Why in South Tyrol?

“I am 59 years old and have been living in South Tyrol for 26 years. Yet my roots lie elsewhere: in an Italian-German family and in a seaside town that I still carry within me. I grew up in Capo d’Orlando, overlooking the Aeolian Islands. Curious and enterprising by nature, I have always loved travelling, also thanks to my knowledge of several languages.

After graduating in Economics and gaining my first professional experience, I decided to move to Milan. There, I worked for a multinational company and attended a master’s programme at Bocconi University. It was a major change: I left the sea and my roots behind and had to build new relationships and find a new sense of balance.

After that chapter of my life, following a friend’s advice, I moved to South Tyrol and embarked on a career as a teacher. Here, I built my family, married a colleague and became the mother of two children, who are now university students in Bolzano.

There were moments of uncertainty and homesickness along the way. Over time, however, I came to understand that integration does not mean giving up one’s roots, but rather finding one’s place in a new community without losing one’s identity.

I deeply love Sicily, but I have also learned to love this region, with its culture, distinctive characteristics and challenges. My experience has taught me that, for people arriving from another province or another country, finding a job or learning to navigate bureaucratic procedures is not enough. There is an even deeper need: to feel welcomed, recognised and valued as an asset to the community.”

“After completing my technical studies and gaining my first work experience as an industrial electrician, in 2016 I decided to change my life and move to South Tyrol, a region I had previously known mainly as a tourist.
My decision to move to Bolzano was driven by the desire to continue my studies in engineering, improve my English and learn German, while also getting closer to the German-speaking technical and industrial culture. At the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, I found an international and trilingual environment that allowed me to grow not only professionally, but also personally.
My journey then took me to Bruneck, where I attended a dual study programme in automation while working with GKN Sinter Metals. Living in the Puster Valley for five years allowed me to experience South Tyrol from a different perspective: no longer as a tourist, but as a student and worker who had to deal with everyday life, local services and also one of the region’s major challenges: finding affordable housing.
In 2024, I eventually moved to Brixen to start living together with my girlfriend, whom I had met during my university years.
Today, South Tyrol represents much more to me than simply the place where I studied: it is the region that has accompanied me throughout my personal growth, from Bolzano to Bruneck and Brixen, and where I have built my professional career, my relationships and the foundation for my future life.”

“After finishing my PhD at the University of Naples, I knew that I wanted to continue my career in research outside of academia. When the Fraunhofer Institute in Bozen offered me a position, I knew it was exactly what I was hoping for and I couldn't be happier of the decision to accept the job. I had never thought of moving to Alto-Adige, but it turned out to be perfect place to reach a good life-work balance and live more sustainably, as its position allows to travel easily by train. While here, I had to deal with home-sickness of course, and living far from the sea, still feels challenging sometime! But after a difficult start with housing, I can now say that I am satisfied with my work, house, friends and with all the entertainment occasions that this region has to offer. I still miss the sea, but I am learning that the mountain can be a very valid companion as well."

“To be honest, I ended up moving to South Tyrol almost by accident.
It all started with my work in wine and marketing. After spending more and more time in South Tyrol, what had initially been “coming here every now and then” eventually turned into the decision to make the move to Bolzano permanent.
I didn’t just relocate my home — I also moved my business to Italy. Through “Weinfi mmel | Strategy & Marketing”, I advise family-run wineries in South Tyrol and across the wider DACH region on strategy and marketing.
The transition wasn’t entirely seamless. Setting up my Italian VAT number and navigating the bureaucracy, in particular, took a few extra rounds. Without the support of my tax advisor, I’d probably still be trying to make sense of all the paperwork.
At the same time, I quickly realized just how important personal relationships and a strong, reliable network are here. That’s also what makes South Tyrol so special to me: it’s a small region, but an exciting place to do business, with a remarkably international outlook.
Today, Bolzano is not only my home, but also the base for my business. What started out as a temporary stay has, almost without me planning it, turned into a new home and the place where I’ve built the next chapter of my life."

“In September 2023, I decided to move to Bolzano to begin a new professional experience at NOI S.p.A., the company that manages NOI Techpark, where I now work in the Legal Unit in the field of Legal & Compliance.
After studying Law at the University of Milano-Bicocca and qualifying to practise law before the Milan Court of Appeal, I was looking for an environment that would allow me to continue working with Italian law while at the same time making the most of my language skills—particularly German—and experiencing a reality different from the one in which I had completed my education and professional training.
From this perspective, South Tyrol seemed to me to be an almost unique place: here, I can combine Italian law and the German language on a daily basis, working in both Italian and German and, in an international environment such as NOI Techpark, also in English.
Moving here naturally meant adapting to a new city, a new professional environment and, above all, facing the challenge of using German no longer merely as a language I had studied, but as a genuine working language. This has become one of the most stimulating aspects of my journey.
Almost three years after my move, I consider this experience an important opportunity for both professional and personal growth. Bolzano has enabled me to build a trilingual profile that combines my Italian legal background with bilingualism and an increasingly international dimension—exactly what I was looking for when I decided to move to South Tyrol."

