On this article, I’ll define the most effective methods to develop into a home sitter in Italy. Since leaving my residence within the UK in 2022 and embarking on a worldwide touring journey, I’ve been lucky sufficient to take pleasure in two improbable spells in Italy. Home sitting has performed an enormous half in permitting me to journey extensively whereas additionally saving a fortune with free lodging alongside the best way.

Figuring out the place to look and how you can safe nice placements is vital. It may be slightly daunting getting began, so I’m completely happy to have the ability to provide the better of my years of information and expertise to get you efficiently on the highway to home sitting in Italy.

Italy has all the time held a particular place in my coronary heart. It was the primary nation my husband, Rob, and I actually explored in-depth. A lot in order that he now speaks Italian to a fairly first rate degree. It was additionally whereas sitting in a stunning cafe in Milan that we determined that touring completely was what we wished to do.

Lovely Italy is filled with tradition, historical past, world-class meals and wine. It’s additionally residence to among the most welcoming individuals I’ve ever met. With an enormous variety of home sitting alternatives accessible, from the seashores of Sicily to the piazzas of Turin, let’s get began.

Find out how to Grow to be a Home Sitter in Italy

Many wonderful web sites submit home sitting jobs in Italy. With some assorted memberships, value choices, and totally different options for every, discovering the suitable web site for you is a crucial first step. I’ve outlined all the small print for my prime 5 right here.

1. Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters has been my go-to home sitting web site for over 5 years now. It’s by far the most important web site of its type available on the market with over 7,000 lively listings worldwide presently searching for sitters. It’s an amazing platform that’s straightforward to make use of with some very useful options for home sitters.

One characteristic I significantly love about this web site is the choice to save lots of my search filters in order that I might be alerted when the suitable itemizing comes on-line. Being fast to use for postings is vital and this characteristic is a good way to make sure you don’t miss any excellent placements that come up.

Having probably the most listings and being, for my part, the most effective home sitting web site round does carry with it an even bigger price ticket than others on this record. Priced at $260 a yr, the top-tier membership contains advantages cancellation insurance coverage, enhanced customer support, and extra. The extra financial fundamental membership at $129/yr is a extra inexpensive place to begin.

Avoid wasting cash whenever you join through the use of GOATS20 for 20% off any membership choice. Or be a part of utilizing this hyperlink.

2. Thoughts My Home

There’s so much to love about Thoughts My Home, and it’s an amazing web site for newcomers wanting to check the waters. Priced at simply $29 a yr, it’s an inexpensive platform that has some nice options.

Thoughts My Home is without doubt one of the longest-established home sitting web sites having been lively since 2005. The house owners play a day-to-day function within the customer support which I really feel offers it a detailed and private really feel. The stats portion of the web site is a superb addition that enables everybody to see precisely how many individuals are utilizing the positioning and the place they’re based mostly.

Householders be a part of and submit their listings totally free, so it’s also possible to be certain of loads of home sit alternatives. On a fast scan on the time of penning this, there are over 20 posts accessible throughout Italy, starting from just a few days in Umbria to a 5-month keep in Veneto! With such a low yearly price, Thoughts My Home is a superb addition to any home sitter’s instrument package.

3. Nomador

Nomador is a superb selection for home and pet sitting in Italy. Though the web site does record sits throughout the globe, they’ve a extremely sturdy European membership base with tons of of postings on the Continent. The platform has most undoubtedly taken a leaf out of the Trusted Housesitters ebook; it’s straightforward to make use of and has some wonderful options.

The absence of an app is definitely a degree in opposition to it because it requires you to recurrently test your emails for updates on any saved searches. However, the premium membership affords early entry to deal with sits and positively offers members a head begin when making use of for these superb Italian listings.

Nomador has 3 membership choices, the highest tier with quite a few added advantages is $190/yr. However in the event you’re nonetheless slightly not sure about committing for a complete yr, there’s additionally a 3-month ‘Discovery’ choice. At $85 it is a nice technique to get began with out a important monetary outlay.

4. Workaway

I’ve a gentle spot for Workaway I’ll admit it! I’ve met some nice associates and had many great experiences utilizing it. I got here throughout it just a few years in the past while searching for volunteer alternatives world wide. I shortly discovered it to be an excellent useful resource for home sitting too.

One of many foremost search choices on Workaway is for home sitting and it’s turn out to be useful for me just a few occasions when searching for placements. What’s vital to recollect is that hosts could solely record their property on one web site, so it’s a good suggestion to maintain your choices open with at the least a few totally different platforms.

