Milan - a Hidden Gem for Digital Nomads Italy
Swapoffi
25 Oct
This post was written as part of a collaboration between Swapoffi and the Facebook group Digital Nomads Italy. Learn more about collaborating with Swapoffi.
We were thrilled to chat with Francesco Zucchetta from Digital Nomads Italy on our latest live chat. If you too fancy working from Italy, read on, or listen to my 45 minute chat with Francesco here.
Francesco, you have travelled a lot and lived in many places. Before we talk about Digital Nomads Italy, can you tell us about your background?
Sure! Between 18 – 27 years of age, I lived in 8 different cities, including Dublin, London, Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Milan, and Dubai. Back then, I didn't know that it was possible to work in the digital industry as a nomad, so there were student jobs during university to start with, and then a professional career. I moved to Milan to work for one of the top strategy consulting firms and then for the biggest iOS apps publisher in Europe.
I love all the possibilities that technology offers so I am launching my own project now, so I am a tech entrepreneur too. Although I am not from Milan, I have been living here now for 8 years.
How did you discover home swapping?
With Riccardo and other friends, we created Digital Nomads Italy as a giving-back, side project. We want to promote Italy for DNs and to foster an environment around this movement.
I always loved to travel, not just as a tourist but to discover the culture of each place I visited. Now it’s so easy to work and travel, as you can bring your work with you.
What is the main purpose of Digital Nomads Italy?
We want to be the place to help DNs who are interested in coming to Italy. It’s a resource for our community to ask any questions to others in our community, to find information or to organise events.
My friends and I that created Digital Nomads Italy have some experience of travelling abroad, including destinations such as Thailand, Bali, Portugal and Mexico. These are already well known for DNs, but we knew that Italy has a lot to offer too, even if it is not so well known for DNs.
Years ago, it might have been challenging for DNs to come here, for infrastructural reasons such as the internet, transportation and language. We think those barriers don’t exist anymore and so want to promote Italy as one of the best destinations for digital nomads, as it is!
Our idea was to create this group where DNs could come and learn more about Italy. There are lots of resources for being a DN in other places but not in Italy. Now we have almost 8K members, grown organically. People are happy to find new like-minded people here and to discover inspirational stories etc.
Italy also has lots of smaller DN communities in varied locations, including Rome, Milan of course, and Palermo in Sicily. We want to connect these communities, to link any DN groups in Italy and to help people move around.
My friends and I who created Digital Nomads Italy have our jobs and our businesses too, but we want to help people who want to come to Italy for a while.
How do you manage your time Francesco, with your job, your start up and Digital Nomads Italy?
It’s fascinating to see how the community helps itself. Other people answer questions, it’s not always us. The vibe in the community is about helping people because it’s the right thing to do. This is the same mentality we have in Italy; we try to help.
How does living in Italy compare to other countries that you lived in?
I came back to Italy for work and didn’t expect to stay so long! There are pros and cons everywhere but for me the quality of life in Italy is excellent. Beautiful locations, people, food, I think the basics are there.
I get frustrated with bureaucracy and politics here, but the quality of life is hard to find in other places. Things don’t always work but people are always ready to help you. In other countries, things might work better but maybe the people are not so interested to help you out, when you need it.
Why do you describe Milan as a hidden gem for digital nomads?
There are 3 reasons I recommend Milan as a great place to live for entrepreneurs and nomads:
- The vibe of the city is very positive. It’s a dynamic place where things happen. I find it very stimulating. There is also an international community here and lots of entrepreneurs.
- Milan is close to a lot of beautiful places. An Italian comedian joked “We love Milan for what you do outside of Milan”, and that is true! In 90 minutes by car, you can visit beautiful lakes or go skiing or visit one of our well know wine areas for Barolo wine or Prosecco. In two hours, you can be in Tuscany. I don’t know any other place with such a variety of great things within reach of a city!
- There are 3 airports in Milan so it’s really easy to travel in and out to access other places.
In other big cities, you can only dream about the mix of city life and outdoor activities that Milan has to offer. For me, I like nature, the outdoors and to be outside, it’s a great place to stay. So, there are the pros of a big city for when I am working, plus easy access to outdoor activities and opportunities. For DN, it could be a very nice place.
