polite, but are in no hurry to form close friendships. Over the five years of living in Rome, I made many Italian acquaintances, but my friends are only Russian speakers

Everyday life revolves around food in one way or another. Italians rarely meet just for a walk in the park - they meet to drink coffee in a bar, go for an aperitivo or have dinner together. All your new acquaintances are interested in what you ate for lunch today and what cuisine you like best - Russian or Italian. In the evening, on public transport, people talk loudly on their mobile phones with their families and significant other about what they will have for dinner. It’s also considered normal here to tell strangers about the peculiarities of your digestion and menstrual cycle. I never could get used to this.

The Italian rhythm of life is known to be very leisurely, measured and hedonistic, filled with endless coffee breaks and socializing. At first, I enjoyed this atmosphere of general relaxation and learned to relax myself. I came to Rome pretty tired of the hectic life in Moscow and wanted to slow down and learn to live differently. However, after a few years, oddly enough, I missed people with MacBooks in cafes and the feeling that you were where something important was happening.

Photo: @lisazh

In order to live in Italy, you need to love it very much and under no circumstances approach it with Russian, and even more so with Moscow standards. Forget about documents issued on the same day, lightning-fast bank transfers, a well-functioning city public transport system, choice of seats in the cinema and other benefits of modern life. Rockets will never fly into space from here. Here, to be honest, there will hardly ever even be Wi-Fi in the metro. Although you shouldn’t underestimate Italy at all, because it was here that one of the main discoveries in the field of neurophysiology was made - the discovery of “mirror” neurons.

I often hear from Italians about some kind of special courage that a person like me supposedly must have in order to leave their homes and get involved in the adventure of moving. In fact, I was and is driven by what actors often talk about in interviews when answering the question of why they chose their profession: the opportunity to live many lives. For me, emigration is a chance to live another life, completely different from the previous one.

Will I stay in Rome forever? Despite all my love for him, hardly. Because I sincerely hope that I have a couple more “lives” left.

More stories about the lives of Russians who moved to other countries can be found in the story “Russians Abroad.” If you would like to tell your story, please email [email protected]

Italian education

Educational system of general, secondary and higher education

The preschool education system in the country is poorly developed. Kindergartens are overcrowded, and getting into them is more difficult than in Russia. However, short maternity leave forces Italian women to turn to private family-type kindergartens.

In primary school, children go through the period from 6 to 11 years. At this time, vocal skills, arithmetic, reading, literacy and drawing are taught here. If parents wish, they can also enroll in religious studies.

Secondary school lasts 3 years - from 11 to 14 years. The set of items is almost similar to the Russian one. Arithmetic and geography are also taught here, and special attention is paid to cultivating a sense of beauty. In local schools, a considerable part of the time is spent studying the arts.

High school covers the period from 14 to 19 years. You can either study on a general basis or receive your first professional training. After this you can go to university.

Higher education is free, you can enroll either on a budget or in a private university, but for money. However, every year the student must pay an admission fee depending on his family income. On average you need to pay from 600 to 3000 euros.

What are the types of scholarships and grants?

Almost every region organizes a competition for students at the beginning of the year. To get one of the prizes, you need to show yourself to be a really diligent and careful student. There are requirements for grade point average, activity, and research. The winners receive a scholarship.

Sometimes the university itself provides money. Thus, the higher education institution encourages the most gifted students with difficult financial situations. With the money received, students pay the entrance fee, rent an apartment and buy food.

If the certificate score is 95 out of 100 possible, the local Ministry of Education can pay for tuition at any university and assign a small scholarship. The second option is to take out a loan that can be repaid after employment.

Almost free education

Free education in public kindergartens or schools is only available to Italian citizens. Children of migrants have to attend private, and therefore paid, educational institutions.

Admission to the university for visitors is subject to more complex requirements than for local applicants. In addition to the need to master the national language, the applicant must have completed at least 2 years of university in his home country. In theory, higher education is free, but in practice, each student makes an annual voluntary contribution of 500 to 4,000 euros, depending on the institution. All details can be found in the material “studying in Italy”.

