As 2026 begins, Magic Towns Italy is back with its weekly updates, starting with a detailed look at where expats and retirees are actually researching a move to in Italy right now.
Using a combination of search engine trends and real behaviour on our Town Explorer, we analysed thousands of data points to identify the top 20 Italian towns expats are most interested in for 2026, along with notable risers and fallers compared to last year. The results challenge some assumptions and confirm others, showing that interest is spreading well beyond the usual hotspots.
Alongside this analysis, we’ve also released several new pieces that look at life on the ground in Italy, including:
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A deep dive into Soverato, a relaxed seaside town in Calabria, based on official data and resident feedback
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A curated list of Calabrian seaside towns qualifying for Italy’s 7% flat tax scheme
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An expat story following Sara Shepherd, who moved from Australia to Fabriano to build a new life around food and community
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A companion podcast episode unpacking the data behind where expats are really looking to move
In parallel, and following extensive feedback from readers, Magic Towns Italy has also published a comprehensive step-by-step guide to buying property in Italy, written specifically for expats and designed to cut through hype, misinformation, and agent-led narratives.



