🇮🇹 Well-Rested and Ready to Go!
After a much-needed break, we're chatting about a coastal controversy you may not know about, a first for Italy in the 2024 Olympics and the best way to conquer pesky Italian pronouns.
Italy’s Bagno Culture: A Pro or a Con? 🏖️ ☀️ 🏊
Italy’s bagno culture is famous…and infamous, depending on your perspective. For some, it represents the convenience and luxury of having a dedicated spot on a beach complete with a chair, umbrella, a safe place for your drink, showers, and, often, staff ready to fetch your next cocktail. For others, these beach clubs present an obstacle to what should be public access to the sea.
The tension created by these contrasting views has continued to escalate over the years. Today, it seems there are two options for those who want to enjoy the seaside: pay a beach club for the privilege (daily costs can range from €30-35 to more than €700, depending on the location), or find an unmarked path to a less-than-ideal spot.
Free beaches DO exist, you just need to do a little detective work. For a list of free beaches in Amalfi, check out this resource.
While Puglia and Sardinia have laws mandating that 60% of the shoreline must be open for public use, in other parts of the country, 100% of the coast is “privatized” (although, this is more of a perception than a fact). In response to this reality, several organizations have sprung up in protest including Mare Libero (Free Sea) which says it is “united by the common intent to liberate the sea and the beaches and return them to the community.”
Protestors aligned with this movement say these establishments are acting illegally with complete disregard for EU rules. Specifically, beach club owners have assumed long-term “ownership” of the seaside, often leasing the space out to foreign investors. They have a point…but they are also fighting a system that started decades ago and is deeply ingrained in the culture.
There is currently talk in the government about changing the way bagni operate (as in, enforcing EU competition rules), but this isn’t really a new controversy so we’ll see how the drama unfolds. Until then, be prepared to either pay for your day at the beach or to get adventurous while hunting for a free stretch of shore.
Italian Passion on Display for the World 🥇
The 2024 Summer Olympics have wrapped up in Paris, but the Italian athletes who competed are still basking in the glow of their gold, silver, and bronze medals. When all was said and done, the Italians earned a total of 40 medals, including 12 golds, ranking 9th in most golds won.
Whether you’re glued to your TV during the Olympics or just catch the highlights, you have to admit that some of the best reasons to watch are the stories behind the incredible athletic performances.
Take, for example, the women’s tennis doubles team of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. Errani, originally from Bologna, has been a staple on the women’s tour for over two decades and reached a career-high ranking of world #5 in 2013. She’s suffered her share of setbacks and struggles over the years but her fiery spirit and positive demeanor on the court have become her trademark.
Twenty-eight-year-old Paolini was born in the small Tuscan town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Although she turned pro in 2011, her rise to the top has been slow. With two Grand Slam finals under her belt and a win at the Dubai Duty-Free Open, Paolini’s 2024 has been as explosive as her personality. Anyone watching this doubles team in action could probably guess they’re Italian without even seeing their uniforms. At this level, every player is exceptional when it comes to talent but some would say it was their passion and camaraderie that helped them over the finish line.
The duo are two of the shortest players on the tour (both under 5’5”) but if you just account for their combined presence on the court, they seem like tennis giants. Their path to the podium was dramatic, in all the right ways. They made their way through some incredibly tough competition, winning every match in straight sets except one that went to a third-set tie-break. Their medal is the first ever for Italy in women’s tennis and the first gold medal in tennis.
One thing can be said of every Italian athlete, whether they left Paris with or without a medal…they definitely put on a show. Did you have a favorite performance? Let us know on our Facebook page.
🌟 Big News: We’re Looking for a New Writer for PerTe! ✍️
Ciao my friends, Samantha here! I’ve got some exciting news to share! Our fabulous editor, Tiernan, who’s been the creative genius behind our PerTe newsletter, has just been promoted to a brand-new role within our team. We’re so thrilled for her, but that means we’re now on the lookout for someone special to step into her role.
