In this article, we will consider 10 good reasons for an American Citizen to move to Italy, in the Veneto region.
Veneto is the region around Venice and it's a land full of a mix of wonderful landscapes, culture, history, wine and food specialties, as well as business opportunities and a good education system.
Let's start.
Prosecco is a DOC sparkling white wine produced in the hilly wineyards between the cities of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the Province of Treviso.
Amarone is a DOCG typical red dry wine produced in the hilly wineyards of Valpolicella, a zone north of Verona.
Asiago Cheese
Veneto is the region around Venice and it's a land full of a mix of wonderful landscapes, culture, history, wine and food specialties, as well as business opportunities and a good education system.
Let's start.
The Basilica Palladiana and Piazza dei Signori, in Vicenza
1. A LAND FULL OF HISTORY AND CULTURE WITH BEAUTIFUL CITIES: VENICE, PADOVA, VICENZA, VERONA AND TREVISO.
The capital of Veneto is Venice, the marvellous city on the "Canal Grande".
The other important cities are Padova, Vicenza, Verona, Treviso, Belluno and Rovigo, and all of them are small wonderful cities.
Here some of the best things to see and visit.
Veneto map.
VENICE
Venice: the Queen of Veneto Cities.
Venice: Murano Island, famous for glass artisans.
Must-see in Venice:
Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco
La Giudecca
Chiesa dei Frari
Ponte di Rialto
Palazzo Ducale
Ponte dei Sospiri
Canal Grande
Murano, Burano and Torcello
PADOVA
Padova, Prato della Valle.
Must-see in Padova:
Prato della Valle
Basilica di Sant'Antonio da Padova
Cappella degli Scrovegni
Palazzo della Ragione
VICENZA
Vicenza, Basilica Palladiana.
Must-see in Vicenza:
Teatro Olimpico
Piazza dei Signori
Basilica Palladiana
Torrione di Porta Castello
Villa Palladiana La Rotonda
VERONA
Verona, the famous Arena.
Must-see in Verona:
Arena
Piazza Bra
Balcone di Giuletta e Romeo
Castelvecchio
TREVISO
Treviso, Sile River.
Must-see in Treviso:
Piazza dei Signori
Chiesa di San Nicolò
Villa Emo
2. WINES AND FOOD.
Veneto is a land full of traditions: let's take a look at the best Veneto wines.
Prosecco.
Prosecco is a DOC sparkling white wine produced in the hilly wineyards between the cities of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the Province of Treviso.
It's a world-wide famous wine, being exported all over the world.
It's famous also in its Cartizze variation.
Amarone della Valpolicella.
It's famous also in his variation called Ripasso.
Recioto di Gambellara
Recioto is a DOCG sparkling and classic white wine produced in the hilly wineyards of Gambellara, a small village a few miles west of Vicenza.
Food
Cooking traditions are also very important in Veneto: these are the most well known Foods:
Tiramisù
Tiramisù is one of the most famous Italian desserts: it all started in Treviso.
Baccalà alla Vicentina
It's a fish dish that has its origins in Vicenza.
Tortellini di Valeggio
Typical first dish from Valeggio sul Mincio (VR).
Sarde in Saor
Another traditional fish dish from Venice.
Bigoli con l'arna
Homemade pasta with duck ragù: a great classic food.
Lesso con la Pearà
Typical dish from the Verona zone
Polenta e soppressa
Another dish very popular in Veneto: an absolute must is the soppressa from the small village Valli del Pasubio (VI).
Risotto al radicchio rosso di Treviso
The classic risotto from Treviso.
One of the most important cheeses in Italy has its origins in the mountain plateau north of Vicenza, the Altipiano di Asiago.
3. SMALL CITIES AND MEDIEVAL BORGHI: GREAT REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES.
The most important cities in Veneto are Venezia, Padova, Verona, Vicenza, Treviso, Belluno and Rovigo and they are all beautiful with their historical center of the city.
But there is a number of other smaller cities and villages that are wonderful and where it is possible to find very interesting and unique real estate opportunities. It's possible to rent, to buy and also to buy old houses and make some building renovations, that allow also very important tax breaks (50% of the amount invested).
These places are excellent to find a house where to live: they are very quiet and safe and the lifestyle and quality of life there is of the highest level.
