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Episode #19: Italy Tourism Boom with ENIT President Alessandra Priante

Release Date: 02/10/2026

Episode #19: Italy Tourism Boom with ENIT President Alessandra Priante

Dream of Italy

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 classic itineraries. From the growing popularity of off-season travel to the desire for deeper cultural experiences, Kathy and Alessandra explore how travelers are moving beyond classic itineraries and...

Episode #18: 90 Years of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium with Nicola Bertinelli

Dream of Italy

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 Reggiano including ones about 3-Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura. Show notes:

Episode #17: Experience Authentic Italy in 2025 with Angelo Cartotenuto of LivTours

Dream of Italy

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 in Rome to early morning Vatican visits and after-hours access to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Carotenuto shares his philosophy on creating meaningful travel experiences, drawing from his...

Episode #16: Italian Culinary Adventures in Modena with Rhonda Vilardo

Dream of Italy

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 Massimo Bottura and his wife Lara Gilmore and their culinary and philanthropic empire in this charming city. Rhonda explains how she takes guests through the many layers of Modena exploring food, wine and...

Episode #15: Bring Italy to Your Doorstep with Olivia Becker

Dream of Italy

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 businesses and local suppliers in tiny towns in Italy, truly living up to its name which means “from the source.” Olivia, who has Italian-American ancestry, connects with many female-led...

Episode #14: Buying Short Term Rentals in Italy with Brad Allan of BradsWorld

Dream of Italy

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 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...

Episode #13: Fractional Ownership in Florence with Italy Perfect

Dream of Italy

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...

Episode #12: Overcoming Challenges in Claiming Your Italian Citizenship

Dream of Italy

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...

Episode #11: How to Use Your Italian Ancestry to Claim Citizenship

Dream of Italy

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...

Episode #10: Grow An Italian Garden With Seeds From Italy

Dream of Italy

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...

More Episodes

From the growing popularity of off-season travel to the desire for deeper cultural experiences, Kathy and Alessandra explore how travelers are moving beyond classic itineraries and seeking authentic connections with Italy’s regions, food and local communities. They also discuss how major events like the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina will bring global attention to new parts of the country.

Kathy and Alessandra discuss:

Why Calabria is emerging as an exciting destination with beaches, mountains, villages and affordable prices
How Umbria is becoming known as a refined, boutique luxury destination
Why Abruzzo, with L’Aquila as Italy’s 2026 Capital of Culture, is gaining attention
How the Marche offers diverse landscapes, culture and fewer crowds
How shorter, more frequent trips are replacing traditional long vacations
Why travelers are planning trips around experiences, events and food traditions

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/19

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