Dream of Italy

If you have ever wondered whether Milan deserves a place on your list of cities to live in Italy, this Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe makes a strong case.

Arlene Antoinette Gibbs is an American writer and interior designer who lived in Rome for years before making the move to Milan. Having experienced expat life in both cities firsthand, she brings a candid and nuanced perspective on what it actually means to relocate within Italy and why Milan is far more livable than its reputation suggests.

Arlene shares why she chose Milan over staying in Rome: better public transportation, a more international business environment and a city that functions as the economic engine of the entire country with thriving sectors in design, fashion, tech and engineering. She also gets into the realities of finding an apartment in Milan, where housing prices have risen 34% and inventory is tight, and why working with a licensed real estate agent made all the difference.

The conversation covers the cost of living in Milan, the city's food scene, the energy of Milan Design Week, the social culture and the honest tradeoffs compared to life in Rome including the winter weather and air pollution. Arlene also shares her thoughts on Turin as an alternative for those who want city life at a slower pace and lower cost.

Which Italian city is calling your name? Let us know in the comments and subscribe for more move to Italy podcasts from Dream of Italy.

Find show notes for this podcast episode at https://dreamofitaly.com/27

Thinking about buying or renovating a house in Sicily? Dream of Italy Podcast host Kathy McCabe sits down with builder and project manager Scott Thompson of The Sicily Projects to break down what it is like to buy and renovate a home in Italy and specifically Sicily. He discusses the real cost of one euro houses, dealing with Italian renovation delays, securing permits, fighting damp and mold, where to buy in Italy, and the biggest mistakes foreigners make when renovating in Italy.

Scott also shares his own move from Manchester to Sicily, what life is really like in smaller Sicilian towns, and why he believes more people will trade city life for a slower, simpler life in Italy.

Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/26

If you have ever asked "where in Italy should I actually live?" this Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe is exactly what you need to hear. Damien O'Farrell is one of Italy's most experienced relocation experts, based in Rome with nearly 40 years of helping people make the move to Italy.

In this conversation with Kathy, he cuts through the noise of TikTok trends and one-euro house headlines to offer something far more valuable: a clear framework for figuring out which part of Italy is actually right for you. His questions are practical and direct. Damien and Kathy work through a wide range of destinations city by city and region by region. Milan is drawing high net worth individuals from Dubai and London thanks to a 300,000€ yearly flat tax and a luxury property market that still delivers strong value.

This episode is one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations available on choosing where to live in Italy and it is worth listening more than once as your move to Italy plans take shape. Leave your top contender in the comments and subscribe to Dream of Italy for more on living and retiring in Italy.

Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/25

What are the best places for Americans to Move in Italy? This Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe might just answer that question. Kathy is joined by Alessandro Palombo, an Italian entrepreneur and fintech co-founder of Bitzenship.com who has lived across Italy, the United States and Portugal. Having spent years observing how foreigners approach relocation to Italy, Alessandro brings a rare insider perspective to one of the most common questions among aspiring expats: where in Italy should Americans actually move? Alessandro walks through a practical framework for finding the right fit, covering well-known regions like Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna alongside overlooked destinations like Ravenna and Molise. He shares what most move to Italy content gets wrong, why renting before buying matters and how to evaluate a town beyond its tourist reputation. The conversation also covers the little-known Italian investor visa that could be the solution for those seeking Italian residency in an effort to move to Italy.

Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/24

We've all heard of these one euro houses for sale in Italy, especially in Sicily. But who do you know who has actually bought one, let alone two? Joss Tillard-Gates is an American businessman who bought two adjoining one euro houses sight unseen in Mussomeli Sicily with the intention of connecting them into one larger home. In this Dream of Italy Podcast Episode with Kathy McCabe, Joss explains how this one euro dream was born after reading a news article late at night and how he got his wife's buy-in for what seemed like a crazy idea. Joss gets into what the real fees are like beyond the one euro price tag for each and explains how finding the right project manager mattered more than anything else. Joss explains what makes Mussomeli attractive including the slow pace, quintessential piazza and family friendly atmosphere. As always, we urge everyone to do due diligence when making these kinds of real estate purchases and making sure you have proper visas to live there if residency is your goal as we have heard of some issues when buying in Mussomeli.

Dreaming of a one euro home in Italy? Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/23

What if the place you feel called to live is written into your birth chart before you ever book the flight? Might explain why so many of us love Italy!

Astrologer Helena Woods joins Dream of Italy Podcast Host Kathy McCabe to explain astrocartography, a specialized branch of astrology that maps where on Earth your planetary influences are strongest. Helena breaks down what the technique reveals and how it differs from a standard birth chart, then pulls up Kathy's own astrocartography map live on the episode. She identifies three power lines running through Italy, including a Jupiter line through Bologna, Parma, Verona, Venice, Milan and Turin tied to confidence and joy, a Mercury line connected to relationships and social connection, and a Neptune career line linked to media work, while flagging why the Florence and Livorno latitude carries more friction for her chart specifically.

