Whether landing a gorgeous villa in Tuscany or a sunny bungalow in Positano, retiring in Italy has its advantages. Those benefits include a warm climate, robust culture, rich history, and a reasonably straightforward path to citizenship. All those benefits help make “Viva Italia” a tempting calling card for US retirees.

“During my sabbatical in Tuscany, I got to experience the unique Italian way of life firsthand — early morning espressos at local cafes, farm-fresh produce shopping at the local market, and lazy afternoons wandering through quaint piazzas,” said Paul Stewart, founder of MyBaggage, a luggage shipping company in Belfast, UK. “In villages like Montepulciano, locals welcomed me with open arms as soon as they saw my efforts at communicating in the language, something that tourist experiences could never provide.”