Retire in Europe with Claire · Video sources

Southern Italy, Town by Town: Weather, Flights, Rent

Eight towns in Italy's South and Islands, from Pescara to Cagliari, through official numbers: 1991-2020 weather normals by named station, the U.S. nonstop flights counted in 2025, ISTAT population estimates, earthquake zones and the tax agency's rent quotations. No town is recommended.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FTp3cpBoE · Published 10/16/2026 · Sources checked: 10/11/2026, 10/16/2026

Every number in the video is listed below with where it comes from and the date we checked it. Numbers we calculated ourselves are marked as our calculation. If a page has changed since then, please tell us in the comments under the video or at [email protected], and we'll correct it.

Dollar amounts we calculated use the European Central Bank reference rate of 10/09/2026: €1 = $1.1206.

What we said, and where it comes from

“In the Catania area (Catania Sigonella air base station, outside the city), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 61°F and January nights 41°F; July afternoons 93°F and August afternoons 94°F; about 19 inches of rain a year; and about 103 days a year reach 86°F or more.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Catania Sigonella » (16459): mean daily maximum January 15.90 °C (61 °F), mean daily minimum January 4.76 °C (41 °F); mean daily maximum July 34.06 °C (93 °F), August 34.48 °C (94 °F); precipitation total, year 483.83 mm (19.0 in); days with maximum ≥ 30 °C, year 102.83; days with minimum < 0 °C, year 2.57. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree; inches = mm ÷ 25.4; 30 °C = 86 °F. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY »: 29 to 30 of the 30 years, depending on the month and value), not a forecast; an airport or coastal station can differ from a hillside town nearby. Why Sigonella: Italy's list also has Catania Fontanarossa (the city's airport, station 16460), but its file gives daily highs and lows only for September and October (our check of the file, 10/11/2026), so Sigonella is the only complete station for the Catania area.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“At the Catania Sigonella station, February afternoons average 61°F and February nights 41°F (1991-2020).”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Catania Sigonella » (16459): mean daily maximum February 16.23 °C (61 °F), mean daily minimum February 4.75 °C (41 °F). Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY » 29 for February), not a forecast; the station is an air base outside the city.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“Italy's national statistics office, ISTAT, splits the country into five areas; its "South" (Sud) is Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria, and its "Islands" (Isole) are Sicily and Sardinia.”

ISTAT list of municipalities, sheet « CODICI al 21_02_2026 », column « Ripartizione geografica »; the legend sheet: « Codice Istat della Ripartizione geografica secondo la suddivisione del territorio nazionale in: 1) Nord-ovest, 2) Nord-est, 3) Centro, 4) Sud e 5) Isole. » (ISTAT code of the geographic area, dividing the national territory into 1) North-west, 2) North-east, 3) Centre, 4) South and 5) Islands). Every municipality of Campania, Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria carries « Sud »; every municipality of Sicilia and Sardegna carries « Isole »; Lazio (Rome) is « Centro ». English names are ours (Puglia is also called Apulia in English). The file does not use the word Mezzogiorno and does not define "southern Italy" beyond these two areas; this video uses Sud + Isole as its definition.

Last updated by the publisher: codes as of 02/21/2026 (file modified 02/26/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 02/28/2027

“ISTAT estimates that 19,669,678 people lived in the South and the Islands on 01/01/2026 (13,339,994 in the South, 6,329,684 on the Islands), a third of Italy's 58,942,828.”

Our calculation

ISTAT demo, « Popolazione residente per età e sesso al 1° gennaio 2026 (stima) », file of the five areas: total rows (age code 999) « Sud » 13339994 and « Isole » 6329684; the other areas: Nord-ovest 15955242, Nord-est 11618783, Centro 11699125. Our calculation: 13,339,994 + 6,329,684 = 19,669,678; the five areas add up to 58,942,828; 19,669,678 / 58,942,828 = 33.4%, about one in three. The app page says: « La popolazione per età e sesso al 1° Gennaio 2026 è una stima in linea con le risultanze censuarie e il bilancio provvisorio 2025. » (the population by age and sex on 01/01/2026 is an estimate in line with the census results and the provisional 2025 balance). The final figures come later; the page does not say when.

Last updated by the publisher: population on 01/01/2026 (estimate; file dated 03/30/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 04/30/2027

“ISTAT's population estimates for 01/01/2026, for the towns in this video: Naples 905,050; Palermo 626,273; Bari 316,248; Catania 296,984; Messina 216,458; Reggio Calabria 167,925; Cagliari 145,981; Pescara 118,487; Lecce 94,387.”

