Dream of Italy

Moving to Milan from San Francisco is one thing. Doing it with a German Shepherd born in Tehran to enter a photography Master's degree program is another story entirely. Michael TenBrink spent 17 years in San Francisco before relocating to Milan in 2022 with his husband Andrew, an architect and polyglot who had been studying Italian for over 20 years. In this Dream of Italy Podcast Episode with Host Kathy McCabe, Michael walks through how a vision session with giant Post-it notes on the sliding glass doors of their Berkeley, CA home turned into a full commitment to move, why they originally planned to move to Verona and what redirected them to Milan, and how they found their apartment in the Isola neighborhood on the very first viewing, six months before they actually moved in. Michael offers an honest account of what living in Milan looks like day to day, from navigating healthcare through a hospitalization where he did not speak the language to spending three and a half years working toward an A1 Italian level despite classes, tutors and a year-long course through the city's Comune. He covers the air quality in the Po Valley, why he came to love Milan winters after years in California, and how joining a 70-person LGBT choir became his strategy for meeting people after his photography program ended. The conversation also covers their purchase of a lakeside apartment on the northeast shore of Lake Como, well past the crowds of Varenna and Bellagio, and how they reach it by direct train without a car. For those researching moving to Milan, buying property in northern Italy or wondering what it actually takes to ship a large dog to Europe, Michael's account covers the details most relocation content leaves out. Find show notes for this podcast episode at https://dreamofitaly.com/29

Elizabeth Yanev decided to take a leap and move her family to Milan. A former fashion industry professional turned interior designer, Elizabeth spent 16 years in New York City before relocating to Milan with her husband and young son. In this Dream of Italy Podcast Episode with host Kathy McCabe, she shares how she toured 26 apartments in four days, navigated a family reunification visa that changed weeks before their move date and landed a rental through a contact who knew agents before anything hit the market. Elizabeth also breaks down Italy's traditional 4+4 lease structure, what quarterly rent payments actually mean and why Italian tenant law puts landlords in a more cautious position than most Americans expect. But the conversation goes well beyond logistics. Elizabeth talks about enrolling her son at an American school in Milan with more than 70 nationalities represented, why the Italian food culture dissolved every anxiety she had about healthy eating for kids and what the air pollution in Milan actually feels like day to day. She covers the walkability of Milan's center, the proximity to skiing in the Dolomites, the social energy of events like Salone del Mobile and her honest take on what it takes to build a community in Milan, a city where she knew nobody initially. Whether you are researching moving to Milan, living in Italy as a family or wondering how the Italian visa process actually works, Elizabeth's firsthand account covers the realities most Italy relocation content glosses over. Find show notes for this podcast episode at https://dreamofitaly.com/28

If you have ever wondered whether Milan deserves a place on your list of cities to live in Italy, this Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe makes a strong case. Arlene Antoinette Gibbs is an American writer and interior designer who lived in Rome for years before making the move to Milan. Having experienced expat life in both cities firsthand, she brings a candid and nuanced perspective on what it actually means to relocate within Italy and why Milan is far more livable than its reputation suggests. Arlene shares why she chose Milan over staying in Rome: better public transportation, a more international business environment and a city that functions as the economic engine of the entire country with thriving sectors in design, fashion, tech and engineering. She also gets into the realities of finding an apartment in Milan, where housing prices have risen 34% and inventory is tight, and why working with a licensed real estate agent made all the difference. The conversation covers the cost of living in Milan, the city's food scene, the energy of Milan Design Week, the social culture and the honest tradeoffs compared to life in Rome including the winter weather and air pollution. Arlene also shares her thoughts on Turin as an alternative for those who want city life at a slower pace and lower cost. Which Italian city is calling your name? Let us know in the comments and subscribe for more move to Italy podcasts from Dream of Italy. Find show notes for this podcast episode at https://dreamofitaly.com/27

Thinking about buying or renovating a house in Sicily? Dream of Italy Podcast host Kathy McCabe sits down with builder and project manager Scott Thompson of The Sicily Projects to break down what it is like to buy and renovate a home in Italy and specifically Sicily. He discusses the real cost of one euro houses, dealing with Italian renovation delays, securing permits, fighting damp and mold, where to buy in Italy, and the biggest mistakes foreigners make when renovating in Italy. Scott also shares his own move from Manchester to Sicily, what life is really like in smaller Sicilian towns, and why he believes more people will trade city life for a slower, simpler life in Italy. Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/26

If you have ever asked "where in Italy should I actually live?" this Dream of Italy Podcast episode with host Kathy McCabe is exactly what you need to hear. Damien O'Farrell is one of Italy's most experienced relocation experts, based in Rome with nearly 40 years of helping people make the move to Italy. In this conversation with Kathy, he cuts through the noise of TikTok trends and one-euro house headlines to offer something far more valuable: a clear framework for figuring out which part of Italy is actually right for you. His questions are practical and direct. Damien and Kathy work through a wide range of destinations city by city and region by region. Milan is drawing high net worth individuals from Dubai and London thanks to a 300,000€ yearly flat tax and a luxury property market that still delivers strong value. This episode is one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations available on choosing where to live in Italy and it is worth listening more than once as your move to Italy plans take shape. Leave your top contender in the comments and subscribe to Dream of Italy for more on living and retiring in Italy. Find show notes for this podcast episodes at https://dreamofitaly.com/25