Episode #13: Fractional Ownership in Florence with Italy Perfect

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. 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 has. Brad has a booming business renting out elegant apartments to travelers to Tuscany. He's also loving the Tuscan lifestyle as are his dogs! If you dream of moving to Italy with a smart way to finance it, this episode is for you. 

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 per year) of a stunning apartment in dreamy Florence: They discuss:

• How fractional ownership works and why you are truly a deeded owner
• Why Florence is the perfect location for a fractional ownership in Italy
• What the price is for Italy Perfect's Maestro fractional ownership
• What the advantages and disadvantages of fractional owneership are
• Why purchasing a fractional ownership can have less risk than buying a house in Italy 
• How you can rent out the Maestro apartment when you are not there
• And much more...

For more details, visit www.italyperfect.com

Enter to win a 4-night stay in Florence: www.dreamofitaly.com/winflorence

Show notes: https://dreamofitaly.com/2023/01/11/podcast-episode-13-fractional-ownership-in-florence-with-italy-perfect/

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 naturalization records are the most important
+ How Bianca and her company helped Kathy explore her heritage in Campania
+ How to navigate around the "1948 rule" which might seemingly deny your claim to citizenship - and how Kathy is doing it
+ How adoption affects the ability to claim citizenship
+ How to navigate around name discrepancies, whether they were made on purpose or by mistake
+ How to find the Italian town(s) your ancestors are from, even if you are not sure of all of their details

Show notes: https://dreamofitaly.com/2021/05/04/podcast-episode-12-overcoming-challenges-in-claiming-your-italian-citizenship-with-my-italian-family/

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 ancestry can lead to Italian citizenship and an EU passport. They discuss:
+ How Melanie's own ancestors were "on the run" - and that's sometimes a common story - when they emigrated to the U.S. 
+ How Italian records can tell you so much of the story of your ancestors
+ Why so many Italian records are available in Salt Lake City, of all places
+ What are the advantages of claiming Italian citizenship
+ Why the wait at some U.S. consulates is up to eight years! to process citizenship paperwork, but there's a very fast way to get your citizenship granted - on the ground in Italy
+ What the cost is to go through the citizenship process and ways to save money

Show notes: https://dreamofitaly.com/2021/05/04/podcast-episode-11-how-to-use-your-italian-ancestry-to-claim-italian-citizenship-with-italyancestry-com/

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 to get gardening at home. They also discuss:
+ Why seeds are so important to Italians and Italian-Americans
+ How they came to run a business importing seeds specifically from Italy
+ Why basil seeds produced in Bergamo are called Italiano Classico
+ What is a Cucuzza?
+ When is the best time to start a garden in the United States
+ Which Italian flowers are easiest to grow 
+ And much more...

Visit www.growitalian.com and use code: dreamgarden to save 10%

Show notes: https://dreamofitaly.com/2021/04/12/podcast-episode-10-grow-an-italian-garden-with-seeds-from-italy/

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 and soul medicine found in Sicily to a funny tale of being locked in an Italian restaurant bathroom, this episode will enchant and surprise you until the day we can return to Italy!

Show notes: https://dreamofitaly.com/2020/12/17/podcast-episode-9-your-crowdsourced-italian-travel-dreams/

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 had some of the most incredible experiences in Italy. We’ve published 170 issues of our award-winning travel publication but YOU know about so many hidden gems that I (or the fabulous contributors to our publication) don’t know about and what better time to share them!?

For years, I have dreamed of putting together a crowdsourced issue of Dream of Italy and now that we also have the Dream of Italy Podcast, for those who don’t like to write but can talk (haha), we’re compiling a crowdsourced podcast episode as well.

I need your help. There’s no better time to share our love for Italy and get lost in a little project that has us digging deep into great memories.

Please submit a 350-word articles, series of photos, recipe or podcast soundbite up to 40 seconds long on the theme of When I Dream of Italy, I Dream of… to potentially be included in our issue or episode. The deadline is May 20, 2020.

For more details, visit www.dreamofialy.com/sharemydream

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 visiting the city of art for the first time or 14th, you don’t want to miss the tips that Kathy and Andrea share.

The Grand Hotel Minerva would like to give Dream of Italy fans a special offer. Use the promo code DREAM when booking at grandhotelminerva.com to receive: 

+ Early check in and late check out, subject to availability 

+ Upgrade, subject to availability 

+ Free minibar throughout the stay 

+ Signature Negroni Cocktail Class  (Kathy’s favorite cocktail!)

+ Seasonal Chef Surprise upon arrival 

+ Complimentary dinner for 2 (wine excluded) with booking of a 3 night suite stay

Valid through December 27, 2020 for both Flexible and Non Refundable Rates

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 with Frances again at her iconic home Bramasole, to talk specifically about the challenges and rewards of the growing trend of  moving to Italy. They discuss:

+ What one thing you must do before deciding to move to Italy
+ Why restoring a house can help you learn to speak Italian
+ Where else Frances would live in Italy if not in Cortona
+ Why “the piazza” is the most important place in Italy
+ How and why Frances splits her time between the U.S. and Cortona
+ What Frances enjoyed most about filming the Dream of Itay: Tuscan Sun Special
+ What you simply must when you visit Cortona
+ And much much more!

 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 well as Steve's little-known non-travel talent. They discuss:

+ How the Perillos began their family business
+ Why travelers tastes have changed and how the industry is responding
+ Why the person who flies an airplane is called a captain (Steve is the king of trivia)
+ How to create memorable tours and experiences for the average American, not just the 1%
+ What secret talent Steve has that few know about
+ How television changed the tour business, especially for Perillo
+ Why if you’re married it may be better to travel with a group
(you have to hear the reason!)
+ Why 10,000 people owe their lives to Perillo Tours (you even more need to hear this reason!
+ What makes a great tour guide
+ And much much more!

Click here for show notes