Workaway is a superb selection and can be a superb string so as to add to your home sitting bow. With a low annual value of $50 a yr or $30pp when a pair joins, it’s an inexpensive choice to have at hand. The app and web site are simple to make use of, and I’ve discovered that lively hosts all the time reply promptly to inquiries.

5. Home Carers

There are many wonderful home sitting alternatives ready for you at Home Carers. Whereas it might not have the sheer quantity of listings that Trusted Housesitters boasts, it does supply a considerable variety of present listings prepared for purposes.

Within the curiosity of protecting your choices open, the cool factor about Home Carers is you could create a profile and browse listings with out spending a dime. Once you encounter a home sit that piques your curiosity, you’ll must improve to a full-paying membership, which is a really cheap $50 per yr.

Should you’re contemplating turning into a home sitter in Italy, Home Carers is a improbable platform to discover all that house-sitting web sites have to supply and get a really feel for the whole course of. With its user-friendly interface and an inexpensive membership charge, it’s a good way to get began.

Private Expertise Housesitting in Italy

Round 5 years in the past, my first home sitting stint in Italy occurred unexpectedly. Whereas doing a Workaway language change with an Italian couple from Brescia, we fashioned an prompt connection. A lot in order that they invited my husband and me to care for his or her little farm for per week that summer season.

We had lots of enjoyable caring for their 30+ chickens, 6 sheep, and a deaf canine known as Ringo who stored us entertained together with his each day antics across the different animals on the farm. We’ve remained shut with our Italian associates, and have visited them at the least half a dozen occasions since.

Upon leaving the UK in January 2022, Italy was the primary level of name. Stimigliano, a small city north of Rome, was the placement for the primary home sit of the yr. The host, a stunning Scottish expat named Pleasure, had a house and backyard that required some hearty maintenance. We, in fact, knew this forward of time and loved working exterior just a few hours every day – the spectacular valley views we had have been simply the icing on the cake.

A spritely canine known as Alfie was additionally a part of the discount and he was a enjoyable man to take care of. The home was effectively stocked with wine and Pleasure had instructed us to assist ourselves! The stunning little city and neighbors have been a delight that solely added to our constructive expertise. We have been invited most evenings for sundown aperitivo drinks someplace shut by.

Finest Areas to Home Sit in Italy

There are lots of really great elements of Italy simply ready to be explored. Listed here are just a few locations that I’ve lately seen lively home sitting alternatives for.

1. Rome

Rome is probably the obvious selection when contemplating home and pet sitting in Italy. The nation’s capital, often known as the ‘Everlasting Metropolis’, recurrently has ample home sitting alternatives with quite a few listings accessible. You may anticipate to see extra residences listed centrally, while additional out of city, greater farms and villas recurrently search sitters.

Rome is one in every of my favourite cities on the planet; the overwhelming historical past on each nook is not like anyplace else. Having the ability to seize a ‘cafe portare through’ (that’s a takeaway espresso to me and also you), and see the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountains, and the Pantheon all earlier than your drink will get chilly is a novel expertise.

Rome is a bustling metropolis and may develop into very busy throughout peak seasonal journey occasions across the summer season. Don’t overlook home sits on the outskirts of the town. Frascati, Velletri, and Stimigliano are only a handful of the attractive little cities away from the hustle and bustle however shut sufficient for a fast practice journey in for a slice of pizza and some glasses of wine.

Location: Rome is situated about midway down the nation, in the direction of its western shoreline. Nice practice companies hyperlink it with the entire nation. Naples is beneath 90 minutes away, as is Florence. Milan can be reachable in beneath 4 hours through direct practice companies.

2. Turin

Turin is commonly overshadowed by its extra standard Italian siblings however it affords an genuine style of the nation with out the overwhelming vacationer crowds. A home sitting placement right here will situate you amidst grand structure and picturesque piazzas while the native delicacies and ample aperitivo choices make it a culinary expertise unto itself.

When leaving the UK, Turin was my first level of name. I’ve all the time cherished the former Italian capital metropolis for its breathtaking monuments, the attractive River Po that flows via it, and the beautiful Duomo that dominates the skyline. It’s an amazing metropolis to easily stroll round and discover.

Turin is the birthplace of the Aperitivo, which is basically an Italian completely happy hour with a lot of small snacky meals plates – perfection. Should you step out for an early night drink anticipate to be stuffed earlier than you even make it to your dinner reservation. The town has a vibrant really feel while sustaining a neighborhood spirit. Tourism is lively right here however it’s nonetheless a homely place to safe home sit.

Location: Turin is located in northwest Italy. The northern cities of Genoa and Milan are each reachable inside just a few hours by automotive or practice. Montgenèvre Cross, a standard crossing level into France, is round 87 miles (140 km).

