Viva l’Italia! Long Live Italy!
Celebrating Italian liberation, finding a rental, scents inspired by the Amalfi Coast, and a community success story from Lucca
La Festa della Liberazione
Buona Festa! Today's a big day in Italy, and I just have to share it with you. It's all about celebrating the incredible courage of the resistance fighters who stood up for independence, democracy, and freedom from Mussolini's tough rule in Italy during WWII.
Italians across the country share in the celebrations—there are parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, concerts that’ll tug at your heartstrings, and, oh, the political discussions are absolutely electric!
People come together, whether it's for a family meal, a quick day trip, or just to be part of the festivities that cities and towns throughout Italy proudly host. It's a day filled with passion, pride, and a whole lot of Italian flair. So, if you're feeling the vibe, why not join in, even from afar? Grab a cappuccino, tune into some Italian tunes, and celebrate this day of remembrance and unity with us!
🎥 The classic movie “Rome, Open City” (directed by Roberto Rossellini) portrays the struggles of the Italian resistance in Rome under Nazi occupation.
🇮🇹 🎵 Sights & Sounds - On Liberation Day, you’ll see Italians all over the country waving I Tricolori 🇮🇹 and singing “Bella Ciao,” the anthem of the resistance movement.
💬 🗣️Are politics and religion off-limits in your home country? Not in Italy. It’s common to have passionate conversations about both around the dinner table.
Podcast Corner - Finding your perfect rental 🏡
When you’re starting a new life in Italy, the whole plan hinges on one very important detail: finding a place to live. Aside from the obvious reasons — needing basic shelter and a place to store your stuff — securing housing is key to your visa application. If you’re not ready, able, and/or interested in purchasing, renting is your only option, but it’s not always easy in Italy.
Submit your rental search criteria here
In a recent podcast, Sam explains why the reality of renting is so challenging and what you can do to make the process easier. One of the most important takeaways to understand is that, when it comes to property in Italy, the renters have far more rights than the owners. This creates a tenuous situation in which owners are very hesitant to rent to anyone, especially foreigners, mainly because they may not fully understand the source of your income. If they don’t know where you’re money is coming from, they may be skeptical about your ability to pay the rent. And if you don’t pay the rent, they have very little recourse because of the property laws. You see where this is going.
It may take several attempts before you find an owner willing to rent to you, so be prepared for rejection — but don’t take it personally. That’s just part of the process. If you’re interested in renting, you won’t want to miss this podcast.
🎙️ New Podcast! Italy’s History Mysteries! 🇮🇹🔍
Welcome to "Italy's History Mysteries," the ultimate kids' history podcast where each episode is a new adventure! Designed specifically for curious young detectives aged 7-10, this family-friendly podcast combines fun learning with exciting storytelling. Join Luca, our intrepid guide, as we travel back in time, unraveling the greatest art history mysteries and solving puzzles along the way.
Each episode features interactive storytelling that encourages our young listeners to think and participate. From the winding streets of ancient Rome to the mysterious smiles of the Mona Lisa, "Italy's History Mysteries" is not just an educational podcast for kids—it’s a thrilling journey through time that makes history fun and accessible.
Perfect for home or classroom listening, "Italy's History Mysteries" provides a unique blend of history, art, and mystery, making it an engaging experience for the whole family. So, grab your detective hats and join Luca for a time-travel adventure that explores the most intriguing and mysterious corners of Italy's past.
🎧 Listen to Season One Now on Sentire Media 📻
Community Success Story Featured in Italian America Magazine
Rich O’Malley’s love affair with Italy began with his first visit, over 25 years ago. Although he began the journey by chasing a girl, he ended up chasing a dream — a dream that would lead him back to Italy over and over again. Through the years he enjoyed exploring various areas of the Peninsula and began thinking about pursuing a more serious relationship with Italy.
“I started wondering if it would be possible to live here full-time one day,” he says. “At that point, I was just curious but I can see now that a fire was lit.”
When he decided to take action, he connected with Smart Move Italy to help him find a property. “I had reached out to several service providers, and did a lot of research on best practices,” he says. “I stopped contacting real estate agencies because I didn’t want to be locked in with them and started focusing on providers with experience helping Americans [and others] move to Italy. After an initial conversation with Smart Move Italy, I knew these were my people.”
Initially, he hoped to find a home in his beloved Monterosso, one of the famous towns of the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast. “I wanted to find a place there but the inventory was low and the prices were high,” he says. “I could have made it work but I didn’t want to stretch financially so I broadened my search.” With the help of his SMI property specialist and architect, Illaria, Rich found the perfect apartment in Lucca’s centro storico and couldn’t be happier with his decision.
Surprise Citizenship
It was never Rich’s goal to pursue Italian citizenship. In fact, it wasn’t even on his radar. It wasn’t until he decided to purchase an apartment there that SMI suggested this route. To his surprise, he qualified through a 1948 case and is currently going through the process with SMI’s help.
“When I saw [SMI] offered citizenship services and a free consultation, I thought, ‘Why not?’” he recalls. “It was during this call that I realized I could pursue a 1948 case and so, we started the process.”