ISTAT demo, province files « Popolazione residente per età e sesso al 1° gennaio 2026 (stima) », total row (age code 999) of each comune: « Napoli » 905050; « Palermo » 626273; « Bari » 316248; « Catania » 296984; « Messina » 216458; « Reggio di Calabria » 167925; « Cagliari » 145981; « Pescara » 118487; « Lecce » 94387; « Cosenza » 63449; « Matera » 59368. These are the residents of the whole comune, outlying villages included, not of a metro area. Estimates (see C270).

Last updated by the publisher: population on 01/01/2026 (estimate; files dated 03/30/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 04/30/2027

“In Pescara (Pescara station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 53°F and January nights 35°F, the coldest of the example towns, and July and August afternoons 86°F; the file has no daily highs or lows for April to June.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Pescara » (16230): mean daily maximum January 11.89 °C (53 °F), mean daily minimum January 1.48 °C (35 °F); mean daily maximum July 30.02 °C (86 °F), August 29.94 °C (86 °F); days with minimum < 0 °C: January 9.67, February 7.60, December 6.61. April-June temperatures and May precipitation are blank, so no yearly totals. Years used (« NoY »): 22 to 28 of the 30. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In Bari (Bari Palese airport station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 55°F and January nights 39°F; July afternoons 87°F and August afternoons 87°F; about 18 inches of rain a year; and about 48 days a year reach 86°F or more.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Bari Palese » (16270): mean daily maximum January 12.62 °C (55 °F), mean daily minimum January 4.14 °C (39 °F); mean daily maximum July 30.58 °C (87 °F), August 30.52 °C (87 °F); precipitation total, year 466.63 mm (18.4 in); days with maximum ≥ 30 °C, year 48.45; days with minimum < 0 °C, year 4.02; days with precipitation ≥ 1 mm, year 63.31. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree; inches = mm ÷ 25.4; 30 °C = 86 °F. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY »: 24 to 28 of the 30 years, depending on the month and value), not a forecast; an airport or coastal station can differ from a hillside town nearby.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In Naples (Naples Capodichino airport station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 56°F and January nights 41°F, and August afternoons 88°F; Italy's file leaves the May and July highs and lows, and the yearly rainfall, blank.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Napoli Capodichino » (16289): mean daily maximum January 13.47 °C (56 °F), mean daily minimum January 4.82 °C (41 °F), mean daily maximum August 31.26 °C (88 °F); the July maximum and minimum, the May maximum and minimum and the July precipitation are blank, so the file gives no yearly maximum or precipitation total. Wettest month on the file: November, 115.52 mm (4.5 in). Years used (« NoY »): 21 to 28 of the 30. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32; inches = mm ÷ 25.4.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In Messina (Messina station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 59°F and January nights 50°F; July afternoons 88°F and August afternoons 89°F; about 37 inches of rain a year; and about 58 days a year reach 86°F or more.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Messina » (16420): mean daily maximum January 14.81 °C (59 °F), mean daily minimum January 10.12 °C (50 °F); mean daily maximum July 30.86 °C (88 °F), August 31.42 °C (89 °F); precipitation total, year 941.39 mm (37.1 in); days with maximum ≥ 30 °C, year 57.72; days with minimum < 0 °C, year 0.00; days with precipitation ≥ 1 mm, year 86.08. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree; inches = mm ÷ 25.4; 30 °C = 86 °F. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY »: 29 to 30 of the 30 years, depending on the month and value), not a forecast; an airport or coastal station can differ from a hillside town nearby. Of the seven stations in this video (Pescara, Bari Palese, Napoli Capodichino, Lecce, Messina, Catania Sigonella, Cagliari Elmas), Messina has the highest January mean minimum and the highest yearly precipitation total among those that give one (our comparison of the station claims).

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In Cagliari (Cagliari Elmas airport station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 58°F and January nights 42°F; July afternoons 89°F and August afternoons 90°F; about 16 inches of rain a year; and about 65 days a year reach 86°F or more.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Cagliari Elmas » (16560): mean daily maximum January 14.68 °C (58 °F), mean daily minimum January 5.45 °C (42 °F); mean daily maximum July 31.70 °C (89 °F), August 32.10 °C (90 °F); precipitation total, year 409.57 mm (16.1 in); days with maximum ≥ 30 °C, year 65.21; days with minimum < 0 °C, year 2.86; days with precipitation ≥ 1 mm, year 58.70. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree; inches = mm ÷ 25.4; 30 °C = 86 °F. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY »: 26 to 27 of the 30 years, depending on the month and value), not a forecast; an airport or coastal station can differ from a hillside town nearby. Of the stations in this video that give a yearly precipitation total (Bari Palese, Lecce, Messina, Catania Sigonella, Cagliari Elmas), Cagliari Elmas has the lowest (our comparison).

