• Imoved to Italy for work, but about two years later, I learned my contract wouldn't be renewed.
• Without citizenship or savings, I had to leave the life I was starting to build behind.
• Now, I'm back in the US, working to get back to the place where I finally felt like myself.

I never really thought I'd live in Italy.

Sure, my dad was from there, but we weren't one of those families who had dual citizenship or spent summers on the Amalfi Coast. I didn't even speak Italian — but one opportunity changed everything.

Just over a month after my dad passed away, I'd been let go from my job and was cold-emailing brands I admired, when I landed a marketing role with an Italian beauty company.

The role offered the chance to relocate to Italy, and I thought, why not? What once felt like a distant dream suddenly became real, as if my dad was guiding me toward this new chapter in my life.

I slowly built a life in Italy, but just when I thought I had it all figured out, I lost it

I moved in July 2022 and spent my first few weeks in Pescara, Italy, (where the company's offices were based) getting to know my team and easing into the slower pace of life.

On hot afternoons, we'd sometimes log off early and head to the beach. It was a kind of freedom and balance I'd never experienced at work before. I didn't feel pressured to always be online, there weren't any expectations to work weekends, and my creativity felt fed by my real life.

At the end of the month, I relocated to Rome. With little to no in-office requirements, the city seemed like a great fit for me because of its public transportation system, international connections, and lively pace. Plus, if I needed to get to Pescara, I was only a two-hour bus ride away.

Living in Rome felt easy and natural, like I'd lived there in another life. I woke up early to grab treats from my local bar (what the Italians call cafés), made friends with my neighbors, and learned where the non-touristy spots were. I also got used to the nuances of daily life in the city, from public transportation strikes to a lack of strong air conditioning.

I visited my dad's family in Lombardy and Calabria, too. It was incredibly grounding to connect with relatives who spoke little English but welcomed me anyway. I felt closer to him than ever before, but it was hard not to be upset with the fact that he'd never taught me the language.

Although I'd made an effort to practice speaking with my family, took dozens of classes, and subscribed to Babbel, there were still plenty of moments when I struggled to keep up with the pace of conversations at work or sound competent at the post office.

It was intimidating, but over time, I pushed through the discomfort, asked questions when I was unsure, and slowly started to pick up more of the language. Day by day, I built a quiet resilience and confidence I hadn't expected.

Then, just when I thought I'd found my groove — I'd gotten my residency permit, was seemingly thriving at work, and wassettling into a new friend group — I learned my contract was not being renewed due to budget cuts, and I wasn't the only one affected.

Without a job, dual citizenship (my dad completely naturalized as a US citizen, preventing me from gaining automatic Italian citizenship), or a financial safety net, I couldn't stay.

So, I had to pack up the life I'd built and return to the US in January 2025.

For now, I'm back in the States and grieving the version of myself I'd found abroad

Now, I'm inNew York City, working full-time, and freelancing as I try to hold onto the version of myself I'd become in Italy — the person who understood that life doesn't always need to be rushed or optimized.

But it's not easy. Returning here has felt like starting over and trying to find my footing in a place where everyone seems to be running at a relentless pace.

So, I'm trying my best to make it back to Italy on my own terms. I'm working hard to secure my status as a dual citizen, but I'm not sure how long it will take.

Through it all, though, I'm proud of myself for reconnecting with my heritage and chasing this dream.

• Pope Leo XIV is on vacation at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
• The 135-acre estate owned by the Holy See features multiple properties and gardens.
• Leo XIV is staying in Villa Barberini, a 17th-century palace with expansive gardens.

Even popes need to take vacations.

Beginning with Pope Urban VIII in 1626, some popes have chosen to escape the oppressive summer heat of Rome by spending time at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

The lakeside residence includes multiple properties and gardens situated on a 135-acre estate.

In a statement released by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV said he would spend "a brief period of rest" at the estate in July.

"I wish everyone the opportunity to enjoy a time of vacation to refresh both body and spirit," he said.

Take a look inside the papal summer residence.

Pope Leo XIV is spending two weeks at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

Leo XIV arrived on July 6 and will stay at the residence until July 20. He will return for another brief stay in August, Vatican News reported.