Note:
(VI): means that the city is in the Province of Vicenza; (VR) Verona; (PD) Padova; (TV) Treviso; (VE) Venezia; (BL) Belluno; (RO) Rovigo.
Bassano del Grappa (VI)
Bassano del Grappa, il Ponte degli Alpini
Marostica (VI)
Marostica: Live Chess Game in Piazza degli Scacchi
Asolo (TV)
Asolo and La Rocca
Castelfranco Veneto (TV)
Castelfranco Veneto: Il Castello
Cittadella (PD)
Cittadella: the Medieval Walls
Montagnana (PD)
Montagnana: Porta degli Alberi
Este (PD)
Este, il Castello
Valeggio sul Mincio (VR)
If you are looking at some villages in the mountain region of Veneto, there is Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Pearl of the Dolomites:
Cortina d'Ampezzo (BL): a village inside the Dolomites
Another very characteristic mountain place is the Altipiano di Asiago, that is a pretty large Plateau at 1,000 m. altitude one hour away from Vicenza.
The Altipiano di Asiago (VI)
This plateau was one of the main battlefields during World War I, between Italian and the UK troops on one side, against the Austro-Hungaric troops on the other side: it is possible to visit places where you can still see trenches, artillery positions, bomb craters and other evident signs of the Great war, like the British cemeteries and the WWI forts.
Asiago: Forte Campolongo - World War I
4. THE LANDSCAPE: FROM LAGUNA DI VENEZIA TO THE DOLOMITES, THROUGH THE HILLS AND VENETO VILLAS.
One of the best characteristics of Veneto is that there is a unique variety of landscapes that lead from the beaches to the Dolomites, from the hills to the Veneto villas.
In one hour and a half at the most, it's possible to reach the mountains, the beachs, a lake, the Laguna di Venezia or a beautiful historical place to visit.
Laguna di Venezia, next to the Adriatic sea
Colli Euganei, the hills next to Padova
Valdobbiadene hills, north of Treviso: the land of Prosecco wine
Auronzo (BL): Misurina Lake
Garda Lake (VR), the biggest lake in Italy
The Dolomites: Tre Cime di Lavaredo - Auronzo (BL)
Villa Palladiana Barbaro a Maser (TV)
Villa Pisani a Stra (VE)
Villa Capra - La Rotonda, Vicenza
5. THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Veneto's Healthcare System is one of the best healthcare systems in Italy.
Once an American Citizen becomes a permanent resident in Veneto, she/he is inside the "protection" of the Italian healthcare system.
It's important to understand that the health system works with a two-fold system: national system and private system.
The national health system is completely free for every person that is a resident in Italy: this means that people here never worry about being able to pay for health costs if they have any major health issues, as it's completely at the cost of the State.
This is very important for American Citizens that want to move to Italy as they do not have to necessarily have a private insurance to cover their health expenses.
It's is sufficient to move here and acquire the residence-status, to pay Italian taxes (also on the American-sourced incomes: see previous point 1 for a precise evaluation of this aspect) and there is the gratuity of the healthcare system.
You can also decide to apply for the private systems, generally for minor health issues (for example if you need to go to a dentist or to make a specific medical visit): in that case you have to pay the fee to the doctor.
6. A BUSINESS DISTRICT
Veneto is an extremely business oriented land, where a lot of small entrerprises work, produce and export all over the world.
Veneto, together with Lombardia (the region around Milano) and Emilia Romagna (the region around Bologna) produce more than 40% of the Italian Gross Domestic Product.
The unemployment rate is at 5-6% in Veneto: it's quite easy to find a job, in particular for highly qualified workers.
There are also interesting Tax Breaks for people who move to Italy:
Regime Rientro dei Cervelli: it allows to reduce taxation by 90% for 5 years if you work for an Italian University or for a Research Entity.
Regime Impatriati: it allows to reduce taxation by 70% for 5 years if you work for an Italian company, as employee or with self-employment, plus another five years if the person buys a house in Italy.
An American Citizen can find a job in Veneto working for American companies in smart working, as an employee or with self-employment. In the latter case, an American Citizen can continue paying the self-employment tax without being obliged to pay Italian Social Security: this means that moving to Italy would not jeopardise his/her Social Security Plan. It's sufficient to make a specific election of Coverage on Social Security.
