Our decision to move abroad was a big one. Not only did we decide to move abroad, we sold our home in Los Angeles and purchased our forever home in Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood. So, we are all in!

Why Florence?

Although we wanted a city that was beautiful, safe and where there was plenty to do, we have found Florence has all of those things and more.

In this blog post, I share with you our top 5 reasons why we chose Florence.

“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings.” ― Meister Eckhart

 

You can get around easily by foot, bike or public transport

This was especially important for us moving from Los Angeles, where it was very challenging to go without a car (you could, but it would make your days and commutes that much longer). Having the option to bike or to walk around the city is the lifestyle my husband and I were craving after so many years in the City of Angels.

You can walk from one side of town to another in about 30 minutes if you want to take in some sites along the way — but thankfully there are also buses, trams and trains available in Florence if walking isn’t your thing.

Biking or walking is also great for our overall health. It is refreshing to see people of all ages walking and biking around town.

There are lots of cultural activities to attend

Florence is often called the birthplace of the Renaissance. With that, there is no shortage of museums and historical buildings to explore.

Around the city center, you can find art galleries, theaters and cinemas where you can watch Italian movies or go see a show. There are also many museums and exhibits that are free or very affordable. The first Sunday of the month is free entry for state museums, cultural sites and archaeological parks. Fantastic, right?!

I have often thought back to my university Art History courses. I never imagined I would one day call Florence home. Keep dreaming because you never know what the future holds.

It is easy to get around town even if you do not speak Italian well

We do not speak Italian fluently, but it hasn’t stopped us from enjoying all there is to see and do in Florence.

Please do not misunderstand my mention of not speaking Italian fluently. It is our intention to fully grasp the Italian language, but moving to a city where language is not an impossible obstacle has made transitioning that much easier.

We have been able to navigate around town with no issues and have found some Italians do not mind practicing their English speaking skills. For example, we rented an Airbnb when we visited Florence back in 2019 and have kept in touch with our former host family. We are now in constant contact with them, and they love to speak English while helping us with our Italian.

Florence is located in the heart of the Tuscany region

Florence is close to other major cities like Venice and Rome via train, which makes traveling throughout Italy easy and affordable if you have friends or family who live elsewhere in the country.