The Marche: Italy's new frontier for international retirement migration

Abstract

Within the linked fields of population, migration, and ageing, international retirement migration (IRM) has emerged as a strong focus for empirical research. Thus far, the classic studies have been on European North–South IRM, with a specific concentration on iconic regions such as the Costa del Sol, southern France, and Tuscany. But the geography of IRM is constantly changing, as prior destination regions become “saturated” and perhaps too expensive, so that new “frontiers” are opened up. One such frontier is the Italian region of Marche, now seen as a cheaper and more “authentic” region than Tuscany. This paper uses interview narratives from 69 older age British, Dutch, and German people who have relocated, as either permanent settlers or seasonal residents, in the Marche, in order to answer two questions. The questions relate first to the main drivers of IRM at the decision‐making level and, second, to the experiences of living there, including advantages and disadvantages. We find the participants for the most part engaged in active ageing, growing their own produce, and joining in local community life and are appreciative of the beauty of the hilly landscape. However, “full” integration is hampered by language and cultural barriers, whereas the bureaucracy is their main complaint.

New frontiers in international retirement migration

“…Some new frontiers are close to ‘classic’ IRM destinations. Cases in point are the Marche region, ‘next door’ to Tuscany in central Italy (King et al ., 2019, 2021, this issue); or the Lot, adjacent to the better-known Dordogne in south-west France (Benson, 2011); or, in Portugal, alternative locations to the Algarve opened up in rural central Portugal (Sardinha, 2015) and, further afield, the Azores (Sampaio and King, 2019; Sampaio, 2021, this issue). In all these cases, the appeal of cheaper properties is reinforced by a quest for social distinction in coveting a more ‘authentic’ rural or insular space for the desired retirement lifestyle.…”

(Lifestyle) immigrant entrepreneurs in Spanish small villages: Rethinking international immigration in rural Alt Empordà, Catalonia

“…More recently, the combination of the so-called rural "idyllic" setting of a beautiful countryside with a supposedly laid-back lifestyle (e.g. rural South France, Italian Tuscany) has also attracted a relevant number of European retirees (King et al, 2019;Morén-Alegret, Wladyka, 2019). Retirement migration has been facilitated by an increase in geographic mobility; longer lifespans due to healthier lives; and more people pursuing active lifestyles through migration to countries perceived as scenically, climatically and culturally attractive and with affordable housing.…”

Identifying the Factors Affecting Second-Home Purchase Decisions of Foreigners in Turkey

“…Th e second part consisted of statements (questions) intended to determine which criteria were eff ective in home purchases of the foreign residents. Th e second part of the questionnaire was formed based on the fi ndings obtained from the qualitative research, which formed the fi rst step of the study as well as the literature reviews (Casado-Diaz, 2006;Haas & Serrow, 1993;King et al, 2019;Lipkina, 2013;Wong & Musa, 2014;Wong & Musa, 2015). Data was collected from members of the Alanya Foreigners Committee and members of Foreigners' Associations in Alanya.…”