Product prices

It is impossible to evaluate the advantages of living in Italy and understand what the average standard of living is in the country if you cannot estimate the number of euros spent on food. It is not customary to live in ostentatious luxury here, but the locals appreciate delicious food and know how to cook.

The following prices are typical in euros (everything is indicated in kilograms, unless otherwise stated):

• 1 liter of milk - 1.12.
• 500 g of fresh white bread - 1.48.
• White rice - 1.99.
• 12 pieces of eggs - 2.57.
• Local cheese - 11.49.
• Chicken - 8.32.
• Beef - 15.03.
• Apples - 1.83.
• Bananas - 1.68.
• Oranges - 1.68.
• Tomatoes - 1.84.
• Potatoes - 1.19.
• Onion - 1.27.
• 1 bunch of lettuce - 1.07.
• 5 liters of clean drinking water - 0.39.
• Bottle of wine - 5.0.
• 5 local beers - 1.23.
• 33 imported beers - 1.61.
• A pack of 20 cigarettes - 5.20.

The basic diet of the average Italian

Important

When moving, you need to take into account that local residents do not consider themselves spenders. It is customary here to save on everything, including utilities. For example, dishes are never washed under running water. They go to the store with their own linen bags, which are washed from time to time.

For communications - telephone and Internet are not of the best quality - they pay about 350 euros a year. The average Italian spends about 2,000 euros per year to purchase basic food products. For various household chemicals, including personal hygiene products, you need 460 euros.

Italians spend 520 euros a year even on a minimum set of clothes of normal quality. To educate a child - purchase all the necessary stationery and pleasant little things - you need 600 euros.

Obtaining a residence permit: procedure and necessary documents

A residence permit is an official document that is issued to foreigners (including Russian citizens) for legal residence, education and work in Italy.

Documents required to obtain a residence permit (originals and photocopies):

• passport or other official identification document;
• photo of a foreign citizen;
• housing rental agreement or purchase and sale agreement, act of hospitality;
• document confirming the availability of work.

You can prepare the documentation yourself or with the help of special companies. Registration process:

1. Contacting the Questura or Italian representation in another country.
2. Transfer of documents.
3. Issuance of residence permit.

During the course of the case, additional questions may arise. In this case, the foreigner will be called for an interview.

Residence permit in Italy

Housing affordability

Buying a property

Local laws allow purchasing an apartment not only for residents of Italy, but also for non-residents of the country. This does not give you any additional rights and does not bring you closer to obtaining a residence permit, but it helps you start building your business. Considering that almost 50% of the housing stock in this country is owned by foreigners, it is profitable to purchase local apartments.

The average cost of a budget apartment is 22,000 euros. You can purchase a villa for approximately a couple of million. The cheapest apartment can be bought in the south of the country, for example, in Sicily. Agriculture is mainly developed here, the inhabitants are poorer. The price of one square meter is 2 thousand euros.

In the northernmost regions of the country, the price of one meter can reach 10 thousand euros.

Flat rent

Gradually, prices for rental properties stabilized. Just a few years ago, renting an apartment was simply unprofitable. The cost of monthly rent rose and fell regularly. As a result, people lost their money and risked ending up on the street at any moment.

However, 2021 has seen a massive market recovery. Therefore, the cost has become stable and more attractive for both ordinary citizens and investors. Now the average rental cost per square meter is 9-10 euros. The cheapest prices are in Abruzzo and Basilicata (6 euros).

The most expensive apartments can be rented in Lazio, Lombardy (11 euros) and Sardinia (13 euros). There also remains a trend of massive price increases from the abandoned South to the high-tech North.

Public utilities

The peculiarities of life in Italy dictate total savings in everything. Locals don't like to waste money. It is not customary for them to keep the TV and computer on all the time, or to constantly waste water. Therefore, the amount paid for utilities is quite low.

Of particular note are the costs for maintaining the local area, depending on the area occupied. Typically, you need to allocate an amount of about 800 euros for this article. An additional 120 euros are paid for waste removal and sewerage maintenance. Gas is used for heating and hot water, for which you will have to pay 800 euros.

