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Mafia Fear

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PugliaDreaming
  5/27/2020 16:03 EST

Hi everyone
Me and my partner are working on a two year plan to relocate to Italy.

The areas we are looking at are Puglia, Tuscany, Umbria, and Le Marche.

We are looking to buy land and looking to build a prefab passivhaus.

We’ve been researching companies in Italy and it’s promising. Just wondering a few questions..

1. How much do expats worry about the Mafia? I’m half Italian Malaysian and my partner is British. Has anyone been targeted for self building? Is protection money something someone has had to experience?

2. Has anyone purchased land to build a home from scratch? Top tips? Even better if you’ve don’t a prefab home..

3. I speak fluent Italian but worried my partner will be isolated. She is trying to learn bit by bit but wondering if anyone has any tips or experiences they’d like to share.

Thank you for any advice and hope you’re safe during these mad times!

crayola1
  5/28/2020 07:12 EST

Worried about the Mafia? You're kidding, right?
We bought a 1972-built house in the inland part of Le Marche. We have had to do quite a bit of updating, but live in a small town and have employed and purchased locally. No problems! Just come prepared to be patient and get the work done on Italian time. People have gotten to know us as the Americani and are so welcoming that literally everybody in town knows where we live and are excited (and a little proud) that we chose their town.

Please don't let stereotypes stop you from moving here. By the way, Google translate, pointing and laughing all accomplish a lot!

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codybrandy
  5/28/2020 09:58 EST

We had the same experience when we bought 11yrs ago in a tiny village just inland from the 5Terre. Little old ladies would just drop by to see who we were. It was so endearing...one lady showed up with bunches of sambucco (I think) which is in full bloom in the trees right now and proceeded to show me how to make a soothing throat medicine...another brought us bunches of what I thought were weeds growing in our parking area...it was bietola (chard) and wonderful. The people are truly amazing.

Peppone
  5/28/2020 09:59 EST

Crayola...

Great reply! Thank you.

PugliaDreaming
  5/31/2020 08:35 EST

That’s great to hear. I’ve lived in Italy on and off over the years and never really experienced it but I was wondering if life as a foreigner would be different. Thank you all for your comments!

I think Puglia really has our heart. If it wasn’t for covid19 we’d be out there exploring!

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