Dream of Italy

What if the place you feel called to live is written into your birth chart before you ever book the flight? Might explain why so many of us love Italy! Astrologer Helena Woods joins Dream of Italy Podcast Host Kathy McCabe to explain astrocartography, a specialized branch of astrology that maps where on Earth your planetary influences are strongest. Helena breaks down what the technique reveals an...

If you are seriously thinking about moving to Italy, taxes are not something to figure out after you arrive. Ideally you should start the process 18 months ahead of time. This Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe is the clearest explanation of how Italian taxation actually works for Americans that you will find anywhere. Kathy is joined by Nick Metta of Studio Legale Metta, an Ita...

American Joe Reagan bought a 24,000€ house in a hilltop town in Abruzzo with 750 people, moved his wife and four kids from Ireland, enrolled them directly into the Italian school system, and has not looked back. Three years in, they love their life in Abruzzo and are Joe is working to help other families move to their town for a better quality of life in Italy.  Dream of Italy Podcast Host Kathy M...

Italian National Tourism Board, to talk about how travel in Italy is evolving and what it means for visitors today. Drawing on her global perspective and deep knowledge of Italian tourism, Alessandra shares how travel habits have changed in recent years, why Italy continues to inspire repeat visits and how travelers can experience the country in more meaningful and memorable ways beyond the classi...

Kathy McCabe, host of Dream of Italy, visits with Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium to talk about the King of Cheeses and the 90th anniversary of the consortium of producers of this amazing "Made in Italy" product. Bertinelli leads Kathy in a tasting of various ages, talks about the importance of the American market for this cheese and share stories of Parmigiano R...

 Kathy McCabe, host of Dream of Italy, welcomes Angelo Carotenuto, founder of LivTours (formerly LivItaly). They discuss how tourism in Italy has evolved, with Carotenuto emphasizing the importance of booking experiences well in advance, particularly for major attractions like the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Kathy and Angelo explore his unique tour offerings, from Vespa sidecar rides...

Join host Kathy McCabe and Rhonda Vilardo of Italian Culinary Adventures as they discuss one of their very favorite cities in Italy- Modena in the region of Emilia Romagna. Modena lives and breathes food, especially balsamic vinegar and parmigiano reggiano. Kathy recently filmed two episodes of season 3 of the TV series Dream of Italy in Modena and Rhonda and Kathy discuss Michelin-star chef Massi...

Pistachio cream tastes like that breakfast you enjoyed in Milan. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar catapults you back to a memorable lunch in Modena. A bite of pasta transports you back to a perfect dinner in Umbria. Olivia Becker of Dalla Fonte knows the important role food plays in our memories. She talks to host Kathy McCabe about how Dalla Fonte brings customers Italian food directly from small bu...

YouTube star, dog-lover and all-around great guy, Brad Allan, originally from Texas, lives his  dream of Italy  in  Montepulciano  with his wife  Olivia . Host Kathy McCabe enjoys a great chat with Brad and his new life in Italy! His thoroughly educational channel gives tips on how to move to Italy and how purchase property either for your personal use or to turn into short-term rentals as Brad ha...

Don't we all dream of owning a home in Italy? What if you could be part owner of a stunning apartment in Florence with little of the usual hassles of buying a house in Italy? Your Italian dream might be closer than you think... Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Lisa Byrne of Italy Perfect who has been renting villas and apartments in Italy for years and is now offering fractional ownership (four weeks pe...

In our previous episode (#11), we discussed how many who have Italian ancestry can claim Italian citizenship, jure sanguinis , by right of blood. In this episode, we dig deeper as sometimes this process isn't as straightforward as it first might seem.  Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Bianca Ottone of My Italian Family.  They discuss: + Why more and more Americans are pursuing dual citizenship + Why nat...

Italy bestows Italian citizenship jure sanguinis , by right of blood. So that means many Americans who have Italian blood can be dual citizens and hold citizenship in the U.S. and Italy, allowing them to live in Italy full-time and access many benefits - and even pass it on to their children.  Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Melanie Holtz of ItalyAncestry.com to discuss genealogy and how tracing your a...

