Studio Settebello - Articles #SicilyStudio Settebello - Articles #Sicilyhttps://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/tag/sicilySat, 31 Oct 2026 09:31:34 +0100http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Halloween, Ognissanti, e Il Giorno dei Morti]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/halloween-ognissanti-e-il-giorno-dei-mortiDiscover how Halloween compares to Italy's traditional November observances, Ognissanti and Il Giorno dei Morti, including unique regional customs like Sicily's cannistru ri morti.]]>

Discover the Traditions

In the United States and many other countries around the world, Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st. Rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, the holiday is marked by spooky decorations, carved pumpkins, jumbo bags of candy, and costumes for a night of trick-or-treating. While Halloween is gaining popularity in Italy, the beginning of November is traditionally reserved for two other important observances: 




        1. November 1st: Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day)
        2. November 2nd: Il Giorno dei Morti (The Day of the Dead), also known as the Commemorazione dei defunti (All Souls’ Day)

Ognissanti, or All Saints’ Day, comes from Christian tradition and is an important holiday in Italy. In simple terms, it is a day dedicated to honoring the saints of the Catholic Church, including martyrs and apostles.

Many Italians use the holiday as an opportunity to visit cemeteries where their loved ones have been laid to rest, often bringing flowers and lighting candles at their graves. One flower you'll often spot around this time of year is the chrysanthemum, or crisantemo, which is strongly associated with remembrance and mourning in Italy. But, as with many Italian holidays, traditions vary from region to region.


In Sicily, for example, it is believed that deceased relatives return to bring gifts and sweets to the children in their families (and, of course, the living relatives participate as well). Families buy or make traditional treats and prepare baskets of goodies for the occasion. Known in Sicilian tradition as “u cannistru ri morti”, or the basket of the dead, these collections may contain candies, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, and small gifts. Hand painted marzipans made to look like fruits, vegetables, and other foods are extremely common in this region at this time of year. In some families, the tradition is for children to wake up on November 2 to discover the gifts their deceased relatives have (supposedly) left for them. 

The day of November 2 is spent in recognition of Il Giorno dei Morti, or All Souls’ Day. Although it is not a national public holiday in Italy, it remains an important date for many families, particularly those who follow Catholic traditions.


This holiday is dedicated to remembering all of the dead. In the Catholic church, prayer for the dead is an important task. If you’ve attended a Catholic Mass, particularly one in Latin, you may have heard the words “Memento, Domine” or in English, “Remember, Lord”, a phrase that appears in the traditional Roman liturgy.

The history behind All Souls’ Day is fascinating. According to some accounts, a monk returning from the Holy Land was driven ashore in Sicily during a storm. There, he met a hermit who told him that he could hear the cries of souls suffering in purgatory from a nearby cave. The story became associated with the establishment of All Souls’ Day.

Today, the date remains an occasion for families to visit cemeteries, bring flowers, light candles, attend Mass, and reflect on those they have lost. Although the customs may differ across Italy, the underlying meaning is the same: remembering the people who came before us, and keeping their memory alive.


Of course, just because these two observances fall around Halloween doesn’t mean you won’t hear a knock at your door in the evening, followed by the question, “Dolcetto o scherzetto?” (Trick or treat?)

Whether you're celebrating Halloween, Ognissanti, or taking part in the traditions of Il Giorno dei Morti, knowing a few Italian words will help you appreciate this time of year even more!


Here are some useful vocabulary words to know:

Ognissanti - All Saints Day
Il Giorno dei Morti - Day of the Dead 
Il crisantemo - Chrysanthemum (tip: never give this flower as a gift!)
Dolcetto o scherzetto - Trick or treat 
La zucca - Pumpkin 
Il fantasma - Ghost 

La strega - Witch 

Lo scheletro - Skeleton

Il gatto nero - Black cat 

Le caramelle - Candy

La paura - Fear

Il cimitero - Cemetery


Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:24:22 +0100<![CDATA[Visiting vs Living In Italy]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/visiting-vs-living-in-italyMoving abroad is a big step. Discover how an extended month-long stay in Sicily can help you move beyond vacation mode and figure out if building an ordinary life in Italy is truly the right fit.]]>

How Do You Know It’s the Right Fit?