Electricity - approximately 400 euros. Water - about 120 euros.

Mentality and features of the Italian way of life

The main value for Italians was and remains family. Although traditionally the inhabitants of this country, as is customary among Catholics, had many children, now the average couple raises two or three, no more. Nevertheless, Italians dote on children. They are not punished, not even spanked. It is not customary to offend children in Italy, and those who do this are looked upon as outcasts from society. Family holidays, joint trips to nature, to restaurants and, of course, going to church on Sundays are integral features of the life of Italians. They are proud of their children and take them with them wherever possible. Although, as elsewhere in Western Europe, children are taught to be financially independent and the ability to earn money, there is no attempt to send them quickly out of home and into adulthood. In Italian families, different generations often still live together.

Family values ​​play a special role for Italians

About marriage, moods and the cult of food

Italians get married late - no earlier than 25 years old, and finish higher education after 30. Therefore, men and women under 40 are called young people there. A representative of this usually cheerful nation may well fall into the blues in cloudy or rainy weather. Italians love not only to eat delicious food, but also to talk about it. They can discuss for hours whether a person ate well or poorly. In addition, the country has unwritten but strict rules for eating. For example, only an hour is allotted for lunch - from 12:30 to 13:30. The rest of the time, restaurants will be closed. Italians cannot stand it if someone - even foreigners - pours ketchup on pasta in front of them or orders pasta not as a separate dish, but as a side dish.

Italians are proud of their cuisine and the quality of their food.

How Italians enjoy life

Italians do not like to rush and love a relaxed life. The famous saying “dolce farniente”, that is, sweet idleness, fully reflects this trait of the national character. Making decisions quickly is also not their style. Most government offices open only at 9 am, and the mandatory coffee break begins at 11. At two o'clock in the afternoon many begin to go home. But this rhythm of life allows them to almost always be in a good mood, meet with many friends and visit no less numerous relatives, and generally enjoy themselves wherever possible. The main thing for Italians is not money, but a pleasant time spent.

Italians love to enjoy life and often do so in public.

Stereotypes and patriotism

Regarding people of other nationalities and even residents of other Italian cities and provinces, citizens of the country have many stereotypes that they do not want to give up. The inhabitants of the agricultural south and the industrial north do not like each other, and the northerners constantly demand independence or at least autonomy. The inhabitants of each region are already assigned certain labels, and if two Italians meet, first of all they find out which city each of them comes from. But at the same time, every region, region, even small town is proud of its history, culture and identity. Even children are often given names traditional to the area. But at football matches or abroad, Italians turn into ardent patriots of their people.

Most Italians don't speak any foreign languages ​​at all. With English you will certainly feel comfortable in tourist places and restaurants, but if you are going to live here, then you cannot do without Italian. When I moved, I spoke several foreign languages, but I knew only a few words in Italian. After about six months, I began to speak and people began to understand me. The language university helped. I have many Russian friends who have lived here for years, but communicating only with each other and watching only Russian-language television, they still cannot communicate in Italian.

Stylish and public nation

Italians do not really like to learn foreign languages, nor do they like to move permanently to another city or abroad. Not only women, but also the vast majority of men in this country have excellent taste and dress very stylishly, if their income allows it. Unlike other Western European countries, where they prefer to wear comfortable rather than beautiful and fashionable things, Italians will never leave the house casually dressed.

After all, the opinion of their neighbors and the rest of the public is very important to them.

Video: about the Italian mentality

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cAdNz-moGgo%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Slow rhythm of life

Need for a car

Local residents are accustomed to a fairly leisurely pace of life. No one runs anywhere here; moments spent with family are valued. Therefore, local residents prefer to walk, enjoy the local nature and relax. There is no particular need for a car here. However, public transport is not very developed.

If local residents switch to cars, they choose compact subcompact cars. Buying a luxury car with a lot of accessories is not common. Therefore, most often, most Italians choose a regular bicycle; fortunately, you can rent one anywhere.