What are the main questions asked by members of Digital Nomads Italy?
Most questions are related to destinations: Where can I go and why?
Next, the topic of visas is very popular, from people outside of the EU. Visas are still a problem for non-EU citizens coming to Italy, but I hope that situation will be sorted soon. DN visas have been approved politically but not implemented yet. DNs are good at, and forced to, finding other solutions to come and work legally in Italy anyway.
It’s also funny to see other questions, more to do with day-to-day life here, like how can I find a good hairdresser in Milan? or how can I take a ferry from X to Y. Being a DN isn’t just a new way to work but to live, so you need a hairdresser!
I hope in the future these questions won’t be needed, as it should get easier to find this information, particularly around how to find and how to apply for a visa.
I want to work from Italy for 2-3 months next year. Where should I go?
Big question! I need to know more about what you are looking for so I can answer. Italy is a big country with everything from city life to remote areas, beaches and mountains etc. It really depends on what you like.
DNs might avoid the tourist cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice. Consider less crowded areas or medium sized cities instead if you want city life.
Accommodation is more expensive in Milan as it is one of the few places in Italy where housing prices continue to rise. But it’s wonderful to access lakes such as Como and Maggiore, and mountains for hikes when you are not working.
Tuscany and the centre of Italy are good as they are warmer. Florence and Siena are quite touristy so try Lucca instead, a gem in the centre of Tuscany. You could have a genuine experience there.
Further south, I like Val d’Orcia - you might have already seen it from the Gladiator movie, as it was partially filmed there. It’s beautiful.
I also recommend Sardinia. Cagliari is fantastic with a great community and close to the sea. The centre and north of Sardina are wilder with much less people.
In Sicily, Catania and Palermo are fantastic destinations, and cheaper than mainland Italy.
Italy has so many small destinations that are very different from each other. It’s unlikely to know that these places exist unless a local tells you.
What is the general attitude to DNs in Italy?
I think I am biased as I see everything in life positively.
I believe it’s very positive for a local community to meet and know someone coming from a totally different environment. For me it was impossible to meet someone from other countries where I grew up in my little town. Life was supposed to happen in a certain way. But what if you meet someone from a different country, it will open up your mind and help you build your own personality and life.
DNs are usually open and interesting people with a positive attitude. I think it’s great if they can integrate with communities which are too closed or have not had exposure to international people. That can be a problem as you might think other people are wrong just because you don’t know them.
Overall people are welcoming. DNS are not just interesting people. They also bring money into a community. Digital nomads most likely earn more money than the average Italian salary.
In Italy, we cannot say we have been negatively affected by housing or work because of so many digital nomads coming here. The numbers are very small unfortunately so the attitudes will be positive.
To me we have much more to gain than to lose.
How will I cope if I don’t speak Italian?
It’s not going to be easy to be honest! You will find a way in the DN DNA. Use google translate or other apps. There is always a solution, but not being able to converse with local people wherever you go will limit your experience.
You will be ok in cities like Milan where there are a lot of international people who work in English in international companies.
If you don’t speak any Italian at all and are not looking to learn some, don’t go to a remote area unless there is a DN community there. You won’t get an authentic experience- not because people won’t welcome you, but because you won’t be able to interact with them.
It’s a good idea to learn some words to break the ice. If you can’t say ciao, grazie or arrivederci, are you making any effort to integrate into the community? It’s a mindset. Doors will open more for you with just a few words.
Other Tips?
I am a big fan of technology, so get a plan with a local mobile operator. Not to check your notifications of course… But having the possibility to be connected can be extremely helpful and enriching. Moreover, ask your host to send you a pic of their Wi-Fi strength so you know you can always have access to the internet so you can find whatever you need.
Try to look at regions and cities around you. So much to offer. Travelling around the north and centre of Italy is easy with trains and buses. In the south and islands, it’s easier with your own car, but I hope we get more solutions like that in the south as well as it has much to offer.
If you want to explore, get a car.
Avoid touristy places that are overcrowded. 10km away, there is always a place that is not on Instagram and is equally beautiful.
Italy is relatively undiscovered for digital nomads. Come now before it gets overcrowded!
Thank-you Francesco!
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