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In Lecce (Lecce station), 1991-2020: January afternoons average 56°F and January nights 39°F; July afternoons 91°F and August afternoons 91°F; about 27 inches of rain a year; and about 76 days a year reach 86°F or more.”

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Lecce » (16332): mean daily maximum January 13.12 °C (56 °F), mean daily minimum January 3.71 °C (39 °F); mean daily maximum July 32.53 °C (91 °F), August 32.66 °C (91 °F); precipitation total, year 684.58 mm (27.0 in); days with maximum ≥ 30 °C, year 76.06; days with minimum < 0 °C, year 11.24; days with precipitation ≥ 1 mm, year 66.10. Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded to the degree; inches = mm ÷ 25.4; 30 °C = 86 °F. Averages over the years the file counts (« NoY »: 29 to 30 of the 30 years, depending on the month and value), not a forecast; an airport or coastal station can differ from a hillside town nearby. The file's header puts the station at 40°14′18″N, 18°08′20″E, 61 m above sea level, outside the city, so the video says "the Lecce station".

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“At the Lecce station, February afternoons average 57°F and February nights 39°F, with about 7 days of rain in February; the file's row for hours of sunshine is empty; and its 11 frost nights a year are more than the Bari, Cagliari, Catania Sigonella and Messina stations have put together (1991-2020).”

Our calculation

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Lecce » (16332): February mean daily maximum 13.79 °C (57 °F), mean daily minimum 4.09 °C (39 °F); « Number_of_Days_with_Precipitation_>=_1 » February 6.78; « Number_of_Days_with_Minimum_Temperature_<_0_Deg_C » Annual 11.24 (February 3.04). The row « Total_Number_of_Hours_of_Sunshine » has no value in any month and its « NoY » (number of years) is 0, so the file says nothing about sunshine in Lecce. Our sum of the yearly frost-night counts at the other complete stations in this video: Bari Palese 4.02 + Cagliari Elmas 2.86 + Catania Sigonella 2.57 + Messina 0.00 = 9.45, less than Lecce's 11.24. Pescara is left out of the comparison because its file is incomplete (its January alone has 9.67 frost nights). Our conversion: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, rounded. The file's header puts the station at 40°14′18″N, 18°08′20″E, 61 m above sea level, outside the city, so the video says "the Lecce station".

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“Of the seven stations in this video, only Messina's file gives hours of sunshine: about 2,600 a year (1991-2020).”

Our calculation

WMO normals 1991-2020, station « Messina » (16420): « Total_Number_of_Hours_of_Sunshine », Annual 2580.71 hours (January 130.04, July 335.38). In the files of the other six stations used in this video (Pescara 16230, Bari Palese 16270, Napoli Capodichino 16289, Lecce 16332, Catania Sigonella 16459, Cagliari Elmas 16560) the sunshine row has no values (our check of each file). Hours of sunshine are not the same as clear days, and a blank row is not a measurement of zero.

Last updated by the publisher: normals period 1991-2020 (archive version 6.6) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“The weather figures in this video are the official 1991-2020 climate normals that Italy submitted to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as archived by the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA NCEI); Italy's submission has no station for Palermo or Reggio Calabria, and the nearest listed station to Reggio is Messina.”

NCEI readme: « A total of 141 countries across the six World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regions submitted 1991-2020 Climatological Standard Normals in response to a decadal request from the WMO. » Region VI explanatory information, Italy: « Data for 84 stations were provided by the WMO Member in individual Comma Separated Values (CSV) files. » The station list has Bari Palese, Lecce, Napoli Capodichino, Catania Fontanarossa, Catania Sigonella, Cagliari Elmas, Messina, Pescara, Trapani Birgi and others in the South; it has no station for Palermo or Reggio Calabria. Each file gives, per month, the mean daily maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation and counts such as days with a maximum of 30 °C or more, plus the number of years used (« NoY »); a month is left blank when too few years were complete. The documents do not name the Italian body that sent the data (Italy's WMO Member is its national meteorological service). We cite NOAA's archive server www.nodc.noaa.gov (same accession 0253808, version 6.6; the Bari file is byte-identical to the www.ncei.noaa.gov copy), because the robots.txt of www.ncei.noaa.gov disallows automated access to /data.

Last updated by the publisher: archive version 6.6 (normals period 1991-2020) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2031

“In 2025, only four airports in the South had regular, scheduled nonstop flights to the U.S.: Naples, Catania, Palermo and Bari; Cagliari, Brindisi, Olbia, Alghero and Pescara saw only a few private charters, and Lamezia Terme (Calabria) none at all.”

