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