It takes a lot of money to maintain your own car. Insurance will cost 600 euros. Accounting and registration fees - 200 euros. Technical inspection - 70 euros. It will cost 1400 for gasoline, and 300 for regular maintenance.

Development of public transport

In small towns, public transport is not very good. For example, in the provinces, buses simply do not run during the day, and the metro and trains are not organized by the local government. But in large cities buses run every 10 minutes. The ticket is purchased for a specific time. For 100 minutes of travel you will have to pay 1.5 euros.

Only Rome and Milan have a metro network. For one ticket you need to pay about 1 euro. Travel is also regulated by time. If you have already exhausted your limit, but it’s not time to leave the metro yet, then you need to purchase a new card at a special ticket office.

At night, night buses operate in cities. Their cost remains the same.

General condition of roads and sidewalks

As in all European countries with a high standard of living, in Italy the local government allocates a lot of money to maintain roads in order. Of course, the asphalt here is not perfect; there are cracks and potholes here and there. But in general the condition of the road surface is satisfactory.

If you want to travel at high speed on a clean and free road, turn your attention to highways. A network of roads with many branches encircles all provinces and central cities of Italy. But for about 100 kilometers of driving one way you will have to pay about 5 euros.

There are sidewalks even in the provinces; problems are only in the south, where there are few large settlements.

Is it worth moving?

Every person who moves to live abroad has their own story. Therefore, it is impossible to give an exact answer to the question and say: yes, it’s worth going, or no, in no case.

Many Russians, having lived abroad for some time, return to their homeland for one reason or another. But even more Russians go abroad, start families there and fit perfectly into European society.

Read the article “What you need to go to live in Italy” by following this link.

What difficulties might you encounter?

One of the main difficulties is language. Even if a person studies Italian diligently, when moving to Italy and in the process of communicating with local residents, he begins to understand that his knowledge is very meager.

Many Italians speak very quickly, and it is very difficult to get used to this pace of speech. Residents of the country also use words in their speech that foreigners have never heard.

During adaptation, some Russians are faced with the fact that, despite what they think is the correct pronunciation, they are simply not understood.

Italian is a good springboard for Russians. During the courses you can study grammar and learn phrases that are used in everyday life. But you can master a language perfectly by constantly communicating in it, living in an environment where Italian is spoken.

The second serious difficulty is the Italian bureaucracy. In terms of queues and indifference of office officials, it is not much different from the Russian one.

The third difficulty is the Italian way of life. It is very different from the way of life familiar to Russians. Italians eat strictly according to the clock. If a person was unable to visit a particular establishment at a specific time, then he will not get there. That is, a resident of the country cannot freely decide when he needs to sit at the dinner table.

Shops in Italy may inexplicably close between 12:30 and 16-17:00. Convenience stores are practically non-existent - in small towns there are certainly none.

What do Italians of Russian descent lack?

One of the main disadvantages of Russian life in Italy is that most of our former compatriots lack their former social circle.

Russians are also nostalgic for some familiar products that are not available in Italy. This problem is easily solved - in many large cities there are Russian-Ukrainian stores where you can buy familiar food. Unfortunately, prices in such stores are very high, due to the complexity of transportation.

Social guarantees

Health insurance

As in all countries, clinics here are divided into public and private. You will have to pay a lot of money for service in the latter. Each citizen is provided with compulsory insurance, a percentage of which is deducted from their salary. Foreigners are required to take out a policy costing approximately 30 thousand euros per year.

Almost always, the state pays all expenses associated with the treatment of diseases and the purchase of expensive drugs. For residents, calling a doctor to your home and examination, issuing prescriptions and directions is free. A health certificate for a medical institution costs nothing at all.

But you will have to pay for all diagnostic procedures yourself, for example, ultrasound examination.

State obligations

The government actively sponsors the south of the country. In Italy there is a clear division into two regions - economically developed and agricultural. At the same time, wages in the south are lower, and unemployment is quite high. Therefore, quite large unemployment benefits are actively paid here.