Our calculation

U.S. DOT « International_Report_Passengers » (« All nonstop commercial passenger traffic traveling between international points and U.S. airports. »; public domain; rows updated 08/07/2026; latest month 12/2025). Our query of Italian airports (fg_wac 450) NAP, PMO, CTA, BRI, BDS, CAG, SUF, PSR, OLB, AHO, REG, CIY, TPS for 2025: scheduled passengers only at NAP, CTA, PMO, BRI. Charter-only rows: OLB 154, NAP 114, CTA 45, BDS 38, PMO 31, CAG 21, BRI 13, AHO 11, PSR 1 passengers for the whole year (business-jet sized). No rows at all for SUF (Lamezia Terme), REG (Reggio Calabria), CIY (Comiso), TPS (Trapani). The dataset counts both directions together: our cross-check, United Newark-Palermo, 10,800 + 9,920 passengers in BTS T-100 = 20,720 scheduled here. 2026 data are not public yet. Not in the dataset: fares and connecting itineraries.

Last updated by the publisher: dataset rows updated 08/07/2026 (data through 12/2025) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 09/30/2027

“Naples had the most: in 2025 United flew to Newark from April through October, and from May through October American flew to Philadelphia and Chicago and Delta to New York JFK and Atlanta.”

Our calculation

Same DOT dataset, scheduled passengers 2025 (both directions), our query: NAP-EWR UA months 4-10, 100,125 passengers; NAP-PHL AA months 5-10, 69,563; NAP-JFK DL months 5-10, 62,539; NAP-ORD AA months 5-10, 62,498; NAP-ATL DL months 5-10, 32,150; plus one-off rows NAP-BOS UA July (146) and NAP-MSP AA August (230). No scheduled Naples row in January-March or November-December 2025.

Last updated by the publisher: dataset rows updated 08/07/2026 (data through 12/2025) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 09/30/2027

“In 2025, Catania had Delta to New York JFK from May through October; Palermo had United to Newark from May through September and Neos to JFK from June through October; Bari had Neos to JFK from July through October. In 2024, the South's only scheduled U.S. nonstops were from Naples and Palermo.”

Our calculation

Same DOT dataset, scheduled passengers 2025 (both directions), our query: CTA-JFK DL months 5-10, 56,945 passengers; PMO-EWR UA months 5-9, 20,720; PMO-JFK NOS (Neos, an Italian airline) months 6-10, 15,371; BRI-JFK NOS months 7-10, 8,141. In 2024 the same dataset had only Naples (Newark, JFK, Philadelphia) and Palermo (Neos to JFK) for the South, so routes change from year to year; check the airline's schedule before planning.

Last updated by the publisher: dataset rows updated 08/07/2026 (data through 12/2025) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 09/30/2027

“From November through March 2025, no airport in the South had a scheduled nonstop to the U.S., while Rome Fiumicino had nonstops to nine U.S. airports even in January.”

Our calculation

Same DOT dataset, our query: no scheduled row for any southern airport in months 1, 2, 3, 11 or 12 of 2025 (the earliest is NAP-EWR in April, the latest October). Rome FCO, January 2025, scheduled rows to ATL, BOS, EWR, IAD, JFK, LAX, MIA, PHL, SFO (9 U.S. airports), 107,915 passengers that month; FCO had scheduled U.S. traffic in every month of 2025. The dataset does not show connecting flights (for example Naples-Rome-U.S.). The same query for 2024: scheduled southern rows only in months 4 to 10 (Naples to Newark, JFK and Philadelphia, plus two United rows to Stewart, New York; Palermo to JFK on Neos), so there was no scheduled southern nonstop from November 2024 through March 2025 either (our check, 10/11/2026).

Last updated by the publisher: dataset rows updated 08/07/2026 (data through 12/2025) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 09/30/2027

“Italy's Civil Protection Department sorts every municipality into earthquake zones 1 to 4, from zone 1, "the most dangerous", where the chance of a strong earthquake is high, to zone 4, where it is very low; the list on its site is updated to May 2025.”

Dipartimento della Protezione civile, « Classificazione sismica »: « Zona 1 - E’ la zona più pericolosa. La probabilità che capiti un forte terremoto è alta Zona 2 - In questa zona forti terremoti sono possibili Zona 3 - In questa zona i forti terremoti sono meno probabili rispetto alla zona 1 e 2 Zona 4 - E’ la zona meno pericolosa: la probabilità che capiti un terremoto è molto bassa ». The Regions adopt the list (« le Regioni, a cui lo Stato ha delegato l’adozione della classificazione sismica del territorio »), and some use sub-zones (Basilicata: 1a, 1b, 2a-2d, 3a, 3b). Files: « Classificazione sismica aggiornata a maggio 2025 formato csv » and the regional rules « aggiornata al 31 maggio 2025 ». The zone sets building-design rules; it is not a prediction for a given building, and the page gives no advice to buyers or renters.