The conversation moves well beyond travel planning into how Helena uses astrocartography and geodetic mapping to understand why certain places feel stuck or activating, including her own decision to leave the United States and build her career after relocating to France. She walks through practical tools for anyone curious about applying this to their own life, from finding an accurate birth time through chart rectification to identifying Venus and Jupiter lines on a free astrology site. Helena also shares her read on a major planetary transit affecting the United States this summer.

For viewers weighing a move abroad, whether to Italy or anywhere else in the world, this episode offers a genuinely different lens on the decision, one rooted in timing, placement and personal history rather than guesswork. What does your chart say about where you belong?

Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/22

If you are seriously thinking about moving to Italy, taxes are not something to figure out after you arrive. Ideally you should start the process 18 months ahead of time. This Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe is the clearest explanation of how Italian taxation actually works for Americans that you will find anywhere.

Kathy is joined by Nick Metta of Studio Legale Metta, an Italian tax and immigration attorney with a PhD in taxation who works exclusively with people moving to or investing in Italy. He has been Kathy's go-to source and workshop guest for years, and this conversation covers the questions that come up most often and get answered most incorrectly online.

Nick walks through the difference between tax residency and civil residency, how the 182-day rule works and when it does not apply, and what it actually means to move your center of vital interests to Italy. He explains the worldwide taxation system that kicks in once you become an Italian tax resident, why failing to report an overseas asset can cost you up to 15% of its value in fines, and how the US-Italy tax treaty is routinely misread, including the section on social security that trips up almost everyone. Nick covers the tax brackets standard Italian residents face, the small business flat rate that caps at around 10%, the 7% pension program and who actually qualifies for it, the 60% income exclusion available to digital nomads with high qualifications, and how Roth IRAs and traditional 401ks are treated differently under Italian law. He also explains why Italy is notoriously poor at honoring the foreign tax credit in practice and why banking on it is a strategy he does not recommend.

The single piece of advice that runs through the entire conversation is this: start your tax planning at least 18 months before you move. The options available before you cross the threshold are substantially better than anything available after.

Use code DREAM15 at www.studiolegalemetta.com to make an appointment with Nick to talk taxes. Book a 30-minute consultation and you will receive an additional 15 minutes free of charge with the code.

Show notes: www.dreamofitaly.com/21

American Joe Reagan bought a 24,000€ house in a hilltop town in Abruzzo with 750 people, moved his wife and four kids from Ireland, enrolled them directly into the Italian school system, and has not looked back. Three years in, they love their life in Abruzzo and are Joe is working to help other families move to their town for a better quality of life in Italy.

Dream of Italy Podcast Host Kathy McCabe sits down with Joe to talk about his new initiative to bring families to Celenza sul Trigno, Abruzzo, a town that has lost nearly half of its population in the last 35 years. He talks about the school system, where his kids got dedicated Italian lessons pulled from class for the first year and were fluent by the end of it, and where his eight-year-old daughter now sounds out English words with Italian vowels because that is simply how her brain learned to read. He gets into healthcare, where the pediatrician takes appointments by WhatsApp and the new family doctor was messaging his wife back within minutes of being contacted. He also gives an honest account of what small town tradeoffs look like, the nearest Costco equivalent is thirty minutes away and the bureaucracy moves at its own pace, and why he thinks the mindset shift matters in moving to rural Italy more than any practical obstacle.

The conversation ends with Joe describing a Sunday spent picking wildflowers with the other fathers from the First Communion class to make decorations for the street procession. Neighbors knock on the door with fresh cherries. His son who used to be dragged to school in Ireland now has his grembiule on and his lunch bag packed before anyone else is awake.

Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/20

Italian National Tourism Board, to talk about how travel in Italy is evolving and what it means for visitors today. Drawing on her global perspective and deep knowledge of Italian tourism, Alessandra shares how travel habits have changed in recent years, why Italy continues to inspire repeat visits and how travelers can experience the country in more meaningful and memorable ways beyond the classic itineraries.

From the growing popularity of off-season travel to the desire for deeper cultural experiences, Kathy and Alessandra explore how travelers are moving beyond classic itineraries and seeking authentic connections with Italy's regions, food and local communities. They also discuss how major events like the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina will bring global attention to new parts of the country.

Kathy and Alessandra discuss:

• Why Calabria is emerging as an exciting destination with beaches, mountains, villages and affordable prices

• How Umbria is becoming known as a refined, boutique luxury destination

• Why Abruzzo, with L'Aquila as Italy's 2026 Capital of Culture, is gaining attention

• How the Marche offers diverse landscapes, culture and fewer crowds

• How shorter, more frequent trips are replacing traditional long vacations

• Why travelers are planning trips around experiences, events and food traditions

If you're planning a trip to Italy, you won't want to miss this episode!

Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/19

Kathy McCabe, host of Dream of Italy, visits with Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium to talk about the King of Cheeses and the 90th anniversary of the consortium of producers of this amazing "Made in Italy" product. Bertinelli leads Kathy in a tasting of various ages, talks about the importance of the American market for this cheese and share stories of Parmigiano Reggiano including ones about 3-Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura.

Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/18