YouTube star, dog-lover and all-around great guy, Brad Allan, originally from Texas, lives his dream of Italy in Montepulciano with his wife Olivia. His thoroughly educational channel gives tips on how to move to Italy and how purchase property either for your personal use or to turn into short-term rentals as Brad has. Brad has a booming business renting out elegant apartments to travelers to Tuscany. He's also loving the Tuscan lifestyle as are his dogs! If you dream of moving to Italy with a smart way to finance it, this episode is for you.  ..read more

Don't we all dream of owning a home in Italy? What if you could be part owner of a stunning apartment in Florence with little of the usual hassles of buying a house in Italy? Your Italian dream might be closer than you think... Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Lisa Byrne of Italy Perfect who has been renting villas and apartments in Italy for years and is now offering fractional ownership (four weeks per year) of a stunning apartment in dreamy Florence: They discuss: How fractional ownership works and why you are truly a deeded owner Why Florence is the perfect location for a fractional ownership i ..read more

In our previous episode (#11), we discussed how many who have Italian ancestry can claim Italian citizenship, jure sanguinis, by right of blood. In this episode, we dig deeper as sometimes this process isn't as straightforward as it first might seem.  Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Bianca Ottone of My Italian Family.  They discuss: + Why more and more Americans are pursuing dual citizenship + Why naturalization records are the most important + How Bianca and her company helped Kathy explore her heritage in Campania + How to navigate around the "1948 rule" which might seemingly deny your ..read more

Italy bestows Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, by right of blood. So that means many Americans who have Italian blood can be dual citizens and hold citizenship in the U.S. and Italy, allowing them to live in Italy full-time and access many benefits - and even pass it on to their children.  Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Melanie Holtz of ItalyAncestry.com to discuss genealogy and how tracing your ancestry can lead to Italian citizenship and an EU passport. They discuss: + How Melanie's own ancestors were "on the run" - and that's sometimes a common story - when they emigrated to the U.S.&nb ..read more

When you're not in Italy, what better way to live like an Italian but to grow a garden at home? Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential the Mediterranean diet and gardening is a wonderful way to be tied to the land, no matter where you are. Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Lynn Byczynski and Will Nagengast of Seeds From Italy. They share the importance of heirloom seeds to the Italian culture and how to get gardening at home. They also discuss: + Why seeds are so important to Italians and Italian-Americans + How they came to run a business importing seeds specifically from Italy + Why basil seeds ..read more

When the pandemic started this spring, I put out a call to our listeners to send in audio segments for a special crowdsourced episode on the places, people and experiences we are dreaming of during this difficult time.  I asked listeners to start off with, "When I dream of Italy, I dream of..." and the answers I received are as diverse and beautiful as la bel paese itself!  From a story of smiles and soul medicine found in Sicily to a funny tale of being locked in an Italian restaurant bathroom, this episode will enchant and surprise you until the day we can return to Italy ..read more

I believe in Italy. I’m betting on Italy. Italy has saved me again and again. It has been my constant. And I believe in dreams and their ability to become reality. As Italy begins to slowly open up and the future still remains uncertain, all we can hold onto these days are our dreams…so let’s write about and talk about our Italian dreams! I know Dream of Italy viewers, readers and listeners have had some of the most incredible experiences in Italy. We’ve published 170 issues of our award-winning travel publication but YOU know about so many hidden gems that I (or the fabulous co ..read more

Florence simply enchants us…and so much of the Florentine experience is where you stay. Host Kathy McCabe has a favorite Florentine hotel and it is the Grand Hotel Minerva.  At the hotel’s stunning rooftop pool Kathy sat down with her friend sales and marketing director Andrea Bargigli to talk about what makes the Minerva unique and how to explore Florence from a new perspective. Whether you are visiting the city of art for the first time or 14th, you don’t want to miss the tips that Kathy and Andrea share. The Grand Hotel Minerva would like to give Dream of Italy fans a special offer. Us ..read more

Have you ever thought about packing up, leaving your life as you know it, and moving to Italy? Frances Mayes, author of Under The Tuscan Sun, did just that when she and her husband Ed purchased a villa in the hilltop Tuscan town of Cortona, resulting in a bestselling book and movie! Frances recently joined Kathy in filming the Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special for PBS Host Kathy McCabe visited with Frances again at her iconic home Bramasole, to talk specifically about the challenges and rewards of the growing trend of  moving to Italy. They discuss: + What one thing you must do before de ..read more

 If you lived in or grew up in NJ/NY or CT in the past 40 or 50 years then the name Perillo needs know explanation. Mario Perillo and his groundbreaking commercials for his Italian tours made him more famous than the Pope in some homes! His son Steve has carried Periilo Tours forward. Host Kathy McCabe sits down with Steve for an all encompassing conversation on how travel to Italy has changed as well as Steve's little-known non-travel talent. They discuss:   + How the Perillos began their family business + Why travelers tastes have changed and how the industry is responding + Why th ..read more