“More than thirty years ago, I moved to South Tyrol for love. When I met the man who would later become my husband and he told me that he was from South Tyrol, I did not even know where that place was at first. Nevertheless, my love gave me the courage to leave my homeland and start a family with him.
The first years were very difficult. The German language was completely unfamiliar to me, and I often felt isolated. At that time, there was neither the Internet nor mobile phones, and I could only stay in touch with my family through expensive phone calls or letters.
Moreover, I lived in a small village surrounded by high mountains, which was very unusual for someone like me, coming from an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands. Time and patience helped me. I learned German through crossword puzzles, through my children, and later through my work and education.
I worked as a nursing assistant and attended a German-language vocational school. Later, I studied Communication and Cultural Studies and focused extensively on the subject of communication.
Today, I work at Merano Hospital and enjoy helping other people. Although my marriage did not fulfill all my expectations, it gave me two wonderful children.
I would choose this path again, although with more self-confidence and better preparation. For newcomers, I would like to see more points of contact, guidance, and support, so that they can learn to help themselves and find their own way.”

"I moved to South Tyrol in search of opportunities for professional growth, to be close to nature, and to learn new languages."

"I first came to South Tyrol to study and start a new chapter in my life. I ended up staying because of the amazing people I met, the professional opportunities, and my love for the mountains."

"For me, South Tyrol represents a tangible form of sustainable living: it is where I was able to turn my studies and career into a life project."

“In 2022, I moved to South Tyrol with my partner. The main reasons behind this decision were being closer to family, the curiosity to experience a different culture, and the desire to live in a place that offers a slower pace of life compared to a large international city, thanks to easy access to nature, a different outlook on life, and a high quality of life (climate, nature, culture, and cuisine).
The transition was made significantly easier by the support of my partner’s family; nevertheless, there were many organizational and cultural aspects to learn and adapt to. One particularly positive aspect is that many processes in Italy are digitalized (vehicle tax payments, payments to public authorities via pagoPA, electronic health records, and so on).
I was not aware that there was a community for people moving to South Tyrol, and such a network would have provided additional support.
Today, I am very happy with this decision, both personally and professionally at my employer, Raiffeisen Information Service SCRL, and I would choose to move to South Tyrol again without hesitation.
Programs such as "Rientro dei Cervelli" also make the transition easier and help people build a new life step by step.”

“Almost ten years ago, I met the man who is now my husband at my brother’s wedding. He comes from South Tyrol, spoke perfect standard German, and had a very distinctive personality that fascinated me from the very beginning.
At the end of 2017, I finally took the big step and moved from Swabia to South Tyrol. The move required a great deal of preparation. In particular, having my university qualifications as a dentist officially recognized was a lengthy and complicated process. Numerous documents had to be collected, translated, certified, and sent to Rome.
Finding a suitable job was also a challenge, as many things in South Tyrol are organized differently from the way they are in my home region. Fortunately, I had the support of my now-husband and his family.
After my arrival, I realized that I not only had to adapt to a new environment, but also had to learn about new languages and dialects. At work, a bilingual assistant helped me communicate with patients from different parts of South Tyrol and Italy.
Besides working, I attended language courses, so at first I had little time to get to know Bolzano. At weekends, I explored the natural beauty of South Tyrol together with my family.
The local population welcomed me very warmly, even though people can immediately tell that I am a ‘Bundesdeutsche.’ Today, my family and I feel very much at home in South Tyrol. Looking ahead, my greatest wish is to become even more integrated and to be a firmly established part of South Tyrolean society."

“In 2007, I moved to South Tyrol with my wife Berta, who comes from Dorf Tirol in South Tyrol, and our two sons, in order to take over her parents’ family business. Moving was a very good decision for our family, even though the beginning was not always easy for me.
The biggest challenge was the Italian language, which I did not speak at all at first. Over time, I learned it through daily contact with Italian-speaking people and eventually also passed the bilingualism examination at B1 level.
Today, I do not regret my move to South Tyrol for a single second. I appreciate its unique combination of nature, culture and tradition, as well as its high quality of life.
At the same time, I am convinced that bilingualism makes everyday life easier and strengthens coexistence. For this reason, I am also actively involved as a municipal councillor in Dorf Tirol.”

“Being in contact with nature allowed me to explore and push my personal boundaries, leading me to embrace new challenges and passions both professionally and personally.”

“My family and I came to South Tyrol to explore new personal and professional opportunities and experience the local culture.“

"I moved to South Tyrol to embark on a new chapter and to combine nature, culture, and a professional challenge."

