Ready for re-launch. Your favorite podcast is back. 🚀
The podcast kicks off with the realities of relocating to Italy and our absolute favorite visa. Plus, a citizenship success story and a guide to perfect pasta pairings.
A New Life in Italy Podcast is Back! 🇮🇹 🎧
Here at Smart Move Italy, we like to connect with our community in many ways. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, our website, in our private community (A New Life in Italy), in our boot camps, and, of course, here at Italy Per Te (or on our paid version, Per Te +). Over the years, our podcast has also been one of our favorite ways to communicate with you, but you’ve probably noticed that we took a bit of a break recently. For the past few months, we’ve worked hard to revamp and refresh the podcast and now, we are so excited to announce the official relaunch! 🚀
Listen to a new episode every week as Samantha Wilson, our Chief Dream Maker, teaches you how to plan, prepare, and make the move to Italy, faster, safer, and with a lot less stress. You’ll hear interviews with experts and community members who have successfully made the move, discover the best locations to explore, plus a new listeners’ questions segment (keep reading for more info).
New episodes drop every Wednesday so be sure to tune in.
Success Story: Rick Turone and Family
Four years and 263 days. That’s how long it took Rick Turone and his three adult sons to go through the citizenship process. Nobody ever said it was quick, but it was as stress-free as possible thanks, in part, to Smart Move Italy.
Like many people hoping to pursue Italian citizenship, the Turones ran into a roadblock from the very beginning. “On 18 June 2018, we sent our first USCIS index search request,” recalls Rick. “On 9 July 2018, we received the results. We were told my father, who was born in Sicily, became a citizen through my grandfather's naturalization, and, therefore, the bloodline was cut.”
Bruised and disappointed but not deterred, the Turones discovered that they were eligible to file a 1948 court case (specifically, on 6 January 2020), and the fire was reignited. “If not for our conversation with Samantha at Smart Move Italy, we would not have known about the 1948 option and wouldn’t have obtained dual citizenship,” says Rick.
The Turones knew they had a long journey ahead, but they also knew they were in good hands. Smart Move Italy also helped procure the many Italian documents required, acquire translations and apostilles, assist with name discrepancies, and file the petition.
But here is the twist, and what is now called “A Turone Decision.”
Rick's Italian-born grandfather lost his citizenship when his father naturalized while he was a minor. Because his grandfather was born in Italy, the rules state that there was no recovery from this and the line ended there.
However, Rick and our citizenship team and lawyer Avv. Grasso, decided to proceed by way of 1948 through the great-grandmother, by-passing the great-grandfather’s naturalization.
The argument is that the great-grandmother retained her citizenship and therefore the line remains intact, irrespective of the fact that the child was Italian-born and his father naturalized while he was a minor. This was a risk, but Rick decided to take it.
Their petition was filed in court in May of 2021. It took almost a year for the hearing, which took place the following March, but the ruling came down relatively quickly (also in March). For the next year and a half, the Turones and their attorney went back and forth many times. Between ensuring vital records were sent to their ancestral comune, registering with FAST IT and AIRE, booking passport appointments, and dealing with some unexpected technical issues, the entire process was labor intensive and multifaceted, but the end result was worth the work, and making case law.
Exactly three years and 61 days since learning about the 1948 option, the Turones finally had their passports in hand.
“The road was full of twists and turns and bumps, but we made it,” says Rick.
The Turone’s journey proves that, with persistence and the right service providers, the dream of Italian citizenship is often attainable even when it seems impossible at first. If you find yourself in a similar situation or would like to discuss the possibility of a 1948 case, we’re here to help. Schedule a free consultation with our citizenship team today.
For the Love of Pasta! Pick the Right Sauce 🍝
Pasta and Italy are a classic combination. You can’t have one without the other. If you’ve ever made pasta from scratch (or have seen it being made), you know it’s a labor of love and a beautiful (and delicious) form of art. Did you know that every type of pasta has a unique shape and size that compliments a specific type of sauce? Once you understand the logic behind the pairings, you’ll always make the right choice. Here are some of Italy’s most celebrated shapes:
🍝Thin, long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, and capellini are ideal for delicate, bright sauces like seafood or light tomato sauce. Avoid chunky sauces that will overpower the delicate pasta.