SEE ALOS: Find out how to Grow to be a Home Sitter in France (Free Lodging!)

3. Brescia

I’d guess that Brescia has not often cropped up in many individuals’s lists of Italian cities to go to. In any case, Milan, Venice, Lake Garda, and Verona are all very shut by. However it’s for this very cause that Brescia ought to be excessive up on everybody’s record, particularly for home sitting alternatives.

It’s the proper spot for basing your self and exploring additional afield. Brescia was the placement of one in every of my first ever home sits and is a spot I proceed to return to many times. It looks like a little bit of an untapped tourism gem. Having the ability to hop on a practice to so many beautiful locations is an unbelievable perk, however Brescia itself is an incredible place.

The town has a massive college which lends itself to a bustling metropolis vibe. An enormous medieval fortress dominates the skyline whereas the town heart boasts not one however two cathedrals! You’ll additionally discover many nice eating places and that cafe tradition for which Italy is so cherished.

Location: Brescia is situated fairly centrally within the northern part of Italy. The closest airport is Milan Bergamo which is round 1 hour away. The lakes of Garda and Iseo are each beneath an hour away. Nice practice companies join Brescia with all of Italy.

4. Sicily

Sicily has definitely been on my home sit wishlist for a very long time. I visited a number of years in the past for a summer season trip and completely cherished my time on the southern Mediterranean island. Though technically nonetheless classed as Italy, Sicily is its personal impartial area with round 5 million inhabitants.

The 2 main cities of Palermo and Catania stand out as nice home sitting areas, while most of the smaller coastal cities make for dream areas to safe a posting. I discovered all of the locals to be extraordinarily welcoming and pleasant. Even with a translation barrier my husband and I have been invited to barbecues, and pool events, and have been purchased drinks on quite a few events.

The island is residence to the highest lively volcano in Europe. This may increasingly trigger concern for some, however good warning techniques and the space from many civilian areas imply Sicily is protected to go to always of the yr. I’ve climbed Mount Etna and walked on the cooled lava fields of a current eruption. It was a loopy expertise and one I gained’t be forgetting any time quickly.

Location: Sicily is an island within the South Mediterranean Sea, situated simply 1.9 miles (3 km) from the mainland of Italy. Rome is round 620 miles (1000 km) north. The island nation of Malta is round 60 miles (93 km) off Sicily’s southern shoreline.

5. Florence

Florence is an unbelievable place to deal with sit and having hiked a lot of the area, I can verify any rumors you’ve heard of Tuscany’s magnificence are true! Nestled within the coronary heart of Tuscany, Florence stands as a dwelling testomony to the Renaissance period. It’s an excellent metropolis with a wealthy historical past and sumptuous structure – it’s no shock that it’s thought-about a jewel in Italy’s crown.

Florence was a bustling heart for artwork and science within the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The town’s museums, such because the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, home masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli to call however just a few. The Ponte Vecchio is sort of a gateway to the previous, with many small retailers and market stands lining the outdated bridge over the River Arno.

Past its apparent creative attraction, Florence is a foodie’s dream to discover. The Mercato Centrale is a feast for the senses with big shows of native produce, cheeses, and meats. The numerous wonderful trattorias discovered throughout the town serve up conventional Tuscan meals with native wines to enrich the meals. What’s to not love?

Location: Florence is located ideally for accessing a lot of Italy. With nice practice hyperlinks, guests might be in Rome to the south or Milan to the north inside 1.5 – 2 hours. The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is simply over an hour to the east of Florence.

Is Italy Protected?

Italy is usually thought-about a protected vacation spot for guests. It boasts a sturdy vacationer infrastructure and environment friendly important companies. Nevertheless, petty theft is particularly prevalent in busy vacationer areas corresponding to Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice. I’d advise warning and take into account leaving valuables at residence.

Scammers and peddlers of counterfeit items might be present in most of the main cities. Remember that vacationers might be topic to fines for buying inauthentic objects. Widespread begging, significantly by older Romani ladies with kids, can conceal a syndicated exploitation community. Think about doing your personal analysis earlier than donating to charitable causes.

Pure occasions corresponding to flooding, although irregular, can pose a threat. Energetic volcanoes corresponding to Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius shouldn’t be ignored as a doable security concern or journey disruptor. All the time keep alert for climate warnings and be sure you comply with native steering to make sure a protected and easy go to.

The assorted Mafia clans lively all through quite a few Italian cities very not often affect vacationers in any manner.

