🇮🇹 How can Italy be more efficient?
Have some great ideas to help make Italy run a bit smoother? You may want to keep them to yourself. Plus, a larger than life art installation, and the screeching halt just around the corner.
Don’t Go Changing Italy
Have you ever been in Italy and thought, “Why in the world are they doing things like this?” Maybe you were looking for an open restaurant in the afternoon, trying to schedule a plumber, or hoping to pay a parking ticket when the lack of efficiency became blatantly obvious. Italy has a style all its own and it often doesn’t make sense to those who didn’t grow up here. You may think you have a solution to the backlogs, the long lines, the endless bureaucracy, or the struggling economy. If only you could implement some changes, right?
Not so fast.
Some see Italy’s quirkiness as endearing others but others are easily annoyed. If you fall into the latter camp, you may want to reconsider a move here. While it may be tempting to start a hundred different sentences with, “Italy should….” we’re going save you some time and frustration. While not a particularly old country (it was united in 1861), Italy’s cultural roots (and habits) run deep and are not easily diverted.
Sure, keeping shops and restaurants open at all hours may help the economy and keep the tourists happy, but that’s just not the way things are done. Yep. It would probably benefit businesses to focus more on customer service but please don’t hold your breath. Of course, parking in designated spots makes perfect sense, but sometimes convenience outweighs logic.
The bottom line is there’s no point trying to tell Italy or the Italian people what they “should” do to make things run smoother or make life easier. A more futile activity may not exist. If you want to start a new life here, that means embracing the country for all that it is, (perceived) flaws and all. So rather than getting annoyed by Italian idiosyncrasies, know that, for better or for worse, this is a country set in its ways — and that’s really part of the beauty.
The Big Bench Project 🎨
There are as many versions of art as there are artists. So how do you know when you’re looking at art? This is a philosophical question that is, perhaps, best debated while sitting on a bench, taking in the landscape and pondering the mysteries of life. Then, you realize you could be sitting on art!
The Big Bench Community Project is a unique art installation that can be found all over Italy. The concept is pretty simple: Take an everyday object, make it extra large, place it in stunning locations, and invite the public to interact. Conceived by American designer Chris Bangle, the project aims to promote local tourism and craftsmanship. Each bench is uniquely designed and built by local artisans, using materials sourced from the surrounding area.
The first bench was constructed in Piedmonte in 2010 and, since then 365 more have appeared all over Italy and, now, throughout Europe. The creator has said that “[T]he Giant Benches are often first seen in photographs, but once you sit on one of them you get the feeling of enjoying the view ‘as if you were a child again.’” It’s easy to be a part of the big bench community, which simultaneously celebrates curiosity, innocence, and the stunning landscapes that host the installations.
If you’re lucky enough to find one of these works of art during your Italian adventures, hop on up and snap a photo with your feet dangling in the wind. You can even get a “passport” to document all of the benches you’ve visited.
Ask Samantha Anything (ASA)
Send your questions to tiernan@smartmoveitaly.com.
Dear Sam: I plan on moving to Italy in the Spring of 2026. I was born in Italy and have a stamped original birth certificate but, in 1962, had to denounce my Italian citizenship due to Italy not approving dual citizenship. I understand residency needs to be established and after living in Italy for one year I can apply to get my Italian citizenship back, correct? What other documents do I need to provide the municipal office? I currently have an American passport. Grazie in anticipo!
Dear Vincenza: Dual citizenship was not permitted before 1992, so many Italians are in your situation and now want to get their citizenship back. The good news is you can, and even better news is that it is easier and faster than if you were claiming through Jure Sanguines.
You can reacquire your Italian citizenship and all of the benefits directly in Italy. You will start the application at the Consulate in your jurisdiction where you live now, and they will forward the documents and application to the comune where you will live in Italy for a year. It is best to check with your individual consulate for the updated list of documents, but generally, you will need:
Form “Scheda di rilevazione della naturalizzazione” filled out and signed;
proof of residency in the jurisdiction of this Consular Office (electricity bill or other utility)
birth certificate;
marriage certificate and divorce decree if occurred prior to the naturalization
copy of Italian passport (if available);
certificate of naturalization (original plus a photocopy);
Your current passport or valid photo ID;
Fee (now it is 250 euros)
Good luck!
A Screeching Halt: Welcome to Italy in August 🛑
Dealing with Italy in any official capacity means understanding the (snail’s) pace of progress. To say that things do not move quickly is a major understatement…and the entire country is about to come to a screeching halt. In August, the rhythm of the country is going to feel a bit different. Resisting is pointless so you’ll just have to adjust.