Like most citizenship recognitions, the process hasn’t been easy but Rich is taking it one step at a time, always keeping his eye on the prize.
“It will be nice to not have to worry about a visa and to come and go as I please,” he says.
These days, Rich is going back and forth between his homes in the States and Lucca, a reality he once didn’t think possible. His success story is an inspiration for anyone hoping to take their relationship with Italy to the next level.
Amalfi Spring Simmer Pot 🍋 🌿
The Amalfi Coast is known across the globe for its breathtaking cliffs, sparkling water, warm beaches, and unbelievably large lemons. One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive at this iconic destination is the welcoming scent of this prized citrus. It’s unmistakable. These lemons are treasured for their unique, sweet flavor and are featured in many products from pasta and cookies to the famous limoncello.
If warmer spring temps are leaving you dreaming of Tyrrhenian Sea breezes, why not bring the scents of a seaside paradise to your home? A simmer pot is a great way to freshen the air in your home, without chemicals or heavy perfumes. This citrus and herb blend will remind you of the light, sweet fragrance characteristic of the Amalfi coast.
Combine these ingredients in your crock pot or on the stove, bring to a simmer, and let the aromatics do their job. You’ll soon be transported to the Amalfi. Make sure there’s always plenty of water and don’t leave the pot unattended. Enjoy!
Location Spotlight - Corbara, Campania 🌊 ☀️
Tucked away from the crowds but a quick drive to the Amalfi Coast, you’ll find the charming little commune of Corbara. Less than 3000 people call Corbara home but don’t be misled by its small size. There are plenty of opportunities for exploration, adventure, and true Italian culture.
Corbara is nestled on the slopes of the Lattari Mountains in the province of Salerno (Campania), so the outdoor activities are endless. Aside from being in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, this location is the perfect jumping-off point for day trips to Pompei, Positano, or the island of Capri. In just over 30 minutes you can be at the Naples airport so discovering the rest of Italy, and all of Europe, is quite easy from here.
This👇 3-bedroom apartment in Corbara has 2 balconies with incredible views of the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius. It’s listed at €159.000.
Want to see the details? Don’t forget to subscribe to Vendita for 30 property picks sent to you every Sunday. To subscribe via email, click here or join our Telegram channel. It’s completely free! Is Corbara your type of town? Let us know in the comments.
ASA (Ask Samantha Anything)
Email us at sophia@smartmoveitaly.com to submit your questions
Hi Sam: I am about to close on a house in Umbria and I’m waiting on my citizenship to be recognized through the Miami consulate. In the meantime, my husband and I are trying to decide whether it makes sense for us to pursue residency or to keep our stays in Italy under the 180-day rule to avoid becoming tax residents. This seems like a difficult topic to tackle on our own. How would you suggest we go about this decision-making process?
Dear Danika: Ciao Danika. Congratulations on your purchase! I'm sure you'll have many years of happiness in Umbria. First I want to clarify “taking residency” as this is a process that is done after you have obtained a Visa and/ or have dual citizenship with Italy or another EU country. Owning a home doesn't grant the right to move and reside in Italy.
Therefore until you have your citizenship you will not be able to stay more than 90 days out of 180 without a Visa. After the Visa, you can apply for residency.
After you have your citizenship, you can stay longer than 90 days, but your husband will be restricted to 90 unless you move and establish residency.
When you establish legal residency you become a taxable resident in Italy.
So the two things to consider are: 1. Do you want to live in Italy full time (more than 90 days/180)? 2. If you do, are you prepared to move your taxable residency to Italy?
Before you can decide you need to speak to a Commercialista (Italian tax accountant) to fully understand the tax implications of your situation. Numbers don't lie, and quite often when you look at the decision from a practical and factual point of view, the answer becomes clear.
Send your questions via voicemail and Samantha will answer them on her podcast!
🚨 Last Chance to Apply! Deadline for the Digital Nomad Visa Assistance: April 30th 🌍✈️
If you are hoping to be one of the first Digital Nomads in Italy, and want assistance from our legal team - for free - don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!
We are selecting four (4) qualifying candidates to guide through the process of securing the new Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) for Italy, completely free of charge!
If you are ready to move to Italy in the next 3 - 6 months, this is your chance to get guidance and support from our expert legal immigration team.
Application deadline is April 30th. Don’t miss it!
Here at Smart Move Italy, we have THE best community! We pride ourselves on being an excellent source of information on all things Italy, but the conversations that happen within the community are also extremely valuable. You all have such wonderful perspectives and the best questions! Speaking of questions, we’d love it if you’d keep them coming. Here’s the link👇 to send us a voicemail so that we can feature your question in an upcoming podcast episode.
Finally, let’s keep the dialogue on Facebook going. The more we share, the richer our community becomes. If you’ve already begun your new life in Italy, we’d love to hear about your adventures (and misadventures). If you’re on the journey, what roadblocks are you hitting? What victories are you celebrating? Share with the community on our Facebook page. 👇
As always, thanks for being part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!