During pregnancy, the state allows employees to periodically be absent from the workplace to conduct tests. They cannot be fired until the child is at least 1 year old, unless the contract has expired. Maternity leave is approximately 5 months.

She can take 2 months off before the baby is born and 3 months after. There are no child benefits. However, nursing mothers have the right to have their working hours reduced.

Attitude towards pensioners

Local residents retire at age 65. With an average life expectancy of 80-90 years, this age seems logical. Even in old age, Italians are healthy and full of vitality. Usually in old age they quit their jobs and start traveling around the world.

On average, the level of pensions here ranges from 1 to 5 thousand euros per month. There is no minimum rate; everything is calculated depending on the industry and the number of hours worked. However, the average income of residents is quite high.

This is interesting

There are no special benefits, but Italians don’t need it. They take everything from life, trying to get the most vivid impressions. Pensioners eat in the best restaurants and fall in love like young people.

Italian standard of living

The standard of living in Italy compared, for example, with Germany, Austria or Switzerland can be called satisfactory. The reasons include not only significant financial debt to the European Union, but also the imperfection of the banking system and the looming threat of default.

All these factors contribute to the growth of social inequality in the state and an increasingly noticeable division between the poor and the rich.

Salaries and employment opportunities

The total income of the average Italian family is 22 thousand euros per year (with taxes and provided that both spouses work). The average salary level ranges from 1300-2500 euros per month.

The cost of living in Italy for 2021 is 855 euros. The income of Italians varies depending on the region of residence:

• Venice – about 2,500 euros;
• Trento – 1,950 euros;
• Milan – 1,850 euros;
• Verona – 1,315 euros.

Doctors, financial workers, insurers, government employees, programmers, translators from Eastern languages, logistics and transport managers, engineers, and builders receive the most. For example, customs officers receive about 50 thousand euros per year.

Work in Italy for foreigners without a specialty is possible in the tourism, service or agricultural sectors. It should be remembered that workers from abroad are subject to quotas, which are revised by the government once or twice a year based on the needs of the economy. It is for this reason that those who have already managed to legalize their status in Italy and live in the northern regions of the country are increasingly going to neighboring Switzerland to work.

But the choice of which city in Italy is better to live in depends not only on the amount of wages. Where it is low, the price level for basic expenditure items is also low.

Social protection of the population

Socially vulnerable segments of the population are under the care of the state. These include:

• unemployed;
• pensioners;
• large families;
• minor children who are left without parents;
• disabled people.

Help for those who have lost their jobs is provided through the Legge di Stabilita jn 2021, which provides for the payment of a combined benefit. When calculating it, the reason for dismissal and the number of contributions over the last 4 years are taken into account.

In 2021, those who quit on their own initiative will not receive unemployment benefits. The rest can count on assistance for a period of 78 months, provided that they have work experience within the last 4 years. The payment amount should not exceed 1,300 euros per month.

The amount of disability benefits is one third of earnings.

Medical service

Italians are an aging nation. Comfortable living conditions and state care contribute to an increase in the number of elderly people. Thanks to the favorable climate and high-quality medicine, the average life expectancy in Italy today is higher than in other European countries - about 83 years.

Services for some categories of citizens in local hospitals are provided free of charge. These include:

• children under 6 years old;
• elderly people over 65 years of age;
• unemployed;
• low-income;
• pregnant women;
• seriously ill patients.

If you are registered, you can undergo a medical examination, take tests, receive most medications, and even sign up for some types of surgery for free. Visits to some highly specialized doctors (for example, dentists) and comprehensive diagnostics are required to be paid for.

In emergency cases, Italians prefer to go to private clinics, which guarantees a higher quality of service. But they trust routine observation by a general practitioner to public hospitals.

For working citizens, doctors' services are covered by insurance policies. Foreigners can also purchase insurance or visit private doctors.

Italian medicine is famous for its good results in the prevention of cancer and treatment of the elderly.

Education

The education system in Italy has a standard structure:

• Primary School;
• secondary school level;
• higher education.