American Citizens that are familiar with Italian language can also work for the many thousands of small companies in this Region that are eager to sell and to expand in the American market.
These small companies are most of the time family-driven, but they are pretty efficient and extremely dynamic in catching opportunities and adapting to situations.
7. AIRPORTS, TRANSPORTATION AND MAIN CONNECTIONS
Airports
In Veneto there are two main Airports:
Trains
All main cities are connected by train with a very efficient and fast railway systems.
From Padova, that is in the center of the Regione Veneto, it is possible to reach:
Milan in 2 hours;
Bologna in 1 hour;
Florence in 1hour and 45 minutes;
Rome in 3 hours and 30 minutes;
Vicenza in 20 minutes;
Venice in 30 minutes;
Treviso in 1 hour;
Verona in 1 hour.
Car
By car, the main roads are:
The Milano - Venezia - Trieste highway (A4), that crosses Veneto from east to west.
The Venezia - Treviso - Belluno highway (A27) that crosses Veneto from south to north.
8. UNIVERSITIES AND EDUCATION IN VENETO
There are three main universities in Veneto: Padova, Venezia and Verona.
The University of Padova is one of the oldest universities in the world, having been founded in year 1222:
Venice Ca' Foscari is one of the most renowned universities in Italy:
Verona University is a very young University, having being founded in 1982:
All three universities are State University: their characteristic, compared to the American uiniversities, is that the tuitions are extremely low and accessible to everyone.
9. SPORT AND LEISURE TIME: FROM BEACHES TO SKI RESORTS
In Veneto the American Citizen can have a lot of fun with beaches, ski resorts, lakes, surf places and a lot of other places where to spend time and relax.
In Veneto you can...
...go to the beach in Caorle (VE) next to the old Church,
...ski in Cortina d'Ampezzo (BL), one of the best ski resort in the world,
...kitesurfe on Lago di Garda (VR),
...climb Monte Grappa (TV) with your bike,
...or run the Venice Marathon and pass through beautiful Piazza San Marco!
10. OUR CONSULTING FIRM CAN GIVE THE AMERICAN CITIZEN THOROUGH PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.
If American Citizens move to Italy, they have to be able to find excellent professional assistance in all aspects of the relocating process, in order to avoid difficulties.
Relocating is not an easy task: it's complicated and challenging as it has to do with another country and with another culture and lifestyle.
Our consulting firm has extensive experience in helping American people relocating to Italy: we are specialized in the fiscal and administrative aspects of the relocation process and we can also provide a network of selected professionals (lawyers, notary publics and real estate agents) that can help the American Citizen to face the challenges of moving to another country.
The process begins with a free call that we suggest should be made some months before the relocation, in order to evaluate all the cricital aspects of the move, focusing in particular on the bureaucracy, fiscal and financial aspects of the problem.
In this first approach we highlight the main challenges that can arise in moving to Italy and we can help American Citizens understand what would be the impact on their taxes once they acquire Italian fiscal residence.
This is important for the income that the American Citizen will receive from American and Italian sources, meaning jobs, pensions, dividends, interests, capital gain or distributions from pension funds (IRA, ROTH IRA, 401(k)) and from US Trusts.
In terms of steps, these are the usual passages we suggest:
- First call and general evaluation of the "Moving to Italy plan";
- Simulation of the economic and fiscal impact of the Italian fiscal residence;
- When to acquire the fiscal residence in Italy: differences between moving in the first semester and second semester of the year;
- Moving with spouse and children or not: what are the consequences;
- How to get the Italian Fiscal Code (Codice Fiscale Italiano);
- Visa and citizenship: we have lawyers working for us that are specialized in visa and Italian citizenship.
- Mantaining financial investments or retirement funds in the US: how to do it and how to optimize it; setting up a US Non-Grantor Trust as a possible solution.
Our Consulting firm is based in the historical center of Vicenza, one hour by train from Venice, 20 minutes by train from Padova, 30 minutes by train from Verona and 50 minuti by train from Treviso.
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CONTATTATECI PER MAGGIORI INFORMAZIONI
Per ogni approfondimento e richiesta di ulteriori informazioni, potete mandare una mail a:
enrico.povolo@dottcomm.net
oppure telefonare al numero:
+39 0444 322987
Enrico Povolo