u/cufcuff34

Hi everyone!

I’m 35F, living in central-east part of Milan, and trying to explore some hobbies, meet new people, and build a bit of a social circle here. The problem is that I’m struggling to figure out where to start

I’m particularly interested in two things:
Sports: Volleyball or rowing. I’ve tried both in the past but I’m definitely a beginner, so I’m looking for something casual, beginner-friendly, and ideally with people around my age. Not necessarily competitive, more about learning, having fun, and socialising.
Activism / volunteering: I’d also love to connect with local activist groups or grassroots communities, particularly around climate justice, human rights, or animal rights. I’m more interested in getting involved in a community than just doing occasional one-off volunteering.

I’ve been searching online but haven’t found many clear entry points, especially for someone who doesn’t speak much Italian yet.

Does anyone have recommendations for groups, associations, clubs, or even informal communities that might be worth checking out? English-friendly would be a plus, but I’m also happy to improve my Italian along the way!

Thanks in advance for any leads!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for a reliable and reasonably priced cleaning service/company in Milan.
I’d ideally like to have someone come regularly, maybe once a week or every two weeks. I’d prefer to go through a company/service and pay them hourly, rather than hiring someone directly, as I’m not really in a position to handle the legal/employment side of hiring someone myself yet and I definitely don’t want to do it informally.
Does anyone have a company or service they’ve personally used and would recommend? Ideally one where it’s possible to have the same person coming regularly.
Also curious what a normal hourly rate is in Milan. Thanks!

Hi all,

I’m a non-EU (non-US) citizen who has been living in Milan for about six months. I’m still waiting to receive my residence card physically, and I’m struggling to understand how the healthcare system works.

I believe I’m registered with the SSN, but I don’t have a GP assigned. I have this SSR registration certificate from Lombardy showing that I’m enrolled in the healthcare system, but I was told that because I haven’t received the physical health card yet, I cannot be assigned a GP. Is that correct, or should I already be able to choose one?

If I need to see a specialist, how do I book an appointment without a GP referral?

Also, if I decide to get private insurance (for example Allianz or Generali), how does that work in practice? Do I go directly to private hospitals and clinics, or do I still need to see a GP first?

And when people talk about paying “tickets” (co-payments), how does that process work?

I’m really lost and haven’t been able to find clear information in English.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,
I’m a non-EU citizen living in Milan and I’m a bit confused about how healthcare works in this situation.
I recently went to the ASST/ATS office and completed my SSR registration. They gave me a document with my *codice assistito* and confirmed that I’m registered in the regional health system.
However, my physical *permesso di soggiorno* card has not been issued yet. I only have the *ricevuta*. The staff told me that because the actual permesso card is not ready yet, they cannot assign me a *medico di base* at the moment. They said I should come back once I receive the card.
At the same time, they also told me that if I need medical care before then, I can still book an appointment and see a doctor.
My question is: **how exactly do I do that?**
\-Can I book a GP appointment without having an assigned *medico di base*?
\-Do I need to go through a *Casa di Comunità*?
\-Should I use the public system, or do I need to book a private appointment?
\-Has anyone been in the same situation while waiting for their permesso card?

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙏

Hi everyone,
I’m a non-EU citizen living in Milan and I’m a bit confused about how healthcare works in this situation.
I recently went to the ASST/ATS office and completed my SSR registration. They gave me a document with my codice assistito and confirmed that I’m registered in the regional health system.
However, my physical permesso di soggiorno card has not been issued yet. I only have the ricevuta. The staff told me that because the actual permesso card is not ready yet, they cannot assign me a medico di base at the moment. They said I should come back once I receive the card.
At the same time, they also told me that if I need medical care before then, I can still book an appointment and see a doctor.
My question is: how exactly do I do that?
-Can I book a GP appointment without having an assigned medico di base?
-Do I need to go through a Casa di Comunità?
-Should I use the public system, or do I need to book a private appointment?
-Has anyone been in the same situation while waiting for their permesso card?

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙏

Hi folks,

As someone experiencing Milan summer for the first time, I wonder if you have any tips for places to go for a swim?

I heard people are swimming in Idroscola, and there are I guess some swimming pools around the city. I live in the east side of the city so any reliable and clean options are highly welcomed to survive the heatwave.
Thank you!

Hi all,

I will be visiting Bologna in two weeks and wondering if there are any nice towns for swimming nearby? I know there’s nothing really close by, but I have a car and don’t mind driving a bit farther east for a nice beach.

I will then have to go back to Milan where I live so preferably not a very long drive to there.

Would you have any advice on where to check/go/swim?

Thanks!!

Hi all,

Are there any good second-hand furniture shops around the city, or maybe a bit further out?

I’m looking for affordable vintage or antique-style furniture: good quality and with character, but not overly expensive. Basically something much nicer than IKEA without paying crazy prices.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thank you :)

Hey everyone,

I’m hearing mixed things and wanted to check if there’s any official info or just airport-by-airport practice.

I’m a non EU long term resident in Italy and not from visa exempt countries like the UK/USA/Canada/Japan etc.

Some people say non-EU residents (with permesso di soggiorno, ricevuta, and/or CIE) are allowed to use EU/EEA lines or e-gates… others say strictly no and only “All passports.”

This is specifically about Milan Malpensa Airport, but curious in general too.

Is there any clear rule, or does it just depend on the officer / airport setup?

Thanks!