The network of preschool institutions in the country is very poorly developed. Kindergartens are divided into private and public. Visiting is most often possible only in the first half of the day. Staying in the municipal garden is free, but you have to pay for food (on average 5 euros per day).

To study in public educational institutions, the child must have Italian citizenship. Immigrants can only be enrolled in private.

Studying in Italy is free, but annual fees are expected - about 500-4,000 euros. The cost of studying at a private educational institution depends on the program and status of the university or school and ranges from 5-25 thousand euros per year.

University admission requirements for foreigners are higher than for native Italians. To be admitted to the university, you must provide a school certificate, a diploma of completion of two courses at a university in your country and a certificate of passing the Italian language exam. The most gifted students can win a scholarship from a university or municipality.

Crime level

As of 2021, about 7,500 crimes were recorded in the country every day. Moreover, the leaders in this ranking were computer fraud, extortion and money laundering. But bag snatching and break-ins, although they no longer occupy top positions in police reports, still occur due to the difficult situation with migrants.

The ranking of the most dangerous cities according to police data for 2021 looks like this (descending):

• Milan,
• Rimini,
• Bologna,
• Turin,
• Prato,
• Florence,
• Genoa,
• Rome,
• Pisa.

The situation in Naples continues to remain dangerous in terms of street robberies. But this is the only type of crime for which the city is famous.

List of cities where people's lives and property are not in danger: Oristano (Sardinia), Pordenone, Rieti, Sondrio, Enna (Sicily), Benevento, Matera and Treviso.

Climate and weather conditions

In different parts of the country, the climate and weather at different times of the year can differ significantly. Therefore, based on this criterion, it is impossible to name the best place to live in Italy, because everyone chooses suitable conditions for themselves.

• In the north, a temperate continental climate prevails. It is characterized by cool winters and humid and hot summers. The off-season is characterized by a large number of rainy days.
• In the south, the climate is Mediterranean: rainy and warm winters, hot and dry summers.
• It is most comfortable in the central part of the state, where all indicators can be described as moderate, regardless of the season.

The country is washed by 4 seas: Ionian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ligurian. The coastline is different everywhere - from rocky terrain to sandy beach areas. Three quarters of the state are mountains.

As for the environment, we should not forget that the north of the country is an industrial zone, where harmful emissions from enterprises into rivers and the atmosphere are common. At the same time, Italy signed the Kyoto Protocol, which indicates the adoption of measures to limit activities aimed at environmental pollution and the development of various environmental programs.

Love for sports

Level of medicine in the country

It is believed that a high standard of living in the countries of the European Union directly depends on quality medical care. Indeed, there are highly qualified doctors here. There are no incurable diseases; hospitals are able to cure even hopeless patients.

However, everything is not as perfect as it might seem at first glance. Fast, which is logical, only an ambulance operates. For less urgent services there is medical assistance which is very slow. The queues for regular medical care are long; you will have to wait several weeks for your appointment.

Therefore, it is better to contact doctors not at the last moment. Get examined if any signs of illness appear.

Attitude to sports

Since Italy was one of those countries that stood at the heart of the Olympic movement, sports are treated with due reverence. The government supports the spirit of sports, regularly holds various competitions and provides excellent government grants.

Almost all young people are involved in one or another sports section. They are fast and resilient. From early childhood, children are taught that regular exercise will be the key to a long and successful life. Therefore, there is no situation typical for our state, when a child is forced to go to boxing or karate.

According to the legacy of the long-dead Colosseum, all sports activities here are quite spectacular. A beautiful stadium is rented for each event.

How do local citizens and foreigners live in Italy today?

Russians who come to Italy may assess the current standard of living in the country differently, because they will compare it with what they are used to at home. If Italian realities seem like a triumph of civilization to a citizen arriving from the Russian hinterland, then to Muscovites or residents of St. Petersburg spoiled by comfort, everything here will look quite ordinary and everyday (with the exception of unique architectural monuments, of course).