"I moved to South Tyrol in search of opportunities for professional growth, to be close to nature, and to learn new languages."

"I first came to South Tyrol to study and start a new chapter in my life. I ended up staying because of the amazing people I met, the professional opportunities, and my love for the mountains."

"For me, South Tyrol represents a tangible form of sustainable living: it is where I was able to turn my studies and career into a life project."

“Being in contact with nature allowed me to explore and push my personal boundaries, leading me to embrace new challenges and passions both professionally and personally.”

“My family and I came to South Tyrol to explore new personal and professional opportunities and experience the local culture.“

"I moved to South Tyrol to embark on a new chapter and to combine nature, culture, and a professional challenge."

“I am 59 years old and have been living in South Tyrol for 26 years. Yet my roots lie elsewhere: in an Italian-German family and in a seaside town that I still carry within me. I grew up in Capo d’Orlando, overlooking the Aeolian Islands. Curious and enterprising by nature, I have always loved travelling, also thanks to my knowledge of several languages.

After graduating in Economics and gaining my first professional experience, I decided to move to Milan. There, I worked for a multinational company and attended a master’s programme at Bocconi University. It was a major change: I left the sea and my roots behind and had to build new relationships and find a new sense of balance.

After that chapter of my life, following a friend’s advice, I moved to South Tyrol and embarked on a career as a teacher. Here, I built my family, married a colleague and became the mother of two children, who are now university students in Bolzano.

There were moments of uncertainty and homesickness along the way. Over time, however, I came to understand that integration does not mean giving up one’s roots, but rather finding one’s place in a new community without losing one’s identity.

I deeply love Sicily, but I have also learned to love this region, with its culture, distinctive characteristics and challenges. My experience has taught me that, for people arriving from another province or another country, finding a job or learning to navigate bureaucratic procedures is not enough. There is an even deeper need: to feel welcomed, recognised and valued as an asset to the community.”

“After completing my technical studies and gaining my first work experience as an industrial electrician, in 2016 I decided to change my life and move to South Tyrol, a region I had previously known mainly as a tourist.
My decision to move to Bolzano was driven by the desire to continue my studies in engineering, improve my English and learn German, while also getting closer to the German-speaking technical and industrial culture. At the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, I found an international and trilingual environment that allowed me to grow not only professionally, but also personally.
My journey then took me to Bruneck, where I attended a dual study programme in automation while working with GKN Sinter Metals. Living in the Puster Valley for five years allowed me to experience South Tyrol from a different perspective: no longer as a tourist, but as a student and worker who had to deal with everyday life, local services and also one of the region’s major challenges: finding affordable housing.
In 2024, I eventually moved to Brixen to start living together with my girlfriend, whom I had met during my university years.
Today, South Tyrol represents much more to me than simply the place where I studied: it is the region that has accompanied me throughout my personal growth, from Bolzano to Bruneck and Brixen, and where I have built my professional career, my relationships and the foundation for my future life.”

“After finishing my PhD at the University of Naples, I knew that I wanted to continue my career in research outside of academia. When the Fraunhofer Institute in Bozen offered me a position, I knew it was exactly what I was hoping for and I couldn't be happier of the decision to accept the job. I had never thought of moving to Alto-Adige, but it turned out to be perfect place to reach a good life-work balance and live more sustainably, as its position allows to travel easily by train. While here, I had to deal with home-sickness of course, and living far from the sea, still feels challenging sometime! But after a difficult start with housing, I can now say that I am satisfied with my work, house, friends and with all the entertainment occasions that this region has to offer. I still miss the sea, but I am learning that the mountain can be a very valid companion as well."

“To be honest, I ended up moving to South Tyrol almost by accident.
It all started with my work in wine and marketing. After spending more and more time in South Tyrol, what had initially been “coming here every now and then” eventually turned into the decision to make the move to Bolzano permanent.
I didn’t just relocate my home — I also moved my business to Italy. Through “Weinfi mmel | Strategy & Marketing”, I advise family-run wineries in South Tyrol and across the wider DACH region on strategy and marketing.
The transition wasn’t entirely seamless. Setting up my Italian VAT number and navigating the bureaucracy, in particular, took a few extra rounds. Without the support of my tax advisor, I’d probably still be trying to make sense of all the paperwork.
At the same time, I quickly realized just how important personal relationships and a strong, reliable network are here. That’s also what makes South Tyrol so special to me: it’s a small region, but an exciting place to do business, with a remarkably international outlook.
Today, Bolzano is not only my home, but also the base for my business. What started out as a temporary stay has, almost without me planning it, turned into a new home and the place where I’ve built the next chapter of my life."

