Venice | Floating Lifestyle & Beyond
From Ancient Rome to The Renaissance, the boot at the bottom of Europe has had a vast influence on European art, culture and politics that continues to be felt. Offering residents an attractive lifestyle with an emphasis on family, scenic beauty and world-famous food and wine, people moving to Venice, Italy will be seduced by the country and its passion for la dolce vita, the sweet life.
People here are fiercely proud of their country and show strong regional alliances. Italy is also a nation with deep Roman Catholic roots that are entrenched in everyday culture and customs. This is most obvious in the central role that the traditional family has in an Italian society.
That said, people’s lives in Italy and thence Venice, can vary markedly depending on the location of their assignment. Regardless of the regional differences in the entirety of country, one thing new arrivals are sure to find is that just about every occasion here is a reason to celebrate with good food, wine and family & friends.
The focus on family also extends into business in Italy. A large proportion of businesses here are family-owned, from major corporations to the smaller enterprises that make up much of the local economy. Businesses with other forms of ownership still often follow a strict system of hierarchy where age & seniority are respected. The main industries of the country are tourism, fashion, agriculture and manufacturing. Venice, thus, too thrives on tourism. Many expats working in here take up jobs in tourism, many are employed in finance and media industries.
In a place famous for its fashion, appearances are majorly emphasized on. Here, the way a person dresses and acts indicate their social status, family background and level of education. This emphasis on la bella figura– presenting a beautiful image- extends to a person’s confidence and body language, and means that first impressions are important.
Although the place provides for a high quality of life, it also requires an equally high cost of living. Fortunately, expats can save up on medical costs as public healthcare system is both excellent and highly affordable. The public education system is good too, but as the language of instruction is Italian, some expats choose to send their children to international schools instead, which charge expensive tuition.
The country of Italy is a home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites and thus Venice has some in its kitty too. People can explore this culturally rich place in their spare time. There is a well- established public transport network, so getting around is fairly straightforward, although things may not run as smoothly as in other European countries. Those who have the desire to explore the rest of the continent will find that Venice and the country is well connected to many of its neighboring countries via excellent train links as well via well-priced flights.
With so much on offer, from innovative and creative industries to the majesty of its monuments, the impression Venice leaves on people is often one that lasts a lifetime.
