| If there is one country that gives France a tough | | | | the way requires restoration, is being sold for |
| competition, as to offering retirement homes to | | | | US$85,000. |
| well-to-do foreign pensioners-it is the Italian Republic. | | | | While a 430 square feet second floor apartment at |
| Many consider it one of the best places to live and | | | | the Calabrian seaside town of Scalea can be bought |
| retire. Let's find out more about Italy. | | | | for US$100,000. Only former top executives of |
| This 116,346.5 sq mi European nation, like France, has | | | | multi-national companies would be able to afford |
| perfectly combined architectural beauty with the | | | | these rates. |
| Roman Catholic religion, such the St. Peter's Basilica, | | | | But when you do decide to move to Italy, I don't |
| and should be in their "places must visit" list. | | | | think you would feel like you are "out of place". I |
| Usually, it is during this time, when one hits retirement | | | | read somewhere that Italy is experiencing a "graying" |
| age, that a person would have more spare time on | | | | population or that there are more elderly people |
| his hands. He would reminisce or reflect on the years | | | | around. So finding friends and sharing common |
| that have gone by. It is usually the time when one | | | | interests like playing golf or a game of chess would |
| would have to desire to reconnect with their spiritual | | | | definitely not be a problem. |
| side. | | | | Italy, particularly Rome, is one of the oldest |
| Italy, especially its capital Rome, is just buzzing with | | | | civilizations in the world. Just look at the Colosseum |
| priests and other religious clergy and maybe it would | | | | and remember the times when chariot races and |
| be easier to find a clergyman here than any part of | | | | fights among gladiators were the main entertainment. |
| the world. What am I thinking, of course men of the | | | | In 2006, this country also ranks as having the |
| cloth would be found everywhere, this is their city - | | | | seventh largest economy in the world. So since its |
| even the Pope lives here! | | | | economy is thriving it can be expected that most |
| I'm afraid that Italy's retirement plan is not for | | | | hospitals would be well-equipped and would have top |
| everyone. It mostly caters to the semi-rich and | | | | of the line medical services. |
| semi-famous people to the absolutely rich and | | | | Italy was once home to world renowned masters of |
| famous bracket of society because the prices of | | | | the visual art such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, |
| property in some regions are expensive. A | | | | Donatello and Raphael, and literary figures such as |
| 968-square-foot apartment in Moteleone d'Orvieto | | | | Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Niccolo Machiavelli. If |
| that has two bedrooms and one bathroom, which by | | | | they could live in Italy, then why not you? |