Moreover, if you’re moving to a larger city, you may find some of the conveniences you’re used to, but in rural Calabria it’s hard to really think of anything I’d call “convenient.” Most everything closes for a few hours in the middle of the day and on Sundays, public transportation is sparse, and basically everyone wants you to show up in person for everything.I don’t have statistics, but just from my experiences and from reading the newspaper, Calabria is just like anywhere else regarding crime where one should take all the usual precautions. There is an Italian class in Scalea for non Italian speakers. I guess I am just trying to get a feel for everyday life, I have sent an email to Vaccarizzo so I will wait to see if anything comes of that. Parked nearby is an ape, the little three wheeled truck that is ubiquitous in Italy. Despite globalisation. As with any place, though, there are gives and takes, pluses and minuses, and this is just meant to offer up some of the realities of actually making a move here.One of the potential visas is for work reasons, and I won’t sugarcoat the fact that unemployment is ridiculously high in Calabria. And Merry Christmas to all of you! This affects many aspects of life here like the poor infrastructure, difficulty of starting some kinds of businesses, and such, but what it does not equate to is a higher level of violence or violent crime — especially as it involves the average (unaffiliated) citizen. The scenery is breathtaking, the people are generous, and the cost of living is a lot lower than most of Italy, especially if you’re comparing it with cities like Rome or Florence.Don’t get me wrong, it’s still great to be able to get to Rome in a matter of hours, but unless you have a pretty healthy bank account, flitting around isn’t as easy as you might imagine.For one, Calabria is not very well connected through the train system. Add-ons and Options. Then it all goes before the notaio who goes over everything line by line to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It has a brand new kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a huge wrap around terrace with sweeping views of the sea as well as a private parking space and a huge patio that comes with it. "Bravo" from your fellow Italy expat!Hello dear all, this is Suzie, the contributor of this entry, so this comment will not count, but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the organisers to have inspired and motivated so many expat writers to write some interesting posts on their adopted homes which are entertaining and might come in handy for readers. Calabria is a region of southern Italy and forms the ‘toe’ of Italy’s ‘boot’. Iâve always thoughts that the small towns, off the beaten path are the best in Italy because you really get to know the people. People often think Calabria is tropical in climate, and it’s just not. And sometimes the prices are put up higher for Americans. Once we retire, my husband and I plan on coming to Italy for under 6 months and then traveling to other destinations and back to the US for the remainder of the year. Stunning beaches, ancient towns; it is all here. Unless you’ve chosen a larger city where people are more anonymous, you will surely find at least a few potential new neighbors willing to help you figure some things out.Such a helpful blog post, Michelle! I loved it and it was listed at 69K Euros and was negotiable.With regard to property purchases, we are very close to Santa Nicola Arcella and the surrounding area (Maratea, Diamante, Scalea, Tortora, Belvedere Marittimo and of course, our village of Santa Domenica Talao).That is only one of several properties we saw but it was my favorite. Scalea also has ex pats and we have friends in some of the other villages and resort towns.Our architect (who also happens to be the town historian) has advised me that he would be glad to show properties to anyone who is considering purchasing a home in the village and wants to see them.I love the idea of being able to walk to the village square to buy early fresh, seasonal fruit and drink coffee while people watching. Good to see how you're getting on with a renovation project here too in the blog. I am looking for my Italian home for when I retire in a few years and I don’t know much about Calabria. Yes, Calabria has ‘Ndrangheta, and yes, it is rampant in business and governmental dealings especially in some areas. I moved from the UK to France 2 years ago but I am really not happy here and have been struggling to get established. But between Americans, English, Danes, Swedes, Germans, and others who speak English, we have truly invaded the toe of the boot — not just in my area (in the province of Catanzaro on the Ionian Sea), but all over Calabria.I know some of the things discussed above may come across as negative, but I hope not overly so; as you know if you’ve read my site at all, I do love living here. This gallery of photos, taken by a Roman, proves it.During my online search, in Dec 2013, I happened across a listing for a property that hit my heart like a thud. Most of the town has sea and mountain views.Planning a trip to Italy? There was a time, I think, some locals didn't get it. Hope to see you on my blog in 2014!Some drove along the coast and checked village by village to find an affordable place by the sea. And when they arrived in Pizzo, they saw the beauty - although sometimes it is more a sleeping beauty - but you can see the potential.