The work-from-home life isn’t always glamorous, and some people are averse to remote work altogether – but what if you could work from your dream destination city with a customized program to support your needs as a freelancer?

For remote workers and freelancers, a trend has begun to emerge in which cities create attractive platforms for work-from-anywhere programs. The Tulsa remote work program offers a $10,000 support grant to remote workers who move there. Some countries have rolled out digital nomad visas, such as in the Caribbean, as well as e-residency programs for freelancers such as in Estonia.

Venice, Italy has also jumped aboard this trend in an effort to entice young professionals. The city unveiled a pilot program referred to as Venywhere, inviting remote workers of all nationalities to become part of a community in one of the world’s leading tourist destinations.

Venywhere Project

The Venywhere project was rolled out in December 2021, and aims to make the move to Venice easy for remote workers. For a one-time fee, foreigners get help with all those tricky things you face when moving to a new country – from finding somewhere to live, to working out how to register and top up a local SIM card. It also provides immersion and integration program using Venice’s picturesque surroundings of lagoons, architectural beauty, historical landmarks, and involvement with local programs for remote workers. 

Whether interested in a short-term stay, or settling in like a Venetian citizen, the city is eager to welcome in-comers and boost their languishing tourist-dependent economy. The program is also hoping to attract companies and small entrepreneurs who can plan short-term stays with team building activities.

Through Venywhere, the Venice Foundation and a few non-profit organizations have created a win-win solution for everyone; the city gets to revive its economy with an influx of residents and long-term visitors, and in turn, the visitors get a taste of Venice’s rich cultural heritage whilst making money online.

To make Venice more attractive to non-EU professionals, the planners are exploring the possibility of issuing Italy remote worker’s visas through the Italian foreign ministry.

Why Venice?

Venice is a historical city filled with beautiful cafes, shops, museums, pigeons, and orchestra groups, as well as infamous landmarks such as the public square, Piazza San Marco, the Campanile bell tower, the Doge’s Palace, and of course, the basilica against its skyline.

The city is known for its architectural buildings and idyllic scenery of canals and bridges connecting the various islands. Part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was voted one of the top 10 most beautiful cities in the world in 2016 and 2018. This makes it a true cultural center, and an obvious tourist attraction.

Pilot Program

The Venywhere project is set as a pilot program, with the launch date to be set once planning is complete. The subscription (currently free) offers benefits for early registrants like discounted courses and activities. 

Many offers aren't unveiled yet, and some are in the planning stage. One of the main purposes for the testing site is to gauge the interest levels for the different offers and packages listed on the site, as this data will help in planning.

The Venywhere Portal

The project has a portal that provides applicants with a personal dashboard. From here, you can explore and manage the logistics of your relocation, including accommodation, networking opportunities, and workspaces. 

All community activities and opportunities are posted there in the portal. The program also provides guidance with local logistics such as banking, transportation, health insurance, and housing.

Venywhere Perks

Some of the big cultural attractions promoted by Venywhere are the lagoon activities and water sports of rowing, sailing, and kayaking; the local arts and theaters; exploration of world renowned cuisines; and immersion in the Venetian life with classes on Italian language.

Engagement in community activities promises to make the stay an unforgettable experience. This should encourage venturous hearts to take a leap and secure a place holder.

Ten reasons to consider moving to Venice, Italy

There are several great reasons to consider moving to Venice as a remote worker. Here are ten that solidify it as a favorable place to settle:

1. Venice enjoys a subtropical climate in its northeast location of Italy. This is fair weather relative to many European and Western countries that have extreme winter weather and little sunshine.
2. The city center is the largest urban car-free zone in Europe. Commuting is by foot or waterways, helping it to maintain traditional modes of transportation for centuries. This also keeps it clean by reducing air pollution.
3. Venice is the home of famous opera houses and symphony orchestras like the Orchestra della Fenice.
4. The sightseeing offered by Venice is incomparable, and includes the Piazza Sans Marco, the grand pink Digo Palace, and many other remarkable places.
5. Venice has a rich history in the arts, with many museums, art studios, and exhibitions offering inspiring outlets for learning and relaxing.
6. The beautiful scenery on the lagoon with hundreds of islands is a cathartic reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The population is relatively low and the reduced number of visitors means that crowding is kept to a minimum.
7. The city is repurposing its buildings to offer affordable workspaces in an effort to attract work-form-anywhere populace.
8. The friendly and creative sports in the lagoon provide an opportunity to relax and interact with Venetians outdoors.
9. The local food culture matches the reputation of the rich culture of the city.
10. Venice is a fashion and shopping hotspot similar to several Italian cities. It offers the opportunities to shop for Italian designs and artisan products.

Venywhere Solutions

There are plenty of unused spaces in the city and in nearby locations, and this is where the project planners are proposing to build co-working offices. This includes the idea of reshuffling locations to inject some excitement into the typical work day.

Venywhere intends to install open-air Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Venice to boost connectivity, a priority need for any remote worker.

The planners are encouraging landlords to open up their Airbnb places reserved for tourist use into long-term rental spaces for the project’s new residents. Accommodation availability is not a problem since there has been significantly reduced traffic in the historic city for the past two years.

Take Away

Never before has remote work, freelancing, and digital nomad work been more attractive than it is right now. The amount of effort required for relocation can have its challenges, but the adventure is well worth it.

Whether planning to visit or settle, Venywhere includes a program they term as “soft landing”. Applicants are encouraged to join through the link here. They help sort out visa inquiries, work related tax questions, and Italian regulations.

Check out our great resources at remote pass, designed to take the stress and hassle out of remote work transition.