Last updated by the publisher: classification updated to 05/31/2025 · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 05/31/2027

“On that list, Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, Messina and Siracusa are in zone 1; Naples, Salerno, Pescara, Campobasso, Palermo and Catania in zone 2; Matera in sub-zone 2d; Bari in zone 3; and Lecce, Brindisi and Cagliari in zone 4.”

Protezione civile CSV « classificazione-sismica-aggiornata-maggio-2025 », column « ZONA_SISMICA »: Reggio di Calabria (80063) 1, Cosenza (78045) 1, Messina (83048) 1, Siracusa (89017) 1; Napoli (63049) 2, Salerno (65116) 2, Pescara (68028) 2, Campobasso (70006) 2, Palermo (82053) 2, Catania (87015) 2, Trapani (81021) 2; Matera (77014) 2d; Bari (72006) 3; Lecce (75035) 4, Brindisi (74001) 4, Cagliari (92009) 4. The number in brackets is the ISTAT municipality code.

Last updated by the publisher: classification updated to 05/31/2025 · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 05/31/2027

“Around Mount Vesuvius, Italy's national emergency plan has a "red zone" of 25 municipalities in the provinces of Naples and Salerno, Pompeii, Ercolano and Torre del Greco among them, plus parts of three eastern districts of Naples.”

Protezione civile, « Vesuvio »: « Fanno parte della zona rossa 25 Comuni delle Province di Napoli e Salerno: Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, Cercola, Ercolano, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, Pollena Trocchia, Pompei, Portici, Sant’Anastasia, San Giorgio a Cremano, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Somma Vesuviana, Terzigno, Torre Annunziata, Torre del Greco, Trecase, Palma Campania, Poggiomarino, San Gennaro Vesuviano e Scafati, e solo in parte le circoscrizioni di Barra, Ponticelli e San Giovanni a Teduccio del Comune di Napoli » (plus Nola and an enclave of Pomigliano d'Arco). The red zone is the area exposed to pyroclastic flows and to roof collapse from ash; a « zona gialla » (yellow zone) of 63 municipalities and three Naples districts is exposed to heavy ash fall. The page gives no forecast of an eruption.

Last updated by the publisher: undated (page read 10/11/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 10/31/2027

“West of Naples, the Campi Flegrei red zone takes in Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida and Quarto and several Naples neighborhoods, about 500,000 residents; the volcano's alert level was yellow when we checked, on 10/11/2026.”

Protezione civile, « Campi Flegrei »: « Sono ricompresi in zona rossa i comuni di Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida e Quarto; parte dei Comuni di Giugliano in Campania e di Marano di Napoli; alcuni quartieri di Napoli: Soccavo, Pianura, Bagnoli, Fuorigrotta e parte dei quartieri di San Ferdinando, Posillipo, Chiaia, Arenella, Vomero, Chiaiano e Montecalvario. Nell'area vivono circa 500mila abitanti. » and « Attualmente il livello di allerta per i Campi Flegrei è giallo. » The alert levels were updated by « decreto del 30 ottobre 2025 »; the level has been yellow since 2012, with uplift of « oltre 150 cm (dal 2005) » and earthquakes up to magnitude 4.6. The red zone is the area where preventive evacuation is the only protection in case of « allarme ». The level can change at any time; check the page before printing.

Last updated by the publisher: alert-level decree 10/30/2025 (page read 10/11/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 01/31/2027

“Every six months Italy's tax agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes, for each zone of every town, a low and a high monthly rent per square meter by type of home and its condition; the video uses the second half of 2025 (posted 03/16/2026); the first half of 2026 was posted on 10/15/2026, after our check.”

Agenzia delle Entrate, OMI (Osservatorio del Mercato Immobiliare, the real-estate market observatory), page « Quotazioni immobiliari »: « Ultimo aggiornamento: 16 marzo 2026 Ultimo semestre pubblicato: 2° semestre 2025 » and « Le quotazioni immobiliari semestrali individuano, per ogni delimitata zona territoriale omogenea (zona OMI) di ciascun comune, un intervallo minimo/massimo, per unità di superficie in euro al mq, dei valori di mercato e locazione, per tipologia immobiliare e stato di conservazione. » (the half-yearly quotations give, for each OMI zone of each municipality, a minimum/maximum range per square meter in euros of market and rental values, by property type and state of repair). The page does not say when the first half of 2026 will be posted; on 10/11/2026 the search tool still offered « 2 - 2025 » as the newest semester. Update 10/16/2026: on 10/15/2026 the agency posted the first half of 2026 (page: « Ultimo aggiornamento: 15 ottobre 2026 Ultimo semestre pubblicato: 1° semestre 2026 »). The video keeps the second half of 2025, the newest when we checked (10/11/2026); the new figures change Lecce's lowest zone to 2,4 €/m² (≈ €192 for 80 m²), Naples' top zone to 17,2 (≈ €1,376), Palermo's top zone to 10,5 (≈ €840) and Catania's top zone to 7,8 (≈ €624); the other zones in this video are unchanged (Reggio Calabria's lowest zone still 2,3, ≈ €184). Listed in the description.