🍝Long, tube pasta like bucatini or perciatelli suck up rich but “loose” sauces that can run down the center channel of the pasta. Think garlic, butter sauce, or a slightly thick tomato sauce with a delicate protein, like pieces of pancetta or guanciale.
🍝Flat, long pasta like fettuccine, pappardelle, or tagliatelle is begging for velvety, clingy sauces. Cream is often the key here. The wide surface of the pasta is the perfect resting place for rich cheese sauces. Full-bodied sauces (for example, a ragu) also pair well.
🍝You’ll want to keep it simple with stuffed pasta like ravioli or tortellini so that the filling shines. Butter and/or oil sauces are good choices and a touch of parsley or red pepper is always a nice touch.
🍝Short, tube pasta like penne, ziti, and rigatoni are the perfect vehicles for hearty meat sauces like ragu or bolognese. Their firm texture can stand up to the heartiness of these sauces.
🍝On the other hand, small, tube pasta like conchiglie (shells), and ditalini can be considered sauce spoons. These mighty, little delights can be used in many ways and are often featured in soups in soups.
🍝Culinary creativity is on full display with shaped pasta like orecchiette, farfalle, rotelli, and gemelli. These versatile works of art allow your favorite sauces to cozy up into all their nooks and crannies. Also, don’t be afraid to top them with some protein.
This is by no means an exhaustive list as pasta varieties are endless in Italy. Everyone has their favorite and I’d love to hear about yours. Share in the comments…and buon appetito! 😘
Location Spotlight - Volterra, Pisa, Tuscany
As you drive up to the hilltop town of Volterra, you’ll probably wonder if the scenery could possibly get any more beautiful. And then, you arrive and realize, yes, indeed it can. This truly is a quintessential Italian treasure.
Within the walls of this ancient town, you’ll find a maze of narrow streets lined with well-kept storefronts, artisan workshops, colorful flower pots, and bustling cafes (try the wild boar stew!). As you weave through the labyrinth, you’ll probably notice how incredibly clean the streets are, a common characteristic of small Italian towns and a symbol of local pride.
Some of the can’t-miss landmarks include the Duomo di Volterra (the frescoes!), the massive Porta all’Arco (one of the best-preserved Etruscan gates in Italy), and the impressive Roman Theater. This amphitheater was uncovered in the 1950s and is incredibly well-preserved.
Nature and wine lovers will find their happy place here. This area of Tuscany is bursting with opportunities to explore rolling hills and green valleys dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and forests, as well as to taste some of the most prized wines in the country including Chianti and Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
If you’re searching for property, Tuscany is a popular destination that can often demand higher prices but there are still bargains to be found. In fact, a lovely apartment with a garden in Volterra was featured in a recent issue of Vendita, our free property newsletter. This could be your view ⬇️ (and for under €100,000)!
Does Volterra speak to you? Let us know in the comments. 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!
Canadians: Property Purchase in Italy Still on Hold 🇨🇦🇮🇹
For the past few years, Canadians have been unable to purchase property in Italy because of the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act. This legislation was supposed to expire in 2024 but the Canadian government recently decided to extend the ban on foreigners purchasing residential property until at least 2027. Since Italy works on reciprocity, this means Canadians interested in purchasing a home in Italy will have to wait a little longer.
If you are impacted by this decision, don’t give up hope! Use this time to hone in on your ideal location. While governments hash it out, Canadians can still entertain their Italian dreams by renting, visiting as a tourist, and/or pursuing long-stay visas. Speaking of, if you’re pursuing a visa (or don’t know where to start), we’d love to help you! Visit our Visa page today. ⤵️
Can’t Get Enough of Italy Per Te? Now, there’s Per Te +
Share your questions!
Do you have a burning question that you’d love Samantha to address? Here’s your chance to record it and send it to us. Then, tune in to the podcast to hear the answer. We’d love to feature you in an upcoming episode so send in your questions today (be sure to make a new recording for each question). 👇
As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!