A life well-lived...in Italy
Medical certificates, bagno culture, tax implications and saving Sardinia's beaches
Ciao, amici! And welcome back to Italy Per Te. Life is warming up in Bel Paese and we’re getting ready for a productive and adventurous season at Smart Move Italy. Pour yourself a glass of wine or a cup of espresso and dive right in to find out more. 🍷 ☕️
This week, we’re bringing you some really great tips to help you make the most of your new life in Italy, including some advice that may save you €3,000 in fines. 🏝️ Keep reading and don’t forget to pop into our Facebook group to share your thoughts with the rest of the community.
All set? Iniziamo!
Podcast Corner - Welcome, Digital Nomads! 💻
The Digital Nomad Visa buzz is still vibrating through the would-be ex-pat community, and for good reason. The approval of this visa has been a long time coming and the specifics of the application process are, in true Italian style, a little bit fuzzy, but here at Smart Move Italy, it’s full steam ahead!
Interest in this visa has been absolutely incredible, which means we’ve been getting lots of questions. Rather than try to answer everyone individually, we’ve dedicated an entire podcast episode to providing an Insider’s Guide to the Digital Nomad Visa.
Listen in to find out what makes this visa different from digital nomad visas from other countries, how this visa is similar to the EU Blue Card, the difference between a remote worker and a digital nomad, who can apply and so much more.
If you’d like a Digital Nomad Visa to be in your future, you won’t want to miss this information-packed episode.
Consulates have a wide range of power. So even though you could meet all of the criteria, it’s up to the discretion of the consulate to make a decision on your visa, which is where all of the turbulence can begin. - Samantha Wilson
As you may have heard, Smart Move Italy has selected 4 hopeful digital nomads to walk through the entire application process for free! We’ll be documenting the journey here and on our other channels so be sure to stay tuned to see how the adventure unfolds.
NEW Addition to Sentire Media!
We want to welcome our newest addition to Sentire Media Podcast Network Stop Italian Sounding: Uncovering Authentic Italian Food, hosted by Robert Campana.
Robert’s bite-sized episodes explore Italian food legends, history, and traditions, while simultaneously offering important tips and insightful interviews with industry professionals.
He is on a mission to educate listeners about the differences between real Italian food and beverage products and the fake ones, that only sound Italian (but really aren’t!).
Tune in every Monday and Friday for a taste of Italian Authentic Italian Food!
🎾 Staying Active in Italy - The Medical Fitness Certificate
Italy has a long tradition with sports. From soccer to cycling, tennis to padel, car racing to volleyball, Italians love supporting their favorite teams and athletes. They also love participating in them. If staying active is high on your list of priorities when you move to Italy, you’ll probably need to acquire a medical fitness certificate to do so.
This is basically a certification from a doctor or medical provider clearing you for activity. You’ll most likely be asked to present it when you sign up for a recreational sports team, join a gym, reserve a padel or tennis court, enter an official race, etc… Italy classifies physical activity into 3 categories: competitive, non-competitive, and recreational.
💪 Competitive sports are performed at the highest level and, accordingly, have very specific requirements for the medical certificate, including an extensive visit to a sports medicine practitioner who will carefully assess your physical condition and ability to participate.
🏃 Non-competitive sports are organized into leagues or run by official businesses (such as gyms or racquet facilities). These certificates can be issued by sports medicine doctors but also by family/general medicine practitioners or pediatricians.
⚽️ Recreational activities, like playing soccer in the park, do not require a certificate.
Most amateur athletes and weekend warriors will fall into the “non-competitive” category. Getting the certificate is a relatively easy process (for Italy) and will include basic health checks and tests such as blood pressure and ECGs.
Italian Bagno Culture 🏖️
It’s mid-May, which means we’ve had some time to relish the warmer temperatures of spring…and that summer is just around the corner! In Italy, this means festival season, more time outside, and a migration towards the sea. Whether you find yourself in Liguria, Tuscany, Campania, or Puglia (or really, anywhere in between, aside from the 5 non-coastal regions), there is sure to be a beach closeby calling your name. With 7,900 km (4,900 miles) of coast along several bodies of water, Italy can’t help but love its bagno culture, and summer, of course, is when it shines.