Last updated by the publisher: 03/16/2026 (page: « Ultimo aggiornamento: 16 marzo 2026 ») · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“The agency warns that its figures are only a broad indication and cannot replace an appraisal of a particular home, and it asks anyone using them to cite "Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI".”

Same page: « le quotazioni OMI non possono intendersi sostitutive della stima puntuale, in quanto forniscono indicazioni di valore di larga massima. Solo la stima effettuata da un tecnico professionista può rappresentare e descrivere in maniera esaustiva e con piena efficacia l'immobile e motivare il valore da attribuirgli. » (OMI quotations cannot replace a specific appraisal, as they give broad indications of value; only an appraisal by a professional can fully describe the property and justify its value) and « In caso di utilizzo dei dati pubblicati è necessario citare quale fonte » « Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI ». The page states no other licence terms; this video gives that credit in the description and on this sources page. The figures are quotations built from several surveys (the page names notarial sale prices among them for sales), not the rent written in actual leases.

Last updated by the publisher: 03/16/2026 · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“The rent figures are euros per square meter per month of gross floor area (walls included), and this video quotes the agency's standard housing type, "abitazioni civili", in normal condition.”

Each result page (here Bari, zone D5, second half of 2025) has the columns « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) » and « Superficie (L/N) » and the note « Il Valore di Locazione è espresso in Euro/mq per mese riferito alla superficie Netta (N) ovvero Lorda (L) » (the rental value is in euros per m² per month, on net (N) or gross (L) area). Every rent row we used for apartments is marked « L » (lorda, gross). The pages list several housing types: « Abitazioni civili », « Abitazioni di tipo economico » and, in some zones, « Abitazioni signorili » and « Ville e Villini »; the condition is « Ottimo », « Normale » or « Scadente », and the one in capitals is the most common in the zone. We quote « Abitazioni civili », « NORMALE » / « Normale » only. The pages do not define these types in words; the agency's manual (section « Manuali e guide ») does. Conversion for readers: 1 m² = 10.764 sq ft.

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Bari (Puglia), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €3.20 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €10.60 in the highest, across the 26 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone D5 « Periferica/VILLAGGIO DEI LAVORATORI - VIA BRUNO BUOZZI », rent 3,2 to 4,8 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone B10 « Centrale/CENTRO STORICO », rent 7,1 to 10,6. The highest zone is the historic center (« CENTRO STORICO »). Our count: 26 of the town's 33 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Lecce (Puglia), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €2.30 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €8.00 in the highest, across the 16 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone E20 « Suburbana/LITORALE: DA CASALABATE A FRIGOLE (TORRE RINALDA, SPIAGGIA BELLA, TORRE CHIANCA) », rent 2,3 to 3,4 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone B3 « Centrale/CENTRO STORICO », rent 5,5 to 8. The highest zone is the historic center (« CENTRO STORICO »). Our count: 16 of the town's 18 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Naples (Campania), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €3.80 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €16.60 in the highest, across the 61 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone E32 « Suburbana/PONTICELLI (periferia) », rent 3,8 to 5,7 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone B19 « Centrale/FASCIA COSTIERA DI PREGIO », rent 11,1 to 16,6. Our count: 61 of the town's 67 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Palermo (Sicily), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €2.60 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €8.50 in the highest, across the 49 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone C10 « Semicentrale/RIONE DANISINNI », rent 2,6 to 3,4 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone B14 « Centrale/VITTORIO EMANUELE-MAQUEDA-ROMA », rent 6,5 to 8,5. Our count: 49 of the town's 51 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Catania (Sicily), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €2.60 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €7.50 in the highest, across the 24 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone D1 « Periferica/VILLAGGIO S.M.GORETTI, ACQUICELLA, ASSE DEI SERVIZI, AEROPORTO. », rent 2,6 to 3,4 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone C4 « Semicentrale/S. GIOVANNI LI CUTI-A. DE GASPERI - ALDEBARAN - A. ALAGONA - DEL ROTOLO - EUROPA - OGNINA - VIA ACICASTELLO », rent 5 to 7,5. Our count: 24 of the town's 27 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Cagliari (Sardinia), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €2.50 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €11.50 in the highest, across the 20 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone E1 « Suburbana/VILLAGGIO PESCATORI E ZONA LAGUNARE », rent 2,5 to 3,5 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone C4 « Semicentrale/MONTE URPINU - BONARIA », rent 7,7 to 11,5. Our count: 20 of the town's 22 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Pescara (Abruzzo), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €3.20 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €7.90 in the highest, across the 17 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone D2 « Periferica/- ZONA INDUSTRIALE E AEROPORTUALE », rent 3,2 to 4,8 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone C3 « Semicentrale/- RIONE PINETA E ZONE LIMITROFE », rent 5,3 to 7,9. Our count: 17 of the town's 18 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“Reggio Calabria (Calabria), second half of 2025: for a standard apartment (abitazione civile) in normal condition, the tax agency's rent figures run from €2.30 per m² a month in the lowest zone to €9.00 in the highest, across the 21 urban zones it prices.”

