Our move to Italy wasn’t something we did on a whim. People love hearing about the dream of Italy—the sunsets, the slow mornings with cappuccinos, and the cobblestones that wind through old towns.
But what people really want is the real part. The messy middle. The behind-the-scenes version that never makes it into Instagram photos. The questions everyone wonders about but doesn’t always ask. And honestly? We get it. Uprooting your life and stepping into another country sounds romantic… but it’s also paperwork, packing, purging, worrying, laughing, and hoping you’re making the right choice. It’s saying goodbye to the familiar and walking straight into the unknown with equal parts courage and curiosity.
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So finally here it is—our move to Italy in all its honest, unglamorous, funny, and very human detail. The small choices. The big emotions. The things we learned the hard way and the things that surprised us. This is what it actually looked like for two people who decided to let go, trust the timing, and begin again in Lucca… one very determined step at a time.
This post was created at the suggestion of a good friend, Deacon Tom, who thought these questions (plus a few more we added) would make a great blog post. So if you, too, are interested in our answers, you can thank Tom!
Did We Sell Our U.S. Home?
Yes, we sold it.
Letting go of our house was a mixed bag of emotions. We didn’t want to maintain a property from another continent, so selling was the right move—but closing that door was more difficult than expected.
That part of our move to Italy hit us more than we thought it would. At that point, we were still in the process of obtaining Italian citizenship. Nothing was set in stone yet.
What Did We Do With All Our Stuff?
We purged. Deeply. We donated, sold, gifted, and questioned why we owned certain things in the first place. Letting go of all that “stuff” was one of the best parts of the entire move. It’s amazing how liberating it truly was. I even have a post on it- you can read here.
Pro tip: Start early. Then start again. You’ll be grateful later!
Did We Stay Somewhere Temporarily?
Yes.
That transition period—living between “here” and “there”—wasn’t glamorous, but it helped us mentally shift into the reality of moving abroad. While still in Arizona, we were fortunate to rent one of Gary’s coworkers’ apartments when he wasn’t in town. That was wonderful—and he was generous and kind. We also stayed with family from time to time. We also took this opportunity to visit Italy twice for 90 days each time during the waiting period of uncertainty. It was the runway before takeoff.
What Did We Pack for Our Move to Italy?
We kept it simple.
Clothes, personal necessities, prescriptions, a few sentimental items, and basics we knew we’d want right away.
No container.
No shipping crates.
Just suitcases we could manage.
What we’re glad we packed:
- Good walking shoes
- A few favorite kitchen tools
What we regret:
- Those “just in case” items that never saw the light of day. Italy has shops. Plenty of them.
How Did We Transport Everything?
We used a British company, Send My Bag. It’s an international shipping and relocation platform. They are wonderful to work with, and you don’t send just luggage – it’s boxes too. It was less expensive than the others we looked into. We’ve spread the word, and many friends have used them successfully, too.
Landing in Italy + Getting to Lucca
It was a different time then – it was during COVID. As new Italian citizens, we were allowed to go to Italy – it was just a matter of finding a flight. There were about seventeen people on our flight, and Rome’s Fiumicino airport, “Leonardo da Vinci,” was deserted. It was very eerie.
Our Original Apartment in Lucca
Our first apartment was in a great piazza by the Duomo. Originally, we were only staying six months or so. We hadn’t quite determined where our Italian home would be. It was after one month when we both decided Lucca would be our residence.
How We Furnished Our Apartment in Italy
Once we decided to stay in Lucca, we looked for a long-term rental apartment. It’s here that we’ve stayed for almost five years. It was semi-furnished, so we added to it – basically through IKEA. But now, the place truly feels like ours.
Other Questions We Always Get About Our Move to Italy
- How do/did you handle mail? We still maintain an address in the States with family.
- Why didn’t you rent a two-bedroom apartment? 99% of the time, it’s just the two of us. When family comes, we rent a nearby Airbnb. For us, there really isn’t a reason to pay higher rent for a larger apartment we really don’t need.
- When did it start to feel like home? Pretty quickly. Lucca welcomed us with open arms.
- Do you like living in the historical center? Yes. Café culture is very appealing and something we never experienced living in the States.
- How is the healthcare system? For us, we do better here in Italy than we did in the States. We have had no issues to date.
- Are you still happy with your decision? The quick answer is yes – with no reservations.
Final Thoughts
If you’re dreaming about making a move like this yourself, know that it is possible. It takes planning, patience, and a willingness to leap—one suitcase at a time. There are also lots of restrictions that don’t make this possible for everyone. We know that.
We stumbled through plenty of it and are happy to share what we learned. If you have questions, send them. Truly—ask away. If you’re planning your own move, we’re cheering for you.
And if you want the longer, deeper version of our move to Italy, you’ll find it in our first book, Our Italian Journey. There is also an audio version of this book, narrated by us… former New Yorkers.
Our books are also available directly from our bookstore
Lovely to hear your ‘behind the scenes moving to Lucca’. A good topic for others with the same dream.
Ahhh, thanks, Sally-Ann. We always try and do a post when a subscriber asks. Thanks for commenting!