Everyone can agree that visiting a place is different from living there.


Okay, but how do you actually know if  the place you like to visit on vacation is the right place to move to? Especially when considering making the move abroad.


Two years ago, I was asking myself that exact question.


My close relationship with my Sicilian born grandfather sparked my love of the Italian language and my desire to obtain Italian citizenship. I knew in my heart that I wanted to live in Sicily before I had ever even set foot on the island. But how could I move somewhere without even visiting first?! I had never even been to Europe before, let alone Italy, let alone Sicily! So, in the summer of 2024, I booked my very first solo trip across the globe. I spent an entire month in Catania, Sicily, from mid-September to mid-October.


Everyone was shocked.

“Not Rome? Not Florence? Or Venice? You’re going to Italy for a month, and you’re planning to spend the entire time in Catania?!”

Of course, that’s not quite how things ended up. I did quite a bit of traveling during my month in Italy. Looking back, I’m incredibly glad I gave myself that initial month-long stay in the place I was considering calling home. And if you’re seriously thinking about moving, I highly recommend doing the same.


When I first landed in Catania that September, I felt a mix of excitement, overwhelm, and anxiety. I literally raced out of the airport the moment I landed, completely forgetting my checked bag. Apparently, retrieving my luggage wasn’t as important as seeing the place I had dreamt of for so long and breathing in a deep breath of Sicilian air.


From the airport, I took a cab into the city center and I then walked. And walked. And walked. I wandered around for hours until my legs hurt! I had just enough energy left to make my way back to the bus station and return to the airport for my long forgotten luggage.


During my stay in Catania, I approached as many people as I could, starting conversations about anything and everything. I was just so excited to interact with people and learn more about the place I hoped to soon call home. My heart actually ached at the thought of having a return ticket booked. If anything, those first few days only made me more determined to pursue my Italian citizenship.

But as amazing as those first days in Catania were, they were also a wake-up call.


I realized pretty quickly that my two-year Duolingo streak didn’t mean quite as much as I had hoped it would. Communicating in person was a completely different experience, and the fact that many people around me spoke in a local dialect added another layer to the challenge.


Then, there were all the little things that were wildly different from home, things I never would have thought about before experiencing it for myself. Watching nonnas casually sweep black ash off their steps after the latest eruption of Mount Etna, walking into churches and realizing that my khaki shorts and T-shirt weren’t exactly appropriate, and impatiently waiting for restaurants to reopen at 7 p.m. when I’d been hungry since 4.

And the heat. Mid-September in Sicily is certainly different from mid-September in New England.

None of these things were necessarily bad. They were just different.


And that became one of the most important things I learned during that month. Because when you’re thinking about moving to a new place, the question shouldn’t be, “Do I love it here?” Of course you do! That’s probably why you’re considering moving there in the first place. The better question is: “Can I see myself building an ordinary life here?”


And that is a much harder question to answer after a one-week vacation.


You can adore the food, architecture, weather, and beaches and still discover that everyday life requires compromises. And for some people those may not be compromises they are willing to make. And that’s okay! Sometimes we think we want something, and in the end realize that it may not be exactly what we expected. Since  officially making the move to Italy, I’ve visited several countries in Europe, and while I’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated my time in every single one, I knew they weren’t places I could call home. 

But it’s also important to keep in mind that just because you experience culture shock, doesn't mean it isn't the place for you! Sicily certainly shocked me. There were plenty of moments when I realized just how different life was compared to what I was used to back home. Like the first time I walked into a grocery store to see eggs and milk casually sitting on the shelf unrefrigerated.


But none of those differences made me want to leave. If anything, they made me more curious. They made me want to learn the language, understand the culture, and figure out how to build a life there. And so,after a few more years of preparation, I took the leap and made the move.


Looking back, I think that month in Catania gave me exactly what I needed. Not proof that life in Sicily would be perfect, but proof that I wanted to experience the imperfect parts, too.


You don’t need to settle in a place where everything feels familiar. You need to find a place where the unfamiliar feels worth figuring out. If you think Italy might be that place for you as well, book your free introductory call and Let Studio Settebello be the most valuable card in your hand.


Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:57:20 +0200<![CDATA[What Is A Permesso di Soggiorno?]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/what-is-a-permesso-di-soggiornoIn addition to discovering what a Permesso di Soggiorno is, who needs one, and how to apply for this essential residency permit after arriving in Italy, read more to learn about the typical pitfalls and roadblocks, and how to avoid them.]]>

And How Do I Get One?


Permesso di Soggiorno 

A long stay permit, or residency permit. 

A permesso di soggiorno is a legal document that must be applied for within eight days of entering Italy as a foreigner on a visa or for the purposes of applying for jure sanguinis via residency. If you are the spouse of an EU citizen or a foreigner with a visa, you will also need to apply for a permesso upon arrival in Italy for the purpose of family reunification.


You may be wondering why you need to apply for a permesso di soggiorno if you already have a visa. A visa is required for the purpose of entering the country, but the permesso is the document that actually allows you to legally stay in Italy. If you’d like to come to Italy on a visa, you must apply and be approved in your home country, or country of current legal residence before entering Italy. Although some countries, like Spain, allow you to enter first and apply after, you cannot apply for a visa after entering Italy. Whereas a permesso can only be applied for after entering Italy, not before.

A permesso di soggiorno requires an application, which you can pick up from your local Poste, known as a Kit Giallo. In addition to bringing your physical passport to the appointment, make sure to stop by a cartoleria to print out copies of your passport (including your visa page, if applicable), and documents supporting your permesso application. 


For visas, make sure to have a copy of the following documents:

  • Financial proof
  • Registered lease
  • Health insurance
  • School enrollment (if applicable)

These documents should be the same as the ones that were used to apply for your visa. For jure sanguinis applications, you will need copies of the vital records you will use to apply for citizenship.


Be prepared to hit a roadbump here! 


For citizenship applications, applying for your permesso di soggiorno can trigger a catch 22. Although it is best practice to first apply for your permesso, you may be asked for proof that the anagrafe has accepted your application or proof of residency— both of which, in most cases, can only be issued with proof of your permesso di soggiorno receipt. In this situation, you may need the local assistance of a service provider who understands the process and can work with local officials to find a sufficient compromise.



Once you’ve completed the paperwork, you can submit your application at the Poste and pay the required fee of approximately 116€ to 130€, depending on the length of your permesso. Before you head off to the post office, stop by your local tabaccheria to pick up a marco da bollo seidici –a 16€ tax stamp, to complete your application.

After submitting your application, you will be given a receipt. Hold onto it! Best practice is to put your receipt inside your passport and keep it on you at all times until you receive your official permesso card. You will also be issued an appointment date. It is very important that you do not miss your appointment! If you have extenuating circumstances and cannot make your appointment, you will need to contact the local Questura to request a new appointment date. 


Depending on where you live in Italy, permesso appointments can be backlogged several months, and in some cases, nearly a year. If you arrive in Italy to apply for jure sanguinis, you may end up becoming a recognized Italian citizen before your permesso appointment. You must cancel your appointment! Do not ignore this step! Contact your local Questura—the one where you applied for your permesso—and show them your recognition paperwork, Italian passport, or carta d’identitá with your citizenship listed as Italian as the reason you no longer need a permesso di soggiorno. 


For those of you on a visa, you will need to continue to renew your permesso di soggiorno for as many years as your visa is valid if you wish to remain a legal resident in Italy. If you plan on leaving Italy and terminating your residency before your permesso appointment, you must cancel your appointment! If you don’t, you could experience issues in the future if you travel to Italy or try to claim residency again.



To learn more about the process of moving to Italy and claiming legal residency there, download our Relocation Roadmap, read our other articles about moving abroad, and book a free introductory call to find out how Studio Settebello can guide you through the process.

Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:21:16 +0200<![CDATA[How To: Finding Housing In Italy]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/how-to-finding-housing-in-italyLearn the hidden challenges of finding rental housing in Italy and how local guidance from Studio Settebello can help you secure your long-term lease.]]>

One of the biggest hurdles facing anyone looking to relocate to Italy is finding housing. It’s not about knowing the right websites to look at (such as Idealista and immobiliare). And it’s not even about knowing where you want to relocate. Like most obstacles when trying to get something done in Italy, it’s all about who you know.