Our calculation

Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI, semester « Anno 2025 - Semestre 2 », destination « Residenziale », type « Abitazioni civili », condition normal, rent « Valori Locazione (€/mq x mese) », gross area (« L »). Lowest minimum: zone D3 « Periferica/CIRCONVALLAZIONE JONICA LATO MONTE - RIONE SAN SPERATO. », rent 2,3 to 3 (€/m² a month). Highest maximum: zone B9 « Centrale/CENTRO STORICO - CORSO G. GARIBALDI - LUNGOMARE - VILLA COMUNALE - PIAZZA G. DE NAVA. », rent 6,2 to 9. The highest zone is the historic center (« CENTRO STORICO »). Our count: 21 of the town's 25 OMI zones are urban zones (codes B, C, D, E) with a quotation for this type and condition; rural zones (R) are left out. The range is the spread between zones, not a forecast for any one apartment; the agency calls its figures broad indications (C276).

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“For an 80 m² apartment (about 860 sq ft of gross floor area), the tax agency's figures for the second half of 2025 come to about: Bari €256 to €848; Lecce €184 to €640; Naples €304 to €1,328; Palermo €208 to €680; Catania €208 to €600; Cagliari €200 to €920; Pescara €256 to €632; Reggio Calabria €184 to €720 a month, from the lowest-priced zone to the highest (our calculation).”

Our calculation

Our calculation: monthly rent = 80 m² × the agency's €/m² figure (lowest zone minimum and highest zone maximum from the eight town claims before this one). Bari: 80 × 3,2 = 256, 80 × 10,6 = 848; Lecce: 80 × 2,3 = 184, 80 × 8 = 640; Naples: 80 × 3,8 = 304, 80 × 16,6 = 1328; Palermo: 80 × 2,6 = 208, 80 × 8,5 = 680; Catania: 80 × 2,6 = 208, 80 × 7,5 = 600; Cagliari: 80 × 2,5 = 200, 80 × 11,5 = 920; Pescara: 80 × 3,2 = 256, 80 × 7,9 = 632; Reggio Calabria: 80 × 2,3 = 184, 80 × 9 = 720. 80 m² × 10.764 = 861 sq ft. The area is gross (walls included), so the living space is smaller. Real asking rents also depend on furniture, floor, elevator, heating and the lease type, none of which the quotations show. Dollar figures (our math, ECB reference rate of 10/09/2026, €1 = $1.1206): €184 ≈ $206; €1,328 ≈ $1,488. Update 10/16/2026: on 10/15/2026 the agency posted the first half of 2026 (page: « Ultimo aggiornamento: 15 ottobre 2026 Ultimo semestre pubblicato: 1° semestre 2026 »). The video keeps the second half of 2025, the newest when we checked (10/11/2026); the new figures change Lecce's lowest zone to 2,4 €/m² (≈ €192 for 80 m²), Naples' top zone to 17,2 (≈ €1,376), Palermo's top zone to 10,5 (≈ €840) and Catania's top zone to 7,8 (≈ €624); the other zones in this video are unchanged (Reggio Calabria's lowest zone still 2,3, ≈ €184). Listed in the description.

Last updated by the publisher: second half of 2025 (published 03/16/2026) · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 12/31/2026

“The tax agency offers its real-estate observatory (OMI) data under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (CC BY 4.0) and requires the credit "Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI"; this video uses the OMI rent quotations with that credit and changes them only as described in C34.”

Agenzia delle Entrate, « Forniture dati OMI » (page « Ultimo aggiornamento: 5 ottobre 2026 »): « I servizi di consultazione e fruizione delle banche dati dell’Osservatorio del mercato immobiliare dell’Agenzia delle Entrate sono disponibili con licenza CC-BY 4.0 » (the consultation and use services of the OMI databases are available under a CC-BY 4.0 licence), linking to creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, and « L’Agenzia, inoltre, è l’amministrazione titolare dei dati; in caso di uso dei dati è obbligatorio citarne correttamente la titolarità: «Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI». » (the agency owns the data; anyone using the data must credit it as « Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI »). The « Quotazioni immobiliari » page adds: « In caso di utilizzo dei dati pubblicati è necessario citare quale fonte » « Agenzia delle Entrate – OMI ». CC BY 4.0 allows commercial reuse with attribution, a link to the licence and an indication of changes. Our changes: we picked the lowest zone minimum and the highest zone maximum per town for « Abitazioni civili » in normal condition and multiplied them by 80 m² (C34).