SEE ALSO: Finest Time to Go to Italy (Climate and Prices)

Execs and Cons of Being a Home Sitter in Italy

There are lots of constructive points of home sitting in Italy and naturally just a few unfavorable points too. From my very own expertise, I’ve outlined some professionals and cons to concentrate on earlier than accepting a place home sitting in Italy.

Execs of Home Sitting in Italy

• Cultural Richness: Italy has a wealthy cultural historical past of artwork and structure. Home sitting in Italy affords an immersive expertise in a rustic that has influenced world tradition for hundreds of years.
• Culinary Paradise: Italian delicacies is famend worldwide. From pasta and pizza to regional specialties, spending an prolonged interval in Italy means having quick access to among the greatest meals on the planet.
• Laid-Again Way of life: Italians put an emphasis on having fun with life. The tempo is notably slower, and there’s a deal with savoring the second. Lengthy lunches and lazy espresso breaks make it an amazing place for anybody in search of a relaxed life-style. 
• Beautiful Landscapes: From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the Amalfi Coast’s dramatic cliffs, Italy has many various and breathtaking landscapes. Home sitting right here will enable quick access to among the most lovely surroundings on the planet.
• Mediterranean Weight-reduction plan: Italy’s conventional food regimen, wealthy in olive oil, contemporary greens, and lean proteins, is related to varied well being advantages.
• Festivals and Celebrations: Italians definitely know how you can have fun life and festivals, and occasions are quite common. You’re more likely to see every little thing from conventional Christmas and Easter celebrations to large summer season concert events.
• Proximity to Different European Nations: Italy’s central location in Europe makes it handy for journey. You may simply discover neighboring international locations, and expertise various cultures only a quick journey away.
• Pretty Locals: Italians are identified for his or her heat and robust sense of household and group. Home sitting in Italy gives the chance to kind relationships with neighbors and locals and make actual long-term connections.
• World-Class Wine: Italy is famend globally for its wine. Whether or not you’re selecting up an inexpensive bottle from the grocery store or forking out for a fancier choice at dinner, you may relaxation assured the wine in Italy is elegant.

Cons of Home Sitting in Italy

• Bureaucratic Hurdles: Italy is understood for its paperwork, which might be time-consuming and typically irritating. Coping with paperwork for visas, healthcare, or different administrative issues will virtually definitely require persistence.
• Language Barrier: English is extensively taught, particularly in city areas and among the many youthful inhabitants, however some areas do pose a language barrier. There are lots of dialects of Italian; in rural areas typically even fundamental Italian doesn’t reduce it.
• Price of Residing: In main cities and vacationer locations, the price of dwelling might be comparatively excessive. I’ve discovered that gas, eating out, and sure items and companies are costlier in comparison with different international locations I’ve visited – particularly within the north of the nation.
• Political Instability: Italians like to passionately talk about politics. Largely as a result of Italy has skilled intervals of great political instability. Staying knowledgeable concerning the political local weather is a good suggestion.
• Healthcare System: Whereas Italy does have a public healthcare system, the standard and effectivity of healthcare companies can fluctuate. Entry to English-speaking medical professionals can be restricted in sure areas, particularly additional south.
• Pure Catastrophe Dangers: Italy is vulnerable to seismic exercise, particularly in areas like Naples and Sicily. Whereas stringent constructing codes and monitoring techniques assist reduce dangers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can and do happen.
• Driving Points: Though most of the foremost roads are simple to navigate, driving in smaller cities and busy cities could be a problem. Should you’re unfamiliar with the driving practices, the locals could effectively offer you some direct suggestions.
• Velocity Traps: The Italian police love a pace entice and are identified for fining for something they’ll discover improper together with your driving or automotive; they almost definitely will situation you with a ticket in the event you get pulled over. My recommendation: be taught the principles and follow the pace restrict always.
• Visa Restriction: Home sitting in Italy long run could also be a problem for non-EU residents who usually can solely keep within the European Schengen Zone for 90 days each 6 months.

Home Sitting in Italy: FAQs

Listed here are some solutions to probably the most generally requested questions on home sitting in Italy:

In Conclusion

I’ve maybe seen extra of Italy than I’ve my very own nation. It’s one place that I’ve really missed having such quick access to since leaving the UK. Being able to jump over from Stansted Airport on an inexpensive Ryanair flight for the weekend was a luxurious I took benefit of many occasions.

Home sitting in Italy over the previous few years, has allowed me to immerse myself much more within the tradition of such a beautiful nation. Once you spend time within the ‘actual’ Italy you get to see a lot greater than the vacationer spots can supply. And though these spots are equally great, it’s the depth of home sitting experiences that really make them memorable.

There are tons of of Italian properties presently ready for purposes, so get your self signed up at present.