Valerie Fortney Schneider

Valerie Fortney Schneider

Valerie Fortney-Schneider, IL Italy Correspondent, returned to her roots in the southern Italy region of Basilicata where she is a freelance writer, professional genealogist, and cappuccino addict. Valerie and her husband, Bryan, decided to ditch the hamster wheel lifestyle and actually get a life, moving to a hilltop hamlet to enjoy the Italian dolce vita. When not tapping away at her keyboard, she can be found sipping cappuccino, participating in grape harvests, or shooting with breeze with her fellow paesani (villagers).

The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part Two

The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part Two

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If you want art and culture, Italy has plenty of that. The world’s most acclaimed artists and composers lived and worked here, defining the concepts and ideals of their fields. There are countless places to enjoy world-class museums filled with archaeological artifacts and exquisite art. But a region that stands out for its quality of life and beautiful cities is Emilia-Romagna. It’s one of the wealthiest regions in the country and offers great lifestyle, with a blend of outdoor activities and cultural pursuits.

Back to the Land in Lesser-Known Le Marche

Back to the Land in Lesser-Known Le Marche

Incomes Abroad
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The first thing you notice is the calming scent of lavender. It hangs faintly on the air everywhere, in the garden and in the house. That’s not surprising; the eco-lodge is named for the lavender that owners Elizabeth Perkins and Hans Groot grow on their farm amid a patchwork of rolling hills in Le Marche, between the mountains and the sea.

How to Get a Visa (or Citizenship) and Retire to Italy

How to Get a Visa (or Citizenship) and Retire to Italy

Expat Advice
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I remember the moment when the thought of moving to Italy first embedded itself in my head. My husband and I already loved the country after several trips there—but hadn’t considered anything beyond a few weeks’ vacation. We were in the lovely seaside town of Sperlonga, south of Rome, meandering along the delightful, squiggly lanes, when suddenly we walked into a small piazza, and a picture-perfect scene of daily life played out in about one minute.