If you don’t have a network of family, friends, or colleagues already established in Italy, you’re effectively starting at zero. Even if you’re able to locate housing online that suits your needs, you’re not likely to get a response without speaking Italian fluently, and being available in person or over the phone– with an Italian phone number of course.

When you’re outside of Italy getting an Italian realtor, or individual landlord to take you seriously is nearly impossible. But, without local help, living in temporary housing (like an air BnB) after arrival can delay your citizenship application. A long term registered lease is required in most comuni before they will allow you to begin the jure sanguinis process. The clock starts ticking as soon as you arrive with strict deadlines for your permesso di soggiorno, without which you only have ninety days on a US tourist visa.

So, you’re not applying for citizenship? Don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. You’re still not free and clear if you plan on going the visa route. An Italian visa application requires a signed lease for at least one year before your visa is even approved! Getting a lease with fair terms should your visa application fail is practically unheard of without any connections. Be careful, as you could wind up on the hook for an entire year of rent!

If you’re looking for housing from the inside of Italy, you’re still likely to have a hard time finding someone willing to rent to you. Even with sufficient proof that you can afford to pay rent, renting to a foreigner is still a huge risk to an Italian landlord. Tenants’ rights in Italy are much more protective of the tenant. Landlords have very little recourse against non-payment and a much harder time evicting.


If you plan on traveling to Italy on a student visa, be prepared for landlords to ask for a guarantor, an in person signature from parents or a guardian, and even as much as four months’ deposit!

Without strong connections in your new local community, having local help to vouch for your legitimacy and low risk factor is the next best thing and a near requirement for landing the right lease.

That’s where we come in. We’ve been in your shoes. Let our experience be your advantage. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process or don’t know where to start, book a call with Studio Settebello today—let us be the most valuable card in your hand as you navigate your move to Italy.

Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:04:46 +0200<![CDATA[You Want to Move to a Small Village in Italy?]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/you-want-to-move-to-a-small-village-in-italyThinking about moving to a small town in Italy? Here’s the reality of small town life, without the rose colored glasses. Read to learn more about finding the right sized town for your new Italian life.]]>

So Did I.

If you come from an Italian-American family, you’ve almost certainly heard all the stories about the picturesque hilltop village or lovely seaside town from which your ancestors began their journey to America. And no doubt you’ve dreamed of returning there one day to experience the magic of its medieval buildings, winding streets, and charming piazzas. It’s a dream I’ve heard from many people over the years and one I used to have myself. Then I moved there.

In my case, the town was Fiuggi, a quaint medieval borgo in Lazio of about 10,000 people perched on a hillside and filled with all of the Italian allure you’d expect. It is most famous for the therapeutic waters which bubble out of the ground at the Fonte Bonifacio VIII and are then bottled up and sold around the world as Acqua di Fiuggi. Michelangelo is said to have cured his kidney stones with the water, and even today you can get free entry to the springs with a doctor’s prescription (entry normally costs €5.) In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the advent of leisure travel, Fiuggi naturally became a destination for the rich and fashionable to escape the noise and summer heat of Rome, and today it still boasts an impressive number of spas and hotels. On the surface, the town has plenty to offer. One thing Fiuggi is missing today, however, is me.

Back in 2017, when I first had the notion of moving to Italy and pursuing recognition of my Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), I had visions of building a life in Fiuggi. I saw myself wandering the same streets my grandfather played in as a child, drinking from the fountain in the tiny piazzetta where his mother did the washing while gossiping with the other women, and waking up to the bells that ring out from atop the church where he was baptized. Romantic, right? Naive too, perhaps, but I hadn’t even visited Italy on vacation at that point, so I hope I can be forgiven for daydreaming a bit.

I took my first trip to Fiuggi in 2019. I dragged my entire family along with me and it was honestly one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of my life. It was everything I expected and more. We met cousins who gave us the full tour. I saw the house my grandfather was born in, drank out of the nearby fountain, and woke up to the bells, just as I had imagined. It sounds cliche to say, but it truly was a dream come true. I was more intent than ever on making it my full-time reality.


