Moving to a country with a different first language than you’re used to is always going to be a bit of a shock to the system. Learning the language before you go, or at least a few necessary words and phrases will really help you to settle in to your new life in Italy.

Italian people are not ones to speak much English, so if you are not planning on learning Italian, you may well find yourself surrounded by other Brits in order to get by, and that kind of defeats the object, doesn’t it? Italians are very proud people and they love it when you make an effort to communicate with them in their native tongue. They will be very encouraging if they can see you are trying.

Part time courses are ideal to enrol in if you are working full time, or before you move to Italy; even just hearing the language can help you when you get there. Perhaps buy an audio tape or CD and play it in the car, as it will familiarise your brain with the language and help you pick out words as you learn them.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Italy, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Italy Property Buying Guide’