Located 16 miles from Rome, the papal summer residence is situated in the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano.

The estate features gardens, an observatory, and a newly built tennis court in addition to several residential properties.

The Apostolic Palace is located in Castel Gandolfo's main square.

The palace was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman emperor's villa and became part of the Holy See in 1604.

Also known as the Papal Palace, it features ornate sitting rooms and residential areas for the pope.

The palace includes an art gallery on the first floor. Its second floor contains bedrooms, a library, a private chapel, and multiple sitting rooms.

The residence also houses papal artifacts like a set of theological encyclopedias owned by Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis opened the Apostolic Palace and gardens to the public, but rarely visited himself during his tenure.

While other popes became familiar faces to local residents during their summer visits, Francis only ever visited Castle Gandolfo three times in 2013 and never stayed overnight, The New York Times reported.

Instead of staying at the Papal Palace, Leo XIV is staying at Villa Barberini, another building on the property.

Villa Barberini was built by Scipione Visconti, an Italian noble, as a palace in the 17th century, according to the official website of the Apostolistic Palace and Gardens.

Taddeo Barberini, Pope Urban VIII's nephew, acquired the home in 1631 and expanded the building and its grounds. In more recent years, it served as the residence of the Vatican Secretary of State.

Villa Barberini is known for its expansive gardens.

The gardens include Borgo Laudato Si, a 55-hectare garden, farm, and ecological education area created by Pope Francis in 2023.

Even on his vacation, Leo XIV has continued leading mass on the grounds of the papal residence.

Leo XIV led the first Mass for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the residence, calling the setting "a kind of 'natural' cathedral" in his homily, Vatican News reported.

He also held a private audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We very much count on the Vatican and His Holiness to help provide a place for a high-level meeting of leaders to end this war," Zelenskyy told reporters of the Russia-Ukraine War on July 9.

• My grandmother always dreamed of going to Italy, but losing my grandfather put her plans on hold.
• My husband and I surprised her with a trip to Sicily for her 75th birthday.
• We found Sicily to be an accessible trip for an older relative, and can't wait to go back to Italy.

When she's not busy caring for everyone else, my grandmother loves to travel.

She's the one who really instilled a sense of wanderlust in our whole family. She's often embarking on a solo trip, or at least researching her next excursion across Europe.

For the longest time, her biggest dream was to visit Italy, and she spent years planning and saving up for a trip.

When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, her travel plans were put on hold and she devoted herself entirely to his care. The last few years were extremely taxing on her physically and emotionally, leaving my grandmother burned out and in a state of grief after my grandfather died in the spring of last year.

For her 75th birthday, my husband and I decided to surprise her with a trip to Italy to fulfill her lifelong dream. We ended up going to Sicily and left with unforgettable memories.

We chose Sicily for a few reasons, including accessibility

With so many beautiful cities in Italy, it was difficult to choose the best place to go.

My grandmother had previously mentioned towns like Portofino and Cinque Terre, so we knew we had to stay coastal. Plus, since her birthday is in May, we wanted to go as far south as we could to enjoy some warm weather and the sea breeze.

We landed on Sicily and chose a quaint seafront hotel in Giardini Naxos, located just north of Catania. It turned out to be the perfect location and time of year to visit, especially with my grandmother's age, comfort, and needs in mind.

With two international airports located in Catania and Palermo, as well as a convenient railway system and a comprehensive bus network running across the island, Sicily is very easy to get to — and just as easy to navigate.

There was a direct bus from the airport to the town, giving my grandmother a chance to soak in the views and snap photos along the way.

May was the perfect time to enjoy warm weather with fewer crowds

The weather was warm enough to take a dip in the pool at our hotel, but we didn't have to deal with the sweltering Sicilian sun of the mid-summer months.

Since it wasn't peak season, the town had a relaxing feel with fewer tourists and crowds than we might've seen at a different time. We never had to wait in long lines, either.

From Giardini Naxos, we took a 15-minute bus ride to the iconic hilltop town of Taormina. The bus, running every 20 minutes, dropped us off right at the foot of the old town, which my grandmother greatly appreciated.

