Our Checklist Before Moving from Canada to Italy
Before we hopped on a plane to fly across the world, we made a commitment to find a new home by selling 95% of what we own.
We often get asked how we chose Sicily out of all of the places in the world.
After our first 3 month visit last summer and spending a bulk of our time in Castelbuono, the quaint little town charmed its way into our hearts. We returned for a repeat visit for 3 months in March (2024) and we’ll be returning again in the Fall!
10 Key Factors Influencing Our Decision:
1. Weather
Vancouver Island is incredible at its best times (part of Spring, summer, early Fall) but the constant rain for weeks during the worst times can be depressing. I’ve experienced SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in the past, so good weather was a high priority for me.
This is a glimpse of the spreadsheet we made before we left Canada:
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YEARLY AVERAGE
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CASTELBUONO, SICILY
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VICTORIA, BC
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|---|---|---|
*Data from www.worldweatheronline.com/
2. Quality Food, Clean Water & Air
Once we have our own property, we want to have as much home-grown food as possible. When our future garden is successful enough, we can use the extra to sell for profit.
Thankfully, our landlord has his own garden + egg-laying chickens, and he happily shares all of it with us. For everything else, we shop at the local farmers markets, bakeries and supermarkets.
The tap water in Italy is safe to drink, although bottled water is common. We currently live on a country property that isn’t connected to the city water, so we fill up our reusable containers at the fountains in town with fresh water from the Madonie mountains.
Tip: When (not if) you come visit Castelbuono, be sure to leave extra room in your suitcase. And no, it’s not for typical souvenirs. I’m talking about food. You’ll want to bring it ALL home with you. But if you forget to leave space in your luggage, at the very least, bring stretchy pants. You may find yourself eating double your usual amounts. Sicilians really know how to do things right.
3. Safety
Italian driving can take time to get used to, especially in busy urban cities like Palermo.
After squeezing our Jeep down some narrow streets, it has made us question our rental choice. Luckily, it’s a much slower pace in Castelbuono.
In a town of less than 10,000 people and an aging population, Castelbuono, Sicily is very safe to wander around at any time of day or night. Your biggest non-human threat might be a garbage collecting donkey (they’re so loveable!).
‘Stranger danger’ doesn’t exist. All of the locals want to say hi and invite you over for an espresso.
One time, we saw local police officers in Castelbuono greet someone they knew with a hug and a kiss while on duty.
4. Affordability
In general, food prices are significantly cheaper compared to North America. We limit our time in tourist towns, so it helps keep our costs low. Quality ingredients are abundant, so I often cook at home.
There are exceptions, like car rentals, that can really add up long term. We’ll be starting the application process for residency when we return in the Fall (2024), which will allow us to purchase and register an Italian vehicle (as well as Paul’s motorcycle from Canada).
Here are some price comparisons:
Victoria, BC
Groceries:
-Oranges €3.21/kg
-Prosciutto €36.97/kg
-Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) €9.73/kg
-1 L of milk €1.91
*These prices were collected off of the Walmart website as of May 2024*
Dining out:
-1 large margherita pizza, €9.00 – €15.00
Cinema:
€9.00-€10.00
Castelbuono, Sicily:
Groceries:
-Oranges €1.00/kg
-Prosciutto €20.00/kg
-Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) €6.99/kg
-1 L of milk €0.95
*Prices collected from the Conad grocery store and the weekly market*
Dining out:
1 large margherita pizza, €4.00-€6.00
Cinema:
€6.00-€7.00/per person
5. Accessibility
Regional buses run daily to Cefalu (20 kms away). From there, you can take a bus or a train to access the rest of Sicily, including the closest major airport in Palermo (1.5 hours away). With its central location, flights to other regions of Europe are at a fraction of the cost in Canada.
It’s also well connected to the mainland of Italy, Africa and Malta through long distance ferry services. We’re planning on taking the 8.5 hour ferry trip between Palermo to Naples with Paul’s motorcycle onboard.
And of course, we love its proximity to the mountains AND the sea (the perfect combination!).
6. Entertainment
Dining out:
The number of restaurants is plentiful in Castelbuono and nearby towns. If you’re up for a road trip, you’ll find even more options in larger cities.
Movie theaters:
Although we’ve only found Italian language options, it’s even more motivation to learn the language faster! One day, we hope to create an outdoor theater on our property.
Nature: Endless hiking opportunities can be found in the Madonie mountains, ziplining, water sports, snorkeling, horseback riding, cycling, etc.
Festivals:
Paul and I attended the Jazz festival in Castelbuono, and we’ve heard nothing but amazing things about the other music festival, Ypsigrock.
If you also want to feed your soul through your stomach, there’s the yearly ‘Finale Pizza Festival‘ with gourmet pizzas and live music. Throughout the summer, festivals are continuously taking place in the region.
7. Education
I’ll be starting Italian lessons full-time in the Spring (2025) at Solemar Academy along the coast in Cefalu.
We met our Italian teacher in Castelbuono, so Paul and I have our Italian lessons online once a week until we can do them face to face again when we return to Castelbuono.
8. Health Care
After 1 year of long term travel, we’ve managed to avoid any doctors visits. However, the healthcare system in Italy is ranked #17 among the best in the world (Canada is #32), so we feel confident we would be able to receive proper care if needed.
We also pay for travel insurance throughout the year for peace of mind.
9. Proximity to Family and Friends:
Unfortunately, our friends and family are mainly in Canada. We’re slowly growing our circle of friends in Castelbuono, along with the many new faces we meet during our travels.
Once we build our house and eventually a cabin, it will be much easier for everyone to come visit and see our beautiful paradise!
10. Language
Paul and I have zero Italian background or experience with the language. We started taking Italian lessons online last November (2023) and practice with Duolingo, so we’re well on our way to tackling the language barrier in Italy. I studied other romance languages (French and Spanish) throughout my schooling, which has helped me tremendously.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, we’ve had a lot to think about before committing to one place to build our home and a new life. We’ve officially purchased a plot of land just outside of Castelbuono, Sicily. So…anyone know a good stonemason!?
