The desire to move to Italy has long ceased to be an exotic notion for many people in Germany. Whether driven by climate, lifestyle, or family ties, the motivations are varied and the paths there rarely straightforward. A concrete example of what such a move can look like is the story of Madelaine Bernardy, 33 years old. Her path to Italy was neither planned nor linear, but unfolded across several stages.
First stop: Basel, Switzerland
Born and raised in the Black Forest, Bernardy left Germany at an early age. At 22, she moved to Switzerland and settled in Basel. There she worked as a childcare educator, found professional stability, and built a functioning life. "I had a very good job and was quite happy there," she says. At that point, Italy played no role as a potential home base, but rather as a travel destination.
That changed in 2015. On a trip to Italy, she met her current partner, who lives in Lucca in Tuscany . What followed was not a sudden upheaval, but a long period of commuting between two countries. "After that, we had a five-year long-distance relationship," Madelaine recounts. For years, her everyday life remained anchored in Switzerland, while Italy was initially associated with the relationship, travel, and visits.
Relocating to Lucca
Only after those five years did the decision come to shift her life's center. The move to Italy coincided with a phase in life marked by several changes at once. Madelaine was pregnant, living with a partner for the first time, and arrived during a period made all the more challenging by COVID restrictions . "The beginning was certainly not easy for me," the young woman says. "I became a mother for the first time and often felt very lonely." Building connections was a slow process, and much of life initially unfolded within a private circle.
Despite these circumstances, she began building a daily life in Lucca, step by step. She lived in a large villa, where she sublet a room. "I ran an Airbnb there," she says. At the same time, her partner, who works as a geometra, gave her insight into the local real estate market. "I was able to get to know many apartments and houses." This opened up an area that plays a central role for many newcomers to Italy.
Lucca: A new professional perspective in real estate
Lucca is one of the cities that has become noticeably more international in recent years. A growing number of people from abroad are interested in living, buying, or renting within the historic city walls or in the surrounding area. During this time, Madelaine increasingly encountered people looking for support, whether with finding housing, navigating bureaucracy, or simply getting settled. Out of these encounters, a new professional direction began to take shape.
"I decided to work at a real estate agency," she recalls. She continues to work there to this day. "I've already sold several houses and helped many people find rental properties ." Her own experience as a newcomer plays an important role in this. She knows not only the formal procedures, but also the uncertainties that come with starting fresh in another country.
The comparison with Germany stays present
Even after several years in Italy, the Black Forest native still finds herself comparing life there with Germany. "What I sometimes miss about Italy is the German sense of calm," she says. Conversations, playgrounds, and restaurants tend to be louder and less orderly. To recharge, she regularly returns to the Black Forest . At the same time, she appreciates the other side of life in Italy. "I love the warmth of the Italians and the imperfection."
Today, Madelaine Bernardy lives in Lucca with her Italian partner and their daughter. "My daughter is growing up bilingual and has both a German and an Italian side," she says. Which cultural identity will be stronger later on, she leaves open. For her, this duality has become a completely natural part of everyday life.
Active on Instagram as "germangirlintuscany"
Alongside her professional work, Madelaine also shares glimpses of her life in Italy online. "I have an Instagram channelwhere I share about my daily life," she says. There, as "germangirlintuscany" she tells stories about her life in Lucca, offers tips on day trips and restaurants, and showcases properties across a range of price points. Around 4,600 people now follow her there.
Her path to Italy is not a guide or a how-to. It is a case study in how emigration often works today: not as a rupture, but as a gradual development, shaped by relationships, work, and a willingness to embrace the new.