Verbania, Italy

Capital City

At just under 30,000 people, Verbania is hardly the bustling metropolis some romanticize when dreaming of an Italian life. The reality is a slow-paced lakeside town with a heavy bureaucratic presence - the territory has changed hands between various rulers and regions over the centuries. While the climate is temperate, the cold winters and hot summers can be a shock for those used to milder conditions. Still, the city's botanical gardens and scenic location across Lake Maggiore may appeal to a certain set of nature-loving retirees looking to escape the hectic pace of modern life.