Roxanne is a retired American who recently moved to a small town in the Tuscany region of Italy. She spent most of her life in California but lived in New Jersey for the past 13 years before leaving the US. At 62, after running a successful construction business and buying a home, Roxanne felt ready for a new adventure. Inspired by her many trips to Italy and other countries over the years, she decided to settle in Lucca, Italy.
You can keep up with Roxanne's adventures on her blog, Living La Vida Lucca. For more on expat life, see our Expat Arrivals essential guide on Moving to Italy.
About Roxanne
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: California, USA
Q: What country and city did you move to?
A: Lucca, Italy
Q: When did you move?
A: I moved in August 2024.
Q: Is this your first expat experience?
A: Yes
Q: Did you move here alone or with a spouse/partner or family?
A: Alone
Q: Reason for moving?
A: I had reached retirement age and was tired of living in the US.
Living in Lucca, Italy
Q: What do you enjoy most about Lucca and Italy in general?
A: Lucca is a beautiful town filled with music and beautiful architecture. The train station is a quick walk, which makes all of Italy easily accessible.
Q: Have you had any low points? What do you miss most about home?
A: Football Sunday! I am a big football fan, and it is hard to watch football here because of the time difference. The language is also difficult, but Italians in Lucca are very patient with me.
Q: What misconceptions about Italy, if any, have you learned were not true?
A: None. I am completely thrilled with my decision.
Q: What are your favourite things to do on the weekend? Any particular places or experiences you’d recommend to fellow expats?
A: I love going to other towns in Italy. I just went to Southern Italy for five days, and it was day and night from Tuscany.
Q: What's the cost of living in Italy compared to the USA? Are there specific things that are especially expensive or cheap in Lucca?
A: The cost of living is so much better in Italy. Coming from very expensive states, California and New Jersey/New York, Italy is fantastic.
Q: What’s public transport like in Lucca and across Italy?
A: Public transport in Lucca is fantastic! The train system is wonderful.
Q: What do you think of the healthcare available in Italy? What should expats expect from local doctors and hospitals?
A: I have only used it once, but was very impressed with the attention I received.
Q: What’s the standard of housing like in Lucca? What different options are available?
A: I'm not really sure. I used a relocation company to help me find a residence, so they did much of the footwork before showing me a place I fell in love with.
I have not had enough experience with the cost of utilities other than the electricity, which was very high for the first bill. But I moved in August, so it was extremely hot, and I had to run the air conditioning constantly.
Meeting people and making friends in Lucca, Italy
Q: Was meeting people and making friends easy? How did you go about meeting new people?
A: I have run into several expats just being out and about, however, I feel like I need to meet more people who speak English.
Q: Have you made friends with locals, or do you mix mainly with other expats? What advice would you give to new expats looking to make friends with the locals?
A: I have made friends with locals. I am very outgoing and speak to people when I am out and about.
Working in Lucca, Italy
Q: How easy or difficult was getting a work permit and/or visa? Did you tackle the visa process yourself, or did you enlist the services of an immigration consultant?
A: Getting a visa was extremely difficult. I spent six months on a waiting list, then flew back to New York at the last minute when an appointment finally became available.
A: What is the economic climate in Lucca like?
A: Lucca is a very touristy destination and the stores cater to that. However, there are plenty of deals to be had.
Q: How does the work culture differ from home?
A: Italians do not work the crazy hours like we do in America. They have a very different take on work hours. It's not a wonder they have a longer life expectancy. There is far much less stress here than in the US.
Final thoughts
Q: Any advice you'd like to offer to new arrivals in Italy?
A: Get your visa sorted out before you move. Brush up on the language as much as possible.