Italy’s bagno culture is unique and, honestly, can be a bit surprising to newcomers. Bagno culture can be summed up by the classic images of seasides dotted with colorful umbrellas and beach loungers. Each beach club is designated by its unique umbrella color or pattern and each offers its own set of amenities which can include lifeguards, towels, showers, changing rooms, restaurants, play areas, and even activities like paddle boarding or kayaking.
As a seaside visitor, bagni enables you to enjoy a day (or the whole season) at the sea without having to haul beach gear around. It’s also a chance to socialize, relax, and generally basque in the glory of an Italian summer. You can rent your spot for a day, or for the entire season!
Keep in mind, that there are plenty of free beaches throughout Italy, but especially in the South. They tend to get very crowded and don’t have any amenities, which is why many flock to the bagni. If you’re new to Italy, give both options a try and see which you prefer.
Sardinian Souvenirs Could = €3,000 in Fines 🏖️
We all love to take a momento home to remember a wonderful trip. The typical souvenirs are keychains, snow globes, t-shirts, or postcards, but some visitors to the Italian island of Sardinia have taken the tradition too far. Visitors taking sand and pebbles from Sardinian beaches have robbed the island of multiple tons of shoreline over the years, an environmental hazard that has caught the attention of locals. Since 2017, it’s been illegal to remove sand from the beaches. Doing so could lead to fines of up to €3,000, which could put a damper on your otherwise amazing visit.
It is apparently not uncommon for tourists leaving Sardinia to be caught red-handed by x-ray machines while exiting through airport security, so don’t be one of the culprits. An activist organization called Sardegna Rubata e Depredata (Sardinia Robbed and Plundered — Italians aren’t known for their subtlety) is dedicated to educating the public about the risk to Sardinian beaches.
The bottom line? If Sardinia is on your list of travel destinations, definitely enjoy this island paradise, but leave the sand behind for others to do the same. 🏝️ ☀️
Location Spotlight - Penne, Abruzzo
Maybe people hoping to start a new life in Italy are drawn to Italy’s charming hilltop towns. Regardless of the region you’re exploring, you’ll see these towns dotting the landscape like colorful confetti sprinkled on the hills. Often surrounded by thick walls, a nod to their contentious history with surrounding cities, these towns open up like jewel boxes once you enter their narrow streets.
Penne, in the province of Pescara, is one of the oldest towns in Abruzzo (dating back to 300 BC) and it’s a perfect example of a classic hilltop town. Nestled between the Adriatic and the Gran Sasso National Park, you can’t get a more convenient location if you want the best of both the sea and the mountains.
August is a big month for festivals all over Italy, and Penne is no exception. One of the highlights is Pecora Nait, a culinary festival celebrating lamb. Beyond the festas, Penne hosts a weekly market busting with local produce, meats, artisanal products, clothing, etc…
You may think of Milan as the fashion capital of Italy, but, surprisingly, Penne has its own significant contribution. Fans of House of Brioni suits may know that the luxury label began in Penne in 1959. Their suits have been worn by celebrities like Clark Gable, John Wayne, Luciano Pavarotti, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nelson Mandela (to name a few). Fun fact: it requires 200 different craftsmen to create a custom suit!
Thinking about making Penne your home in Italy? Savvy choice. To get you started, check out this👆amazing villa in the rolling countryside surrounding Penne. When you see the massive outdoor space, you won’t believe it’s listed at just over Є 200.000. 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!
Lake Life - Lago di Garda
The reasons to love Italy are many, but it’s impossible to overlook the advantages created by the country’s unique geography. As a huge peninsula with an enormous coastline, several significant mountain ranges, and numerous lakes, Italy truly has it all. While much attention is paid to ski resorts and seaside towns (especially as vacation destinations), Italians treasure their lakes just as much.