Here’s the scoop: We need a passionate writer who’s obsessed with all things Italy—someone who dreams of living here (or maybe already does!) and loves sharing that dream with others. As the new editor/writer for PerTe, you’ll be the voice that keeps our community inspired, delivering top-notch content that our readers can’t wait to dive into every time they open their inbox.
If you’re creative, love storytelling, and are ready to bring fresh ideas to the table, this could be your dream gig. You’ll have the chance to continue the amazing work Tiernan has done and make your own mark on our beloved newsletter.
So, if you’ve got a way with words and a love for Italy, we’d love to chat. Apply today and help us keep the Italy dream alive for all our readers!
Conquering Italian Pronouns 🗣️
While researching your potential move to Italy, you’ve probably discovered the importance of learning the language. Unless you are in a very touristic area, this is not one of those countries where you can continue to rely on your non-Italian mother tongue. You don’t have to master Italian, but you do need to have a working knowledge if you expect your new life in Italy to thrive.
No need to be discouraged though. There are so many resources to help you, and life itself is the best teacher. You just need to have an open mind, be willing to fail and, most of all, try. Those of us who are already well into the process can attest to several common sticking points when it comes to learning this beautiful language: prepositions, verb tenses, and pronouns.
Taking a deeper look at the latter, matters are further complicated by the existence of combined pronouns (using pronouns and articles together). Members of our private A New Life in Italy community enjoy regular lessons with one of the best Italian teachers around, Margherita Berti with Italian Matters. She knows non-native speakers struggle with pronouns and has created a FREE pronoun blueprint to help make sense of it all.
Don’t expect to start rattling off pronouns like a pro right away, but this is a great first step to simply understanding what the pronouns are and how they work. We all have to start somewhere, right? In boca al lupo!
Grab this FREE resource today.👇🏽
North Americans Can’t Say No to Sicily ☀️ 🍋
We’re all about new beginnings here and there’s nothing we love more than hearing the success stories of community members who have started over in Italy. In Episode 2 of our popular YouTube series, “A New Life in Italy - Sicilian Stories,” you’ll meet four adventurous North Americans who are well on their way to re-rooting on the beautiful island of Sicily.
Our special guests will introduce you to Ortigia, take you to the slopes of Mt. Etna, and invite you to explore the enchanting village of Ispica. From stunning landscapes to rich cultural history, discover why they decided to leave everything behind and embrace the Sicilian way of life.
Watch now!👇🏽
Ask Samantha Anything (ASA)
Send your questions to tiernan@smartmoveitaly.com.
Hi Samantha: My siblings and I qualify for citizenship through Jure Sanguinis. We have all our documents in order but we have tried and tried to no avail to secure an appointment with our Italian consulate (San Francisco). I read about the option to apply through the No Appointment option but I do not believe we qualify as our father was under 21 years of age when our grandfather naturalized. What gives? Do we have any other options? We’re feeling hopeless at this point. Thanks for taking my question.
Dear Giuliana: I have good and bad news for you. The good news is that you and your siblings qualify for citizenship as the bloodline was not broken. Your grandfather was still Italian when your father was born, keeping the line intact.
But, since he was under 21 years old, your options on “where” you can apply are reduced.
Recently a judge in Rome ruled over a 1948 petition that if the child was still a minor (under 21 at the time) when the ancestors naturalized, then they were considered naturalized at the same time. The case was lost as well as subsequent appeals.
This new ruling applies to all court petitions, including No Appointment cases.
Although the ruling is not binding in all courts, it is a big gamble to proceed with a minor issue.
Therefore, you are left with two options; apply directly in Italy which means you must move here, or continue to wait for an appointment at your local consulate. I know it feels like winning the lottery and not being able to cash in the ticket. If moving to Italy is an option, it's the fastest way to apply. You can read about the Fast Track process here.👇🏽
It’s Crunch Time! Don’t Miss This Opportunity.
We can’t believe that September is just around the corner but the calendar doesn’t lie so it’s time to firm up your plans to join our LIVE bootcamp! This FREE event only happens once a year so you definitely don’t want to miss this chance to get your questions answered and discover how you can start a new life in Italy. We can’t wait to see you there!
As always, thanks for being here and for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!