Although we skipped a "White Lotus" selfie at the Four Seasons in Taormina, we did meander down the side streets, indulge in gelato, and take in the panoramic views of Mt. Etna at Villa Comunale, the public gardens of Taormina.

I felt like we had an authentic Italian experience, complete with excellent hospitality and great food

Sicily taught me that the stereotype about Italian hospitality exists for a reason. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with "Ciao ragazzi" and warm smiles, making us feel right at home.

We ate fresh seafood dishes like pasta alle vongole (pasta with clams). Although she didn't partake, my grandmother admired my husband's adventurous appetite when he tried ricci di mare (sea urchins), a Sicilian delicacy.

All over the island, we saw the striking ceramic heads of a man and woman (teste di moro), often in the form of vases. Deeply rooted in Sicilian folklore, the heads have various stories explaining their origins, mostly involving themes of love and betrayal.

To remember our trip, my grandmother and I bought small ceramic pine cones, another powerful symbol in Sicilian culture, representing prosperity and good luck.

Making my grandmother smile on her birthday was the greatest gift of all

Although it was her first birthday without my grandfather, it was a beautiful experience for all of us.

For my grandmother, it meant not feeling alone in her grief and fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit Italy. For me, it meant making memories with my grandmother and seeing her smile.

Losing someone we love reminded us that we have to make the most of every moment. I'll always cherish this memory with my grandmother and am so grateful I was there for her first trip to Italy, though it certainly won't be our last.

• I just finished my second graduate degree and moved in with my mother-in-law in Italy.
• While I job hunt, I want to save money and have some breathing room to figure out my next steps.
• I'm adjusting to a slower pace of life and learning it's OK to ask for help.

I'm a 30-year-old American woman who just finished my second graduate degree. Instead of chasing a high-paying job or moving to a big city, I moved in with my Italian mother-in-law in a small town called Pietravairano a month ago. I decided to live with her to save money, catch my breath, and get closer to my extended family. Right now, the plan is to stay until my student visa expires at the end of the fall while I'm job hunting for a remote position at an NGO.

Before this, my partner and I lived in Belgium for two years and traveled to many countries. He was homesick, and we both missed the sunshine. Besides looking for a job, we're taking this time to plan out our next steps, but we know we want to spend more time in Italy every year. He's here with me, and it makes me happy seeing him back with his family.

I'm adjusting to a completely differently lifestyle

His mom lives on a farm in a town of 3,000, with chickens, cats, and a rhythm that couldn't be further from my former life. I'm learning Italian, and she doesn't speak any English, but we're figuring it out over garden vegetables, long walks, and a lot of hand gestures. We bond over food, flowers, and family — and I'm hoping the next half-year will bring me not just a new job, but a better appreciation for a different pace of life.

I was raised to move out at 18 and be very independent, but in Italian culture, kids can live at home for as long as they'd like. Growing up, I thought it was shameful to move back in or ask for help from family. But over the past couple of years, I've come to see the real value of being near loved ones and sharing the small moments with them.

Here, I'm slowly learning it's OK to be taken care of, and I love finding my new role in this household. I'm trading my hyper-independence for home-cooked meals, the anonymity of a big city for knowing my neighbors, and hours in front of a screen for slow walks along a dirt road.

Now feels like a good time in my life to make an intentional move to be physically and emotionally closer to my partner's family and explore a slower rhythm of life. This arrangement also gives me flexibility. I can take a job I'm passionate about, as opposed to just chasing a high salary — something else I've been rethinking lately.

Besides job hunting, I plan to spend my days learning from her. She has a wealth of knowledge about food and plants. It's currently zucchini season, and we just hung some to dry in the sun. I'll bake her a zucchini bread in return.

Next month, we'll harvest potatoes — she makes them perfectly grilled with olive oil and rosemary — and soon, we'll make sun-dried tomatoes and other preserved foods. In the fall, we'll harvest grapes to make wine. She loves baking cakes, and I'm hoping she'll share her recipes with me this summer. As a newly retired teacher, she has the patience to help me learn Italian, and I'm happy to say we can now have short conversations.

Living with my mother-in-law is changing my perspective

This living arrangement isn't just a temporary stopgap — it's slowly reshaping how I think about adulthood and what I want. Sharing a home with someone from another generation and culture has challenged ideas I once held tightly: that independence meant distance, or that success had to come fast and loud.