Last updated by the publisher: 10/05/2026 (page: « Ultimo aggiornamento: 5 ottobre 2026 ») · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 03/31/2027

“Italy's elective residence visa is handled in the U.S. by ten Italian offices, nine consulates and the consular office of the Embassy in Washington, D.C., and each serves its own list of states.”

Our own reading on 10/11/2026. The Embassy's Forms page lists « ELECTIVE RESIDENCY VISA CHECKLIST » (PDF created 01/20/2025). Corrected in place on 10/11/2026: the 10/07/2026 version read nine consulates and said the Embassy had no elective residence page of its own. Embassy page « List of first category consulates and their jurisdictions », verbatim: Boston « Jurisdiction: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont »; Chicago « Jurisdiction: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming »; Detroit « Jurisdiction: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee »; Philadelphia « Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia, New Jersey (only the following counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem. The remaining counties are under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in New York), Maryland (except for Montgomery and Prince George's counties which fall under the jurisdiction of the consular section of the Embassy) and Virginia (except for the counties of Arlington and Fairfax which are also under the jurisdiction of the Embassy). »; Houston « Jurisdiction: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas »; Los Angeles « Jurisdiction: Arizona, California (the following counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Ventura), New Mexico, Nevada »; Miami « Jurisdiction: Alabama, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Florida, Georgia, Island of Saba, Mississippi, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, South Carolina, Turks and Caicos, U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas »; New York « Jurisdiction: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey (the following counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren) and Bermuda »; San Francisco « Jurisdiction: Alaska, California (except the following counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, which fall within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Los Angeles), Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, the State of Washington, Hawaii. Also, the following U.S. territories: Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Atoll, Johnston Atoll. »; Embassy « Consular Jurisdiction: District of Columbia, Maryland (only Montgomery and Prince George's counties), Virginia (only Arlington and Fairfax counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax). All other counties in Maryland and Virginia fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia. » The Foreign Ministry's 'Where to apply' list gives the same districts (it omits the three Virginia cities). The Embassy has its own elective residency checklist (PDF of 01/20/2025). Corrected in place on 10/11/2026: the 10/07/2026 version shortened the Miami and San Francisco lists and said the Embassy had no elective residence page.

Last updated by the publisher: Embassy pages modified 08/10/2026 and 08/27/2026; checklist PDF 01/20/2025 · Checked: 10/16/2026 · Next check: 04/30/2027

Quotes from public discussions

Short quotes from people in public forums, comments and articles, word for word. We describe each person only with what they said about themselves. These quotes are not reviews or endorsements of anything we sell.

“We are thinking of some time in Lecce for sunnier days.”

— a traveler who was booked for a February trip, Rick Steves Travel Forum, 11/06/2021 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

“We would not dream of going there in the summer, since we hate heat and beaches, but it's wonderful in March & April, November & December.”

— someone who wrote that they'd been to Puglia four times, at least two weeks each, Rick Steves Travel Forum, 05/26/2022 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

“We were in Sicily in February. It was 50s (F) during the day, 30s-40s at night. The locals were all bundled in puffy down coats.”

— a traveler who had been to Sicily in February, Rick Steves Travel Forum, 11/06/2021 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

“How anyone makes it through the damp cold with their inferior heating I do not know, but dang, the food was terrific!”

— someone remembering a 2013 stay in Trapani, in Sicily, Rick Steves Travel Forum, 11/06/2021 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

“I focused on Southern Italy in November 2024--Amalfi, Maratea, Tropea, Matera, Lecce, Polignano al Mare and then Naples. Solo, 70+.”

— a traveler who described herself as "Solo, 70+", Rick Steves Travel Forum, 05/08/2025 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

“I am certain it cannot get any hotter!”

— a traveler who was making Lecce their base in early June, Rick Steves Travel Forum, 06/07/2022 · source

Retrieved: 10/11/2026

Images and maps

Licences read from the Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay records of each file on 10/16/2026.

Video footage

Music and sound

Script

Researched and written by Retire in Europe with Claire from the official sources above.

Please note

Researched and produced in Europe by an independent publisher. General information from official sources, with the dates we checked them on our sources page. Not legal, tax, financial or medical advice, and no one here is a lawyer or tax adviser. Rules change, so check the linked official page before you act. Not affiliated with any government.

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The Italy Visa Checklist:

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