“In September 2023, I decided to move to Bolzano to begin a new professional experience at NOI S.p.A., the company that manages NOI Techpark, where I now work in the Legal Unit in the field of Legal & Compliance.
After studying Law at the University of Milano-Bicocca and qualifying to practise law before the Milan Court of Appeal, I was looking for an environment that would allow me to continue working with Italian law while at the same time making the most of my language skills—particularly German—and experiencing a reality different from the one in which I had completed my education and professional training.
From this perspective, South Tyrol seemed to me to be an almost unique place: here, I can combine Italian law and the German language on a daily basis, working in both Italian and German and, in an international environment such as NOI Techpark, also in English.
Moving here naturally meant adapting to a new city, a new professional environment and, above all, facing the challenge of using German no longer merely as a language I had studied, but as a genuine working language. This has become one of the most stimulating aspects of my journey.
Almost three years after my move, I consider this experience an important opportunity for both professional and personal growth. Bolzano has enabled me to build a trilingual profile that combines my Italian legal background with bilingualism and an increasingly international dimension—exactly what I was looking for when I decided to move to South Tyrol."

“More than thirty years ago, I moved to South Tyrol for love. When I met the man who would later become my husband and he told me that he was from South Tyrol, I did not even know where that place was at first. Nevertheless, my love gave me the courage to leave my homeland and start a family with him.
The first years were very difficult. The German language was completely unfamiliar to me, and I often felt isolated. At that time, there was neither the Internet nor mobile phones, and I could only stay in touch with my family through expensive phone calls or letters.
Moreover, I lived in a small village surrounded by high mountains, which was very unusual for someone like me, coming from an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands. Time and patience helped me. I learned German through crossword puzzles, through my children, and later through my work and education.
I worked as a nursing assistant and attended a German-language vocational school. Later, I studied Communication and Cultural Studies and focused extensively on the subject of communication.
Today, I work at Merano Hospital and enjoy helping other people. Although my marriage did not fulfill all my expectations, it gave me two wonderful children.
I would choose this path again, although with more self-confidence and better preparation. For newcomers, I would like to see more points of contact, guidance, and support, so that they can learn to help themselves and find their own way.”

“In 2022, I moved to South Tyrol with my partner. The main reasons behind this decision were being closer to family, the curiosity to experience a different culture, and the desire to live in a place that offers a slower pace of life compared to a large international city, thanks to easy access to nature, a different outlook on life, and a high quality of life (climate, nature, culture, and cuisine).
The transition was made significantly easier by the support of my partner’s family; nevertheless, there were many organizational and cultural aspects to learn and adapt to. One particularly positive aspect is that many processes in Italy are digitalized (vehicle tax payments, payments to public authorities via pagoPA, electronic health records, and so on).
I was not aware that there was a community for people moving to South Tyrol, and such a network would have provided additional support.
Today, I am very happy with this decision, both personally and professionally at my employer, Raiffeisen Information Service SCRL, and I would choose to move to South Tyrol again without hesitation.
Programs such as "Rientro dei Cervelli" also make the transition easier and help people build a new life step by step.”

“Almost ten years ago, I met the man who is now my husband at my brother’s wedding. He comes from South Tyrol, spoke perfect standard German, and had a very distinctive personality that fascinated me from the very beginning.
At the end of 2017, I finally took the big step and moved from Swabia to South Tyrol. The move required a great deal of preparation. In particular, having my university qualifications as a dentist officially recognized was a lengthy and complicated process. Numerous documents had to be collected, translated, certified, and sent to Rome.
Finding a suitable job was also a challenge, as many things in South Tyrol are organized differently from the way they are in my home region. Fortunately, I had the support of my now-husband and his family.
After my arrival, I realized that I not only had to adapt to a new environment, but also had to learn about new languages and dialects. At work, a bilingual assistant helped me communicate with patients from different parts of South Tyrol and Italy.
Besides working, I attended language courses, so at first I had little time to get to know Bolzano. At weekends, I explored the natural beauty of South Tyrol together with my family.
The local population welcomed me very warmly, even though people can immediately tell that I am a ‘Bundesdeutsche.’ Today, my family and I feel very much at home in South Tyrol. Looking ahead, my greatest wish is to become even more integrated and to be a firmly established part of South Tyrolean society."

“In 2007, I moved to South Tyrol with my wife Berta, who comes from Dorf Tirol in South Tyrol, and our two sons, in order to take over her parents’ family business. Moving was a very good decision for our family, even though the beginning was not always easy for me.
The biggest challenge was the Italian language, which I did not speak at all at first. Over time, I learned it through daily contact with Italian-speaking people and eventually also passed the bilingualism examination at B1 level.
Today, I do not regret my move to South Tyrol for a single second. I appreciate its unique combination of nature, culture and tradition, as well as its high quality of life.
At the same time, I am convinced that bilingualism makes everyday life easier and strengthens coexistence. For this reason, I am also actively involved as a municipal councillor in Dorf Tirol.”