🇮🇹 Look 👀 Who Bought a Home in Italy!
PerTe's new editor (and Italian home owner) says hello! Then it's time for science class with a lesson on earthquakes, before taking a moment to fete Sophia Loren at 90, ➕ more!
👋 Ciao, amici!
My name is Rich O’Malley and I am the proud new editor of Italy PerTe! I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Samantha trust me to take the reins here, and I hope to continue the tradition of entertaining and enlightening our community through this valuable resource.
And as that old gag goes, I’m not only the editor, I’m also a former client!
You see, Smart Move Italy helped me to achieve a dream that I imagine is widely shared (either fulfilled or yet to come) among everyone here. In December 2023, I became the over-the-moon owner of a small (but perfect) vacation apartment in the heart of Lucca, a town I absolutely adore. This dream would never have been possible for me without SMI’s care and expertise in helping me through a very complicated process, especially for someone whose Italian is not yet up to snuff for dealing with the many quirks of buying an international property!
Smart Move Italy also opened the door for me to something no one in my family ever knew might be possible: dual citizenship! So I am currently working through a 1948 case with them. Don’t think you’re eligible? I’d take them up on that free consultation call just to be sure – you may get the best kind of surprise!
So… we’re all here because we love Italy, and we know that the team Samantha has put together at SMI knows how to get things done and wants to share that knowledge with us.
So let’s get to some of it now – and we’ll start with something to consider when deciding where might be right for you in Italy…
Learning More About Earthquakes in Italy
Whenever a move to a new town is on the docket, one of the first things you do is check out the ins and outs of your potential new home. How’s the weather? What’s the social scene? How are the natural surroundings? And that last one can be key in certain places. If one were moving to Florida, obviously hurricane season is a factor to consider. For somewhere like Oklahoma in the U.S., it’s tornadoes. Moving far up in the Great White North of Canada? Get ready for it to live up to its nickname!
The same goes for Italy. Neapolitans have lived in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius for millennia (photo below). Same goes for Sicilians and Mt. Etna — and earthquakes have equally been a part of Italy’s history due to its geographic location and tectonic plates that are constantly shifting.
So what does that mean for your potential future hometown in Italy? You may want to check out the likelihood that an earthquake could hit your area. For that, there’s a website that tracks it by region, province, and town, ranking them in a 1-3 range (1 being the highest risk).
(Of note, SMI has no relationship to this service and therefore cannot vouch for its complete scientific reliability, but we’ve found it a good starting point for researching possible seismic activity in your area of interest.)
Location Spotlight📍Viano, Emilia-Romagna
We’ve sniffed out a deal this week in an Italian “truffle town.” This small but scenic cittå del tartufo, Viano, in the Emilia-Romagna region (pictured below), offers a fair dedicated to the aromatic tuber in November every year. Nearby are the Salsa di Casola Querciola mud springs, which cycle through dormancy and eruption phases. A half hour’s drive away is the Museo Enzo Ferrari di Maranello, which promises to immerse you in the Ferrari story, past and present. Closer to town, you can also visit the gorgeous Castello di Viano for a tasting at its Tenuta Agricola (farm estate).
Looking for your own castle to call home? How about one with outdoor space and a rare garage as well? This👇🏽 three-bedroom, two-bath apartment occupies the first floor of a two-story building. It promises a scenery “surrounded by greenery, and away from the chaos of the city” – all for an asking price of 250.000€.
Want to see all 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!
An Icon turns 90! 🎂
Back in 1934, Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone was born in Rome. At the age of 15, she entered the Miss Italia beauty pageant, a contest that (though she didn’t win) sparked a monstrous career. You know her as Sofia Loren.
After entertaining a few small roles, Loren launched into the public eye with her first leading role in the 1953 film Aida. She continued to appear in more than 100 films (both Italian and English languages) over a 50-year career. She truly is one of the most recognizable and celebrated Italian icons.
This month, Loren celebrated her 90th birthday, which provides an opportunity to revisit some of her most significant contributions to the film industry. Even if you’ve seen some of these already, they are definitely worth watching twice. Be sure to check out The Gold of Naples, Too Bad She’s Bad, Two Women (for which she won an Oscar), and Marriage Italian Style.
Ask Samantha Anything (ASA)
Hi Sam: I’ve been trying to get a Codice Fiscale from my consulate for months now. Guess what? No response. I have a trip to Italy coming up. Can I get my CF while I’m there? If so, how? Thanks very much.
Hi Lucy: For those who aren't aware, the Codice Fiscale is an Italian tax ID number, similar to a Social Security, Social Insurance or NI number. You will need one to sign up for government services, establish residency, sign a rental or property contract… and, well, pretty much everything you do will ask for a CF.
The thing is, you don't need one until you are ready to do one of those things, and for some time now, foreigners have been applying for a CF just to have it “in case” they need it.
The consulates, and even many comuni in Italy, have since slowed down on issuing them and many require a valid reason for the request, like a rental or property purchase proposal. Many consulates simply never respond.
If this happens, and you need one for a legitimate reason, you can stop in the local tax office when you are in Italy and request one. They are free, but can be rejected — so bring your passport and be prepared to show proof of why you are requesting it (signed purchase/rental proposal for example).
Your CF doesn't expire and you will probably never receive a little green card like in the past, so keep the number handy.
Also, a tip: Don't fall for those “online codice fiscale calculators.” Although the number will be correct, it will not be officially registered with the tax office, so it will not work.
YouTube Series ▶️ A New Start in Italy 🇮🇹
Our SMI community is full of adventurous spirits, determined souls, and friendly faces. One of the best parts of being a part of this group is hearing the incredible success stories of those of you who have started a new life in Italy. One of the places we celebrate these successes is over on our YouTube channel. The latest episode of our Moving Stories series features Ken and Marybeth, a dynamic couple who took 13 boxes and moved to Italy.
Check out this episode to get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey as they settle into their new life in the heart of Florence. From arriving with just their essentials to embracing the local culture, this video gives you a personal tour of their charming abode and the picturesque streets of their new hometown.
Discover how they've adapted to the Italian lifestyle, the joys of living within walking distance of everything, and the little cultural gems they uncover each day. Don't miss out on this heartwarming exploration of life abroad that's filled with local flavors, stunning views, and vibrant city life.
If you’ve ever wondered how to move to Italy, or if life in Italy could be right for you, we’ve got tips, insights, and personal stories that might just inspire you to take the plunge.
DIY Your Visa Application
Getting yourself to Italy is a dream that’s within reach IF you know the ins and outs. Some of you have trusted SMI with the details of your journey, including assisting with your visa application. This can be a complicated process so seeking support makes sense but some of you want to forge the path on your own.
The good news is that our revamped membership community includes a DIY workshop feature that will walk you through the application process for whatever visa you’re pursuing. Whether it be the digital nomad, student, elective residency, or self-employment visa, we’ll give you the tools you need to craft a top-notch application.
That’s a wrap for this week. As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!