If you believe the statistics, then in terms of living standards, Italy today is somewhere in the third ten of the list, and in terms of the degree of assistance to the development of entrepreneurship, the country is in 50th place in the world. Italian universities enjoy fairly high prestige: a diploma from the University of Bologna or Perugia can be a good springboard for starting a career in any large European company.

a diploma from an Italian university is highly rated in the EU

I live in Liguria in a small town. I traveled all over Italy - there is something to compare with: in 5 years I have not had one friend. There are no Russians at all, there are many Ukrainians from the West, after certain events they simply hate us. But Italians here are not friends, especially with foreigners. Putsa sotto nazo here like nowhere else. Even visiting Italians from other regions have repeatedly complained that they never made friends here. Plus a completely different mentality - people are all like biorobots, superficial politeness and arrogance. And it’s funny for me to look at this. I always say: they need to live with us, during, for example, perestroika and after. And in general...In Liguria people are very closed, they are afraid of their own shadow. They are all so correct to the point of nausea.

Lena

https://natali-goberti.livejournal.com/32432.html

A foreigner who has lived in Italy for a certain number of years will confirm that the typical Italian today is not always a fiery, temperamental brunette who is a member of some mafia group. Such a portrait corresponds to reality exactly as much as the portrait of a typical Russian is sometimes truthfully presented in the West: wearing earflaps, felt boots and half-drunk. The way of life may differ in different regions of the country: a Russian arriving in Italy for the first time is struck first of all by the hyper-sociability of residents of large cities, the nationwide love of Italians for national cuisine, and a certain suspicion of local residents towards visiting foreigners. The territory of the country is conventionally divided into the industrial North and the provincial South, and Italians feel 100% like a single nation during football matches with the participation of their national team.

Italians can be extremely leisurely when performing official duties . Russians, and especially Muscovites, can be driven to a white heat by Italian slowness: a document can take months to complete. Quite often, the company, which is headed by the head of the family, employs other family members - close and not very close relatives - as employees, i.e. there is a kind of clannishness. The penchant of Italian men for stylish and fashionable clothes is well known: they have every opportunity to dress according to the latest fashion thanks to many affordable boutiques. In addition, Milan is one of the centers of world fashion.

Milan is one of the centers of world fashion

In principle, there are no problems with public transport in Italy, but the Rome metro looks rather unconvincing compared to the Moscow one. But you can get to your destination around the clock by regular bus, unlike in Russia. Italians are very devoted to their small homeland: any city, even the smallest one, is considered by an Italian born in it to be the best in the world. The average life expectancy of the country's citizens is steadily increasing: today women in Italy live on average 74 years, men - 81 years.

Taxes in Italy

They are divided into state and regional. Only residents of a certain province must pay regional fees. They are different for each area, so it makes no sense to list all possible deductions. It is better to turn your attention to the general tax system.

Any individual living in the country for 180 days a year must pay tax on their income. It depends on the salary level and ranges from 23% to 43%. Payments for medicine and social insurance, and provision for persons with disabilities are deducted from the amount of income.

The price of each product includes VAT equal to 22%.

Social protection and provision of the population

2 National Institutes are responsible for the payment of pensions and social benefits in Italy: social security (INPS) and insurance (INAIL). Help for those in need is paid in various cases - in case of illness, pregnancy, disability, retirement age, in case of an accident at work, with very low family income, at the birth of a 3rd child, and others. Foreigners can also receive social benefits if they have a residence permit and meet the requirements.

Pensions for Italians and more

Here, the retirement age is the highest in Europe - almost 67 years, and it is planned to gradually increase it so that the number of working-age citizens does not decrease. Do you want to know how retirees live in Italy? Very worthy - they have travel benefits and a good pension. More specifically, the amount of the benefit depends on the length of service and the area - the average pension is €1,200, and the minimum is €700.

It is possible to receive pensions in Italy for citizens of other countries, but subject to the following conditions:

• period of residence in Italy – over 10 years;
• sufficient work experience;
• income for the year was at least €5830.

Today the state is introducing various quotas that reduce the retirement age and make a discount on years of experience.