And soon enough it was. I moved there a couple of years after that first trip (I would have moved sooner, but Covid had other plans) and it didn’t take long for the cracks to show. You see, there’s an enormous difference between visiting a place for a few days and living there full time. This may seem obvious to you, but in all likelihood you’re underestimating just how much of a difference there really is. During a short visit, that quaint corner market with the cranky nonna behind the counter is charming. But when you’re just absolutely craving tacos or peanut butter or anything other than Italian food (and you will, I promise!) and that market is your only grocery store, the charm wears thin pretty quickly. 

And even if you’re satisfied with a diet of all Italian food all the time, you better get your shopping done early, because the store closes at 1pm. In fact the entire town closes at 1pm. If you’re lucky, they’ll open back up around 5pm, but if they were having a particularly nice riposo they might decide it’s not worth it. Oh, you think you’d just go out to a restaurant in that case? Maybe grab some take out somewhere? Well the only restaurant in town is shut down for the month while the family who runs it is on vacation. You better hope you have a can of tuna squirreled away in the back of a cabinet somewhere, or you’re going to bed hungry.


And don’t get me started on the staring. As a new face in a small town in Italy, EVERYONE stares at you ALL THE TIME. I’ve lived in three small towns in Italy at this point and the staring has been a constant in each one. As someone who has been the new face in my fair share of small towns in the US, I’d never experienced anything even remotely like it before. Even after an entire year of living in one town, I was still gawked at like a zoo animal every time I left the house.


Now, don’t get me wrong. I know everyone has different tastes and it’s entirely possible that you’d love living in a small town. The people are generally friendly and welcoming, if a bit standoffish, and the cost of living is absurdly low if you’re used to US prices. And the charm is real! You’ll be walking down the street one day on the way back to your house from your evening passeggiata and you’ll all of a sudden be struck by the absolute beauty and immense history of the place, especially if it’s the town your ancestors came from, and it’ll all feel right. There’s really no experience like it. But I think for most people who are used to a more convenient American lifestyle, that feeling wears off once the reality of day-to-day living sets in. The constant sound of souped up muffler-free scooters rocketing up and down your street at all hours of the day and night will wear on you (it’s a favorite pastime for the youth in every small Italian town since there’s not much else to do), and walking the same deserted streets over and over again will eventually bore you to tears.

So what’s my advice to any American thinking of moving to a small Italian town? Go for it! 

But don’t be surprised if you eventually grow tired of it, and absolutely don’t let it sour you on Italy as whole. I almost gave up on this place when the shine of Fiuggi started to wear off, and I had my return ticket to the US nearly booked when Corleone didn’t live up to expectations either. But I eventually found my place in a larger city and now you couldn’t pay me enough to ever leave Italy. 


At the end of the day, the moral is that you’re probably not going to find the perfect fit for you right off the bat. No matter what visions you have for your Italian life or how much research you’ve done, the reality won’t match it. So be flexible and don’t give up until you’ve seen the full range of what this wonderful country has to offer.

Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:52:32 +0200<![CDATA[So, Was It Worth It?]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/so-was-it-worth-it2Nobody believes you when you’re in high school and you say, “When I grow up, I’m going to move to Italy.” I know, because nobody believed me.]]>

My Experience Moving to Italy

Nobody believes you when you’re in high school and you say, “When I grow up, I’m going to move to Italy.” I know, because nobody believed me. 

I was 17 when I decided that I was going to move abroad and I knew exactly how I was going to do it! I had it all planned out. My paternal grandfather, who never naturalized as an American citizen, was my key to citizenship- which would allow me to work and travel in Italy (and across the entire EU!). I started collecting documents in my senior year of high school, thinking I would be able to move to Italy and apply for citizenship through my ancestral hometown within just a few months. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Despite having a simple line: me > father > grandfather, collecting the documents I needed wasn’t so simple. First, there were several name discrepancies I had to fix across multiple countries. One of the worst was my parents’ marriage certificate from Canada, which listed my grandfather as “Antoneo”, despite his legal name being “Antonino.” That one was a painful fix.

I ran into another issue with my grandfather’s death certificate. His name, along with his father’s, were spelled incorrectly. I had to amend them both in order to be accepted by Italy’s high bureaucratic standard. And unfