- Early bird rates expire soon! Book by midnight, December 7th to save $500 off all 2026 trips.
North to South: Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast and Puglia.
Solo travelers, friends, family, or couples.
Up to 20 guests.
Research cities, towns, rural, and seaside villages.
This is the chance to travel from North to South Italy on a research trip with one job in mind — to help you imagine how you could live differently.
We’ll take you through cities, villages, and seaside hideaways so you can explore real possibilities for short- or long-term living.
Our Italian-speaking team handles the logistics, connects you with trusted experts, and shows you housing options across budgets. With clarity, zero sales pitches, real-life insight, community, and expert support, this is the most strategic first step toward making your next chapter a reality.
This is strategy plus inspiration — a “learning + doing” experience designed for anyone exploring future stays in Italy.
We’ve built a curated itinerary across our favorite cities, seaside towns, and countryside villages.
No online research comes close to the insight you gain with “boots on the ground” research you’ll be doing on the Italy Scouting & Discovery Tour.
It’s an all-inclusive, information-rich experience that shows real life, not the highlight reel — and far more cost-effective than trying to figure it out alone. Over 12 days, you’ll explore with a small group while our professional team handles every detail behind the scenes maximizing your time. Think of it as a “traveling workshop” where you’ll gain real-world experience.
Throughout the journey, you’ll tour furnished rentals in a range of budgets and connect with trusted relocation professionals (visa specialists, attorneys, advisors) so you can clearly understand what life could look like across different regions. You’ll see examples that reveal the true cost of living from north to south, with the travel cadence offering a balance of learning and downtime. Your bilingual Italian Fix guide leads the way while our concierge team manages the details quietly in the background.
Our two-fold “track system” is an innovative way to travel ensuring flexibility: enjoy being a tourist in destinations you’re not considering for long-term living (such as Perugia), then dive deeper into the places that feel aligned with your lifestyle vision, like a peaceful seaside village. It’s curated flexibility paired with reliable structure.
This journey gives you clarity, confidence, and a grounded understanding of many facets of your future plans.
You can have a beautiful life, with more pleasure, more peace, and maybe even for less money than you’re spending right now living outside of Europe. We’ll show you exactly how.
One moment you’re having a beautiful alfresco lunch in the countryside of Tuscany, speaking with a couple who moved to a pretty little apartment, because they wanted a simple and inexpensive life. Next, you’re touring furnished rentals in Southern Italy—comparing a lock-and-leave pied-à-terre to a villa with a pool. This journey is designed to spark meaningful introductions, helping you build your personal “black book” of connections. Meeting people face-to-face sets things in motion, serendipity often does the rest.
In each location we’ll be painting the picture for peace and pleasure — this is an adventure but with math, wine (likely at the same time), and new possibilities.
And if that’s not enough, each location we visit comes with a custom report card. Using our unique grading system, towns are rated for peace, pleasure, cost of living, access to services, and weekend travel potential to the rest of Europe — you get the idea.
This is how we’re not only showing you beautiful places and handling logistics, but also giving you strategic insight to make the most of your time, energy, and money. With 15 years of experience and millions of euros spent on the ground, Italian Fix knows exactly where the good stuff is.
Follow us — we’re leaders.
Travel from North to South — from Lucca to Lecce as you search for your peace, pleasure, and the perfect place to land.
We’re mission-driven, and we know you’re trusting us to guide you with service, transparency, and neutrality. Our north star is to share the good, the bad, and the honest realities of every place we visit. We don’t “sell” or “pitch” you on places or people. We advocate for our guests and shield you from salesy behavior. Expect grounded, unfiltered advice instead of sugarcoating. Expect logistics handled with a focus on comfort and simplicity.
Our ambitious North-to-South itinerary is made easier with private transfers in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Behind the scenes, our expert ground team handles the details like we’ve been doing for 15 years as a dedicated tour operator with the connections and logistics to make it all run smoothly.
Your host will be there to meet you in Lucca. And, because our team of experts has all the details covered, you can instantly ease right into the Dolce Zone — that state of mind that Italian Fix guests experience. Tonight, we’ll share our first of many epic meals with our group in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for your first night in Tuscany. Sleep: Lucca.
In the morning we’ll meet an attorney who handles visas and has helped many expats stay long or short-term in Italy. You’ll be able to ask questions and have an excellent overview of the possibilities available to you, as well as contact details for follow up. After lunch, we’ll meet a Tuscany relocation expert, and we’ll explore the popular areas and lesser-known streets in the charming town of Lucca. Sleep: Lucca.
Today we’ll explore our target Tuscan villages that we believe are right for expats. We’ll explore the countryside around Lucca for those interested in a rural Tuscan lifestyle, of course hitting a winery for lunch al fresco. Alternatively, if cities are what you’re after, you can zip to Florence on the train and skip the guided countryside experience. Sleep: Lucca.
Today we’ll travel to the Ligurian beach town of Lerici. We’ll meet a local expert and tour this northern Italian jewel. After lunch, we’ll head back to Lucca where you’ll have a free evening. Sleep: Lucca.
Road trip! We head to Perugia with our private driver. On the way, we’ll stop at the Umbrian town of Orvieto, a hotspot of expats who want it all (to be close to everything, but away from the cities). We’ll have lunch with a lovely local couple. That evening, we’ll arrive in Perugia where we’ll have some free time. Sleep: Perugia
The morning will be spent with a local expert reviewing the lay of the land in this bustling university town. We’ll tour some apartments in the afternoon and also take you to the local university, Università per Stranieri di Perugia, a historic center where they teach Italian language and culture courses for foreigners. Sleep: Perugia
We’re off to the Amalfi Coast with our private driver for a vacation within our vacation. We’ll recommend a hotel perched on the cliff, with full ocean views and a short stroll to town or the beach to go swimming. This is a great Amalfi Coast location as it’s off the tourist path and is full of local artwork and ceramics. Sleep: Vietri Sul Mare
This morning we’ll depart the Amalfi Coast and drive across Italy, stopping in Matera on the way. You’ll have time for lunch and a visit to the most ancient part. We’ll arrive in Lecce before dinner to check into our hotels. You have a free evening to soak up the beauty of the “Florence of the South”. Sleep: Lecce
Your day in Lecce includes a walking tour, rental visits, and tailored suggestions based on your interests. We’ll have lunch together before meeting a local specialist to tour more properties. Along the way, you’ll experience the calm charm of this beautifully preserved, low-tourism city. Sleep: Lecce.
Today we head into the southern region of Puglia where our trusted partners will show you just how affordable life can be. We’ll visit off-the-radar towns where you can still find real estate for less than the cost of a used car, and up-and-coming expat havens like Galatina, where you’ll meet some interesting people. Sleep: Lecce
Today we’ll be in the Valle d’Itria. This well-loved region of Puglia has attracted expats who’ve built stunning homes, offering a “luxury for less” lifestyle. We’ll show you what makes it so appealing. Visit Ostuni and Martina Franca, and lunch will be at a Masseria (a local farm estate) because life is all about balancing work and play. We’ll be back in Lecce in the early evening to share our farewell aperitivo and celebrate all the experiences we’ve had together. Sleep: Lecce
This is a travel day. You can book flights for any schedule today. If you’re not ready to leave, you can stay in the area and explore further. Whatever you choose, we know you’ll be leaving energized. Buon viaggio! View the calendar to see other trips you can add before this journey.
Arrival Details:
Arrival Airport: Pisa. (Also Florence — ask us for advice.)
First-Day Activity: Meeting in Lucca at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner.
Departure Details:
Departure Airport: Brindisi. (Also Bari — ask us for advice.)
Last-Day Activity: None - leave anytime.
Expect Italian Fix signature bilingual guides to provide an authentic Italian cultural experience and handle all your pre- and post-trip planning expertly.
Travel from North to South Italy, visiting over a dozen cities, towns, and villages we’ve targeted as practical solutions for expats.
You’ll stay in three handpicked home bases, with private transfers and an Italian-speaking guide accompanying you throughout.
Lucca (4 nights). Your northern base. Explore the town of Lucca, plus other strategic options nearby in Tuscany and seaside Liguria.
Perugia (2 nights). Stay in Umbria, the green heart of Italy and explore Perugia & Orvieto.
Lecce (4 nights). In southern Italy, you’ll stay in Lecce and visit the surrounding villages of Salento and Val D’Itria.
You'll also enjoy a 1-night stay on the Amalfi Coast in Vietri sul Mare.
See the itinerary on this page for the daily schedule.
A signature Italian Fix guide will be traveling with you. You’ll also be introduced to people like property managers, house finders, visa specialists, attorneys, and other expats. You’ll gain contact information so you can create our own “black book” of future contacts.
Incredible customer care is our brand and why our repeat guests keep returning. We’re all about old-fashioned customer service with humans, not bots. All Italian Fix guests get unlimited concierge to help arrange and advise on your travel details. We can advise on flights, what to do before or after the trip, and any issue big or small. We’re a leader in Italian travel and our incredible concierge team receives top ratings year after year from our travelers who keep returning because we take impeccable care of you.
Also included is ground transportation. We travel between home bases in comfortable air-conditioned buses with our private driver and ground transportation for day tours & excursions are covered in your trip fees.
We include 6 community meals and these meals are included in the trip fee (a combination of lunches and dinners). Many other meals are organized throughout the trip so we can all spend time together. Pick and choose the meals you would like to eat with the group so you have lots of flexibility.
This tour is designed to help you research your ideal Italian location for a short- or long-term stay. This is a relocation & educational tour, not a normal sightseeing tour but we do bake in some luxurious downtime for dolce far niente.
Twelve days traveling with a bilingual signature Italian Fix guide.
Viewings of furnished rentals by property managers for a variety of budgets.
Meeting with relocation experts you’ll need for the future (visa and tax specialists, attorneys, house hunters, etc.).
Wine tasting at a vineyard, designed exclusively for our guests.
Rooftop aperitivo, designed exclusively for our guests.
All taxes and tips for tour guides, included meals, and private drivers.
Fly into Pisa, an international airport. Fly out of Brindisi.
We can review your flight options and advise on alternative airports. Unlimited concierge is included in your trip rate. Please contact us.
Your hotel can arrange airport transfers on your behalf. Our team can also hire drivers for you.
Hotels are not included on this tour. We provide an accommodations list in a variety of budgets from 5-star to cheap and cheerful; you make independent bookings in the lodging of your choice. This is a strategic choice so we can support people on a variety of budgets, but everyone gets 5-star service from our team.
Most meals are not included, apart from the 6 included community meals. Breakfasts are typically included with most hotel reservations. Budget 20 euros for lunch and 50 euros for dinner (you can also spend less or spend more by choice).
Rates are per person; no single supplements.
14 days to refund if you change your mind.
Limited Time Rates
Rates are per person. No single supplements added to rates if you travel solo.
Save $500Early Booking Discount
Interest-Free Payment Plan
14-days to refund if you change your mind.
I’ve wanted to offer a trip like this for a long time — ever since I first lived in Italy, over 20 years ago.
I arrived as a solo traveler, and even though I eventually married into an Italian family, I never lost my “foreigner’s eyes.” I could see, even then, just how special life in Italy is.
For a fraction of what it cost to live in my home country, I had a light-filled penthouse apartment in a fun Italian city, with terraces overlooking the piazza and a three-block walk to work. Back home, I could barely afford a studio with a view of the parking lot and a long, freezing train commute.
Since then, a lot has changed. My home country feels more expensive, more divided, and the pace of life is faster than ever. Italy has changed too — but more slowly. They have a social safety net, a deep respect for tradition, and a pace of life that values family and living well over all else. That’s why so many from North America and Northern Europe feel pulled to this Mediterranean rhythm.
Of course, this lifestyle isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s only for a rare few. It’s for those willing to explore something different — to imagine a new way of living and a new chapter.
But if this trip speaks to you, I invite you to take a chance on yourself. At worst, it’s a beautiful two-week vacation in Italy. At best? It might change your life.
You never know where it could take you. I didn’t — but the lifestyle I’ve built from betting on myself was the right move and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
So go ahead: roll the dice, plant the seed.
Carpe Diem — this one precious life is all we have,
Italian Fix was founded
Of guests have left us a 10/10 review post-trip (2023)
Of guests love our customer service
We have so many returning guests because they know they can trust us.
Return guests sometimes book the exact same trip to repeat the magic.
Our guests protect their investment by purchasing insurance.
Some of our guests are going through big life transitions; others are celebrating milestones.
Many guests meet lifelong friends on the trip and they return on future trips, together.
You can buy insurance, or use the insurance you already own (through work coverage, etc.) Insurance protects you should you fall ill before you travel, or an immediate family member does and you do not want to leave the country. Policies vary and you can shop around, we have suggestions in the guest portal.
Our travelers make connections that are deep and real between each other. With social disconnection on the rise more than ever, infusing your life with good people is a sacred act. (We have a knack for attracting interesting and great people!)
One of the most beautiful things about our trips is that they attract a lot of different kinds of people — and we’re proud of that. Our fun, safe, and let-your-hair-down energy draws the right guests from around the world with different backgrounds — because wanting to live your dolce vita transcends any location or age range.
We have guests who return to Italian Fix year after year. From the person who enjoys traveling solo to the besties who want to take a trip of a lifetime, they all want to have a carefree, fun-filled, and relaxing week. They trust Italian Fix to handle all the details.
No! We have a combination of solo travelers, people traveling with friends, and people traveling with partners/spouses on our tours.
First off, we speak Italian! We also understand the context, the customs, and the community of every location we visit. In Europe, it’s not what you know — it’s who you know. And we know people. Coming with us is like having a backstage pass. If you travel without us, you’re just one in a million foreigners waiting in lines and trying to get service. No connections or language fluency makes you the odd one out.
Our travel style allows you to be among friends and have access to things you couldn’t find on your own. No big-box concept of tourism around here. At Italian Fix, we’re mindful about keeping traditions alive and supporting local economies.
Our carefully crafted itineraries have been perfected over years of hosting successful trips, so they play out like a symphony — with cadence, timing and rhythm. All of our trips have up-time and down-time. The introverts who need quiet to recharge can get it, and the extroverts who derive energy from new connections can thrive too. One of our mottos is “Hey, it’s your holiday — opt out of any days you like.” We have lots to see, eat, do and explore whenever you wish to join in. Just put on your comfy shoes and andiamo!
Many of our guests are in the same boat. We have people who are going through life changes and more traveling is calling them. You’ll fit right in (and life is better with people who get you and you could potentially travel with in the future!).
Great — you can book a time to speak to Bianca, the owner. Here is a link to her calendar. Or email us.
Travel from North to South Italy, visiting over a dozen cities, towns, and villages we’ve targeted as practical solutions for expats.
You’ll stay in three handpicked home bases, with private transfers and an Italian-speaking guide accompanying you throughout.
Lucca (4 nights). Your northern base. Explore the town of Lucca, plus other strategic options nearby in Tuscany and seaside Liguria.
Perugia (2 nights). Stay in Umbria, the green heart of Italy and explore Perugia & Orvieto.
Lecce (4 nights). In southern Italy, you’ll stay in Lecce and visit the surrounding villages of Salento and Val D’Itria.
You'll also enjoy a 1-night stay on the Amalfi Coast in Vietri sul Mare.
See the itinerary on this page for the daily schedule.
A signature Italian Fix guide will be traveling with you. You’ll also be introduced to people like property managers, house finders, visa specialists, attorneys, and other expats. You’ll gain contact information so you can create your own “black book” of future contacts.
Incredible customer care is our brand and why our repeat guests keep returning. We’re all about old-fashioned customer service with humans, not bots. All Italian Fix guests get unlimited concierge to help arrange and advise on your travel details. We can advise on flights, what to do before or after the trip, and any issue big or small. We’re a leader in Italian travel and our incredible concierge team receives top ratings year after year from our travelers who keep returning because we take impeccable care of you.
Also included is ground transportation. We travel between home bases in comfortable air-conditioned buses with our private driver and ground transportation for day tours & excursions are covered in your trip fees.
We include 6 community meals and these meals are included in the trip fee (a combination of lunches and dinners). Many other meals are organized throughout the trip so we can all spend time together. Pick and choose the meals you would like to eat with the group so you have lots of flexibility.
This tour is designed to help you research your ideal Italian location for a short- or long-term stay. This is a relocation & educational tour, not a normal sightseeing tour but we do bake in some luxurious downtime for dolce far niente.
Twelve days traveling with a bilingual signature Italian Fix guide.
Viewings of furnished rentals by property managers for a variety of budgets.
Meeting with relocation experts you’ll need for the future (visa and tax specialists, attorneys, house hunters, etc.).
Wine tasting at a vineyard, designed exclusively for our guests.
Rooftop aperitivo, designed exclusively for our guests.
All taxes and tips for tour guides, included meals, and private drivers.
Fly into Pisa, an international airport. Fly out of Brindisi.
We can review your flight options and advise on alternative airports. Unlimited concierge is included in your trip rate. Please contact us.
Your hotel can arrange airport transfers on your behalf. Our team can also hire drivers for you.
Hotels are not included on this tour. We provide an accommodations list in a variety of budgets from 5-star to cheap and cheerful; you make independent bookings in the lodging of your choice. This is a strategic choice so we can support people on a variety of budgets, but everyone gets 5-star service from our team.
Most meals are not included, apart from the 6 included community meals. Breakfasts are typically included with most hotel reservations. Budget 20 euros for lunch and 50 euros for dinner (you can also spend less or spend more by choice).
Rates are per person; no single supplements.
14 days to refund if you change your mind.
Limited Time Rates
Rates are per person. No single supplements added to rates if you travel solo.
Save $500 Early Booking Discount
Interest-Free Payment Plan
14-days to refund if you change your mind.