Insurance deductions

The insurance premium for employees is paid by the company. What kind of contribution is determined by the field of activity - craft, industrial, services or other production. Private entrepreneurs are required to make contributions themselves, twice a year.

Affordable benefits for the socially vulnerable

Various benefits are paid based on the salary received by the applicant. This applies, for example, to benefits for those who currently cannot find a job. The payment limit is no more than 1300 euros/month. for a duration of no more than 2 years. The condition is to work until the moment of dismissal (and not at your own request, but on the basis of compelling reasons, staff reduction, for example) for no less than 2 years.

Expectant mothers are paid a maternity benefit, which is 80% of their pre-maternity salary. The vacation is very short - only 5 months, after which the payment for the maternity leave will be 30% of the former income.

Other social benefits

Other social benefits include severance pay upon dismissal of an employee, upon loss of ability to work, for sanatorium treatment, salary compensation, and others.

Italy vs Russia

Russian diaspora in Italy

Features of the Russian diaspora in Italy

Unfortunately, there is no cohesive community here. Not as many Russians move to Italy as to Turkey or Canada. According to official data, about 34 thousand of our compatriots are officially in the country. Approximately the same number of residents of Ukraine and Moldova.

If people meet each other on the street, they approach new acquaintances with enthusiasm. However, there is no talk of any significant unity. Everyone lives their own lives, slowly adapts to new conditions and tries to build a new life. So you shouldn’t count on a warm welcome.

Today's wave of migrants from Russia is called the third. During the first two, representatives of the nobility moved here.

Where do Russian immigrants live?

Since the standard of living in the south of Italy is not very high, most of our compatriots choose to live in the north. Among them, it is believed that the best cities to live in Italy are Milan and Turin.

Our compatriots also meet in Venice and Rome. Small organizations can be found in Abruzzo and Bari.

Who can study in public schools in Italy

Only children who are citizens of the country can receive education in Italian public schools. For Russian children, education is available only in private boarding schools or schools for foreigners. It is more difficult for a Russian citizen to enroll in an Italian university than for a local resident.

If the latter only needs to pass an exam in his native language, then a foreigner, in addition to obtaining a student visa, needs to have a document confirming graduation from high school, as well as study for two years at a Russian university. In addition, there will also be testing in Italian. The decision on admission will be made by the university. The situation is the same if a graduate of a Russian university decides to enroll in graduate school in Italy.

To obtain a bachelor's degree, any foreigner from outside the EU must provide documents confirming that he has previously completed 12 years of study (for example, 10 years at school + 2 at a university); to obtain a master's degree, 15 years.

Italian graduate students in the library

There is no agreement between Russia and Italy that educational documents are recognized in both countries. Therefore, if the diploma is recognized as valid at an Italian university, then it will be possible to begin studying, but if not, then it is impossible to challenge the decision.

Opinions of those who moved

Anton:

“I’m opening my own business here and have been working for several years now. It was very difficult at first. If you are alone and do not belong to a local family, things will be difficult here. But I was able to become one of my own - and now my business is thriving.”

Anna:

“My husband took me to Italy. I've been living here for 5 years and I never cease to admire it. This is a land of passion, good wine and amazing food. There’s not even a concept of “age” here - at 40, I feel like a young girl again.”

Yana:

“I will never return to Russia again - after Italy, no country will seem good enough. As a mother, I value the attitude towards motherhood. Here they are patient with all the inconveniences, they understand that the child is no longer born perfect. The state supports and helps us.”

The youth

“I have spoken with Italians more than once, and in friendly conversations they asked what I do. I talked about myself, about my plans.”

""And how old are you?" — “23-24″. This caused them a pleasant surprise, because in Italy you are a child until you are 30 years old. When you say in society that you are 25, they immediately start: “Oh, what a child, how small!” - “Piccolina!” They immediately treat you very condescendingly, as if you only matured at forty. Until the age of 35, they live only by entertainment, travel, the guys have no idea what they want to be.”

Advantages and disadvantages of a leisurely life