Pinpointing the exact source of this extended break is tough to do but many believe it started in Roman times as a rest period following a busy agricultural season. Although the August holidays culminate with Ferrogosto on 15 August, Italians will stretch this break out for as long as possible. Sometimes that means taking a 2-week break, other times that means taking off for the entire month. Not only is this break part of the cultural fabric but it’s also ingrained in labor union policies.
Practically, you can expect town centers to clear out, businesses and government offices to be closed and signs popping up everywhere that read Chiuso per Ferie (closed for the holidays). Don’t expect to get anything done until September. So where does everyone go? Typically, Italians flock to the coasts so you’ll find crowds swell in Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, along the Amalfi Coast, and the Italian Riviera…basically anywhere there is water (including lakes). Alternatively, the cooler temps of mountain towns are also alluring, particularly in the Alps and Dolomites.
Italy is a country of beautiful contradictions so the irony of August also being one of the busiest tourist seasons is not lost on anyone. Whether you're visiting or living in Italy during this time, it’s best to roll with the inconveniences that will inevitably pop up. It’s just a part of life here in the Bel Paese.
Podcast Corner - Follow Your Passion…to Italy!
Whatever your passion, there’s a good chance Italy will allow you to pursue it. We explore this concept further in a recent episode of A New Life in Italy as Samantha introduces us to an American “recovering sommelier” who now calls Florence home.
You could say that Ashwin Mathia’s path to Italy was lined with Sangiovese grapes. Since his permanent relocation to Italy, he’s been on a mission to make wine (especially Italian wine) accessible to everyone. His approach is simple and his love for Italy’s 3000+ varieties of grapes is contagious. Unpinned, his online course provides even the greenest wine lover with a solid foundation to help you understand how we taste wine and, by that gigantic wine list at your favorite restaurant.
“My primary goal is to help people understand wine and, by extension, to understand their palettes and their sense of taste a little bit better. Wine can be intimidating, especially in the U.S. It’s hard to understand. It’s pretentious. It’s snobby. People just expect you know stuff.”
- Ashwin Mathia
In this episode, Ashwin explains the cultural differences between wine appreciation in Italy and the U.S., emphasizing how wine is deeply integrated into Italian life. His story of moving to Italy is particularly inspiring. He recounts how a chance meeting with Tuscan winemakers in Washington, D.C., led him and his wife to spend significant time in Italy, eventually deciding to move here permanently.
Whether you are a wine newbie or a superfan, this interview will leave you thirsty for more of Italy’s rich wine culture. Don’t miss it.
Location Spotlight - Castelsardo, Sardinia
Ready to take the hustle and bustle out of your life and slow everything down to a stroll? Then island life may be for you — specifically, on the island of Sardinia. This magical Mediterranean island is often overlooked but seems to be gaining in popularity recently, for obvious reasons. Between the weather, the breathtaking beaches, the crystal blue sea, and quaint towns, Sardinia truly embodies paradise.
On the island’s northwest coast, overlooking the Gulf of Asinara, you’ll find the colorful seaside town of Castelsardo. Bathed in sunshine for most of the year and full of opportunities to enjoy Sardinian cuisine and traditions, this idyllic borgo is worth checking out if you’re looking for a beachy vibe. It was originally built as a fortified town around Doria Castel, which is still a significant focal point today.
While you certainly have the option to just check out and relax on the beach here, you could also stay quite busy. Whether island hopping, checking out the local basket weaving artisans, hiking through the Asinara National Park, or indulging in a huge plate of langoustine spaghetti seaside, the days here can be as full as you’d like them to be.
Ready to live the dream? At this point, there’s a good chance you’re in love with Castelsardo. If so, you won’t want to miss this👇 2 bedroom, 2 bath property with a garage, private garden, and jaw-dropping view. And, it’s just 5 minutes to the sea! Priced at €269,000, this could easily be your piece of paradise.
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!
Ready to Live Your Best Life in Italy?
Here at Smart Move Italy, we’re all about making it as easy as possible for YOU to live your BEST life in Italy. This is why, once a year, we host an intensive, FREE, 3-day bootcamp to give you all of the info you need to make it happen. Even if you’ve participated in the past, it makes sense to be there again because this is Italy. There’s ALWAYS new information to share and this year is no exception.
One of the questions we get all the time is: “What if I don’t want to live in Italy full-time?” Making such a huge commitment is not for everyone so one of the topics we’ll cover is why a part-time move may be the best decision for you (and how to make it happen). There’s SO much more so be sure to mark your calendar and grab a seat.
Stop talking about a new life in Italy and take action! This could be your first step.
Will we see you there? Be sure to sign up now! 👇
That’s it for this week. As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!