When you're not in Italy, what better way to live like an Italian but to grow a garden at home? Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential the Mediterranean diet and gardening is a wonderful way to be tied to the land, no matter where you are. Host Kathy McCabe welcomes Lynn Byczynski and Will Nagengast of Seeds From Italy. They share the importance of heirloom seeds to the Italian culture and how...

When the pandemic started this spring, I put out a call to our listeners to send in audio segments for a special crowdsourced episode on the places, people and experiences we are dreaming of during this difficult time.  I asked listeners to start off with, "When I dream of Italy, I dream of..." and the answers I received are as diverse and beautiful as il bel paese itself!  From a story of smiles...

I believe in Italy. I'm betting on Italy. Italy has saved me again and again. It has been my constant. And I believe in dreams and their ability to become reality. As Italy begins to slowly open up and the future still remains uncertain, all we can hold onto these days are our dreams…so let's write about and talk about our Italian dreams! I know  Dream of Italy  viewers, readers and listeners have...

Florence simply enchants us…and so much of the Florentine experience is where you stay. Host Kathy McCabe has a favorite Florentine hotel and it is the Grand Hotel Minerva.  At the hotel's stunning rooftop pool Kathy sat down with her friend sales and marketing director Andrea Bargigli to talk about what makes the Minerva unique and how to explore Florence from a new perspective. Whether you are v...

Have you ever thought about packing up, leaving your life as you know it, and moving to Italy? Frances Mayes, author of Under The Tuscan Sun, did just that when she and her husband Ed purchased a villa in the hilltop Tuscan town of Cortona, resulting in a bestselling book and movie! Frances recently joined Kathy in filming the Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special for PBS Host Kathy McCabe visited wi...

 If you lived in or grew up in NJ/NY or CT in the past 40 or 50 years then the name Perillo needs know explanation. Mario Perillo and his groundbreaking commercials for his Italian tours made him more famous than the Pope in some homes! His son Steve has carried Periilo Tours forward. Host Kathy McCabe sits down with Steve for an all encompassing conversation on how travel to Italy has changed as...

  As in most any society, the women have the power – at least in the kitchen. Have you ever dreamed of learning to cook in a traditional Italian kitchen? Tuscan Women Cook, in the small Tuscan village of Montefollonico, brings travelers to Tuscany for hands-on learning in the kitchens of the masters – Tuscan grandmothers or nonni. Host Kathy McCabe pays a visit to Montefollonico to meet owner Cole...

Should you take an escorted tour to Italy, plan a trip on your own or something in between? The age-old question when traveling to Italy. Luckily, travel industry insider Steve Born of Globus and Monograms has some answers. Host Kathy McCabe and Steve talk about how you simply must make time for serendipity in Italy and how to do that.  They also discuss: + How his company is venturing deep into u...

Italians simply love children and that's one reason that Italy is an amazing destination for family travel and multi-generational trips. Our friend Rosanne Cofoid of La Dolce Via Travel is an expert at planning family trips to Italy. Host Kathy McCabe and Rosanne really get into some very specific travel tips which you will want to take note of, even if you don't have kids. They discuss: + What ag...

If you've ever thought of chucking it all and buying a little fixer upper in the Tuscan countryside, then author Frances Mayes needs no introduction. She is of course the author of the best-selling book Under the Tuscan Sun which inspired the movie starting Diane Lane. Frances practically invented the dream of moving to Italy either full or part time.  Host Kathy McCabe checks in with Frances at h...

You might know Italy travel expert Kathy McCabe from her PBS TV travel series Dream of Italy as well as the award-winning travel publication and membership website Dream of Italy that she founded in 2002. Now Kathy is launching this new podcast to help feed all of our Italian dreams - whether we are dreaming of moving to Italy or designing an authentic, once-in-a-lifetime  Kathy explains how her o...