There are more than 1,000 lakes in Italy, from alpine to coastal and everywhere in between. Some are natural, dug out by glaciers or volcanoes, and others are man-made, created by dams often to generate electricity.
When you think about Italian lakes, one of the most popular locations is Lake Como in Lombardy. This Y-shaped lake is famous for its high-end real estate and celebrity sightings and, subsequently, attracts crowds (yes, crowds!) from every part of the globe. Plenty of people find the energy around Como infectious and love this part of Italy, but if you want all of the beauty and less of the hustle and bustle, there’s another lake, just to the southeast, that you should check out.
Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, touches the shores of Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. It, too, offers clear, cool water and mountain breezes, with a little less luxury and a little more of a down-to-earth vibe. With a train station within walking distance to Garda’s main square, this stunning location is also easily accessible and walkable, making it a holiday must-see.
Getting around is relatively easy. You can rent a car to visit all of the quaint towns dotting the shoreline or opt for a ferry. Keep in mind, Lake Garda is huge so don’t expect to see it all in a quick trip. It would take around 8 hours to travel from one end to the other by boat! As a home base, Garda is ideal. From here you can launch into the Dolomites, day trip to Verona or Venice, or spend the weekend in Switzerland.
It may not get the coverage of Como, but Garda definitely deserves the respect of lake lovers everywhere. Have you been to Lake Garda, or do you plan to visit? Share your thoughts with the community on our Facebook site.
Ask Samantha Anything (ASA)
Dear Sam: We are at the very beginning stages of searching for a property in Italy and we hope to retire there within the next 5 years. I keep hearing about the “superbonus” tax credits but I’m not really clear on what this program entails. Can you clarify this for me? What do I need to know?
Dear Duncan: Hi Duncan, congrats on your decision to buy a property in Italy. This can be a great investment, both financially and personally. The Superbonus was a tax credit that was offered by the Italian government a few years ago to assist in improving the enegery efficency in homes. It offered up to 110% back on specific renovations, which you can imagine was very popular. The bonus has now been discontinued but there are other building and renovation bonuses available. They are not 110% and often you need to be a tax resident to benefit from them, but they can help reduce some costs. Ask your builder or architect what's currently available and applicable for your specific property.
🤔 Something to Think About - Tax Liability for Dual Citizens
Italian (dual) citizenship is a dream of many, as clearly evidenced by the mind-boggling wait times at consulates all over the world. If you’re one of the fortunate ones who can prove an unbroken line of citizenship, you could be just a pile of documents/apostilles/translations away from holding a coveted Italian passport! After successfully completing the (often) arduous recognition process, a celebration is in order…but then you’ll need to get back to reality.
There are many benefits to dual citizenship — perhaps the most significant is the ability to stay (and work) in the country without needing a visa — but there also could be some specific considerations related to taxes, particularly if you will collect a public pension, which are often not taxable in Italy.
Paolo Rigo, of Studio Rigo, is a certified tax and business consultant, as well as one of the respected experts within our A New Life in Italy private community. He recently shared a video related to this tax liability and encouraged dual citizens to carefully consider the ramifications of moving your tax residency to Italy.
Here’s what you need to know:
💶 First of all, your individual tax liability will depend on your nationality, country of origin, existing tax treaties, and your income/assets.
💶 The official recognition of your Italian citizenship, in itself, does not trigger tax liability. However, when you become a tax resident, Italy could now tax your public pension.
💶 Public pensions for dual citizens are subject to the Irpef rates of 23-43%, depending on your income.
💶 This is just one of the reasons you should work closely with a commercialista to determine your specific tax liability before committing to a move.
Check out Paolo’s video for more information. 👇
Still interested in citizenship? We can help! Smart Move Italy offers a wide range of related services. Check out our citizenship page.
Don’t miss a minute!
Our latest YouTube series featuring SMI community members who have made the move to Italy has been a huge hit! We’re busy creating many more episodes so be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss a minute. You’re going to love what’s coming next.
Until next week, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!