There's vulnerability in being a guest in someone else's world while you figure out your next steps. But there's also quiet resilience in building family in unexpected places, in learning to slow down, listen, and let your life unfold on its own terms.

There's something uniquely humbling about returning to a household where you're not the one in charge — where dinner is at 8 p.m., the chores are done a certain way, and the rhythms of daily life were set long before you arrived.

This isn't how I imagined postgrad success would look, but waking up surrounded by family and going to bed with a belly full of pasta makes me feel like I won the lottery. Even if I do find a job soon, I might not want to leave this life just yet. I'm learning to live like the tomatoes we're drying in the sun: slowly, intentionally, and full of flavor.

• I've visited Italy's Amalfi Coast 3 times. It's beautiful, but I don't like the crowds and prices
• I prefer other Italian destinations like Cefalù, a small city in Sicily with great food and beaches.
• Sicily's Aeolian Islands and Matera, Basilicata, are also worth visiting.

Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the country's most popular destinations, but after visiting three times, I think I'll skip it on my next trip.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its striking cliffside landscapes and seaside villages, but the famous region has several downsides. It gets crowded, local traffic can be horrendous, and prices are far from cheap.

I'm always looking for alternatives to popular tourist attractions, and after traveling extensively throughout southern Italy, I found a few places I liked better than the Amalfi Coast.

Next time I head to Southern Italy, I'd go to these three destinations instead.

Cefalù, Sicily

Of all of Italy's 20 regions, Sicily is my favorite.

On my first visit nearly a decade ago, the region's volcanic landscapes, unbeatable street-food scene, and welcoming locals won me over.

I've since been back three more times, and I can never seem to get enough. You can't go wrong with a trip anywhere on the island, whether visiting dynamic Palermo or the ever-so-popular Taormina.

Yet Cefalù, a small city on Sicily's northern coast, is my top pick.

The city's historic center is undeniably charming. Narrow pedestrian streets lead to Cefalù's centuries-old cathedral that's towered over by a massive cliff.

Cefalù's long, sandy beach and adjacent boardwalk made for an ideal summer getaway. Trying local cuisine is a must, too, from savory arancini rice balls to decadent granita — my Sicilian dessert of choice.

Plus, compared to navigating the often chaotic traffic along the Amalfi Coast, getting to and from Cefalù is a breeze. The city lies directly on a train line, and it only takes an hour to reach Cefalù from Palermo.

Aeolian Islands, Sicily

If you're near Sicily, I also suggest visiting Aeolian Islands, a volcanic island chain located off the region's northern coast.

The Aeolian Islands consist of seven main islands, which are home to about 15,000 people. They offer a coastal getaway with far fewer crowds than the Amalfi Coast.

Each island is unique. Some, like Vulcano, offer visitors the chance to bathe in volcanic mud baths. Others, like Panarea, feature eye-catching white buildings with vibrant blue doors.

My personal favorite is Stromboli, where you can watch a volcano erupt while sailing into or away from the island.

I'd say the best way to experience the area is with a boat tour. You can find day trips to the Aeolian Islands from the city of Milazzo in northern Sicily.

Matera, Basilicata

My last alternative to the Amalfi Coast is not on the coast at all, but in the rural southern region of Basilicata, located in the "arch" of Italy's "boot."

Nestled in the stunning Gravina Canyon is the ancient city of Matera. It's considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Matera certainly receives its fair share of tourists, but far fewer than cities like Sorrento and Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Visiting Matera is like stepping into another era. Early inhabitants carved dwellings and churches into the canyon's limestone cliffs — I've never seen anything else like it in all of Italy.

The medieval historic center offers spectacular views, romantic restaurants built into caves, and bustling piazzas. Plus, getting to the city can be an adventure within itself.

It's not on a high-speed rail line, and the closest airport is about 40 miles away in Bari, the capital of the nearby region of Puglia. Many travelers take a local train from Bari to Matera, which takes about 90 minutes.

Visiting Matera was the highlight of my most recent trip to Italy, and I can't wait to go back.

Cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost as pope, making him the first American to hold the title. The 267th pope will be known as Pope Leo XIV.