I grew up in New York City, where I went to the theatre and opera every month, and knew the best dim sum in Chinatown. I truly took advantage of everything the city had to offer and lived a life that most people would dream of.
But by the time I was 24, I knew I needed a change. The hustle and bustle of the city was exciting, but I craved a slower pace of life.
Being of Italian heritage, I always dreamed about moving to Italy. So, in 2014, I packed up and moved to Guardia Sanframondi, a small town in southern Italy with fewer than 5,000 residents.
I chose the quiet town after seeing it featured on an episode of “House Hunters International.” It looked like it had everything I was looking for in a home: beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming.
But best of all, I loved that it wasn’t a major tourist hub, so I’d be able to get an authentic Italian experience. Twelve years later, moving here is still the best decision I’ve ever made.
Life in Guardia Sanframondi is very different from what it was in New York City
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Moving to Guardia Sanframondi, I immediately noticed a stark contrast to what I was used to in New York. Instead of skyscrapers and yellow cabs, I’m now surrounded by medieval buildings.
I like that I can still walk to my favorite stores to run errands, but unlike in New York, there are very few major franchises here. Instead, mostly everything is a small, locally run business.
I can’t call an Uber at the end of the night, and unlike the constant subways I was used to in the city, the buses tend to run sporadically throughout the day.
However, I was able to buy a house for under 50,000 euros — something that never would’ve been possible for me back in the States. In New York, it was hard enough for me to rent a glorified storage unit for a reasonable price.
I’ve found a great sense of community here
Courtesy of Caroline Chirichella
Although I felt like just another customer at my regular stores in the city, a quick errand can take me up to an hour to complete in Italy because I’m always stopping to talk with friends and neighbors along the way. Local store and restaurant owners even greet me by name.
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Initially, it was a little difficult living in a place where I didn’t speak much of the language, but I quickly made friends by immersing myself in the community.
I even made a point of putting myself in “uncomfortable” situations, like going to cafés alone or having meals with big groups of people. This helped me learn the language and find a great community of people.
In New York, I lived in a high-rise building but didn’t know any of my neighbors. When I got on the elevator, no one would even say hello.
Now, my neighbors come by with vegetables from their garden, wine from their vineyards, and bags full of hand-me-downs for my kids.
A few years back, when I was pregnant with my second child and my husband was away, I found myself in a frightening situation where I needed medical attention. My neighbors all came together to offer help, whether it was rides to and from the hospital, picking up food, or just coming to check up on me.
Everyone watches out for each other here, and I truly feel like I’m part of a larger community.
My decision to move led me to the amazing life I have today
Though I’ll never know for sure what my life would look like if I still lived in New York, I do know that here, I live a life of luxury — just in a different way.
From the lower cost of living to the wonderful community of people, my life feels more peaceful and full of intention. It’s exactly what I always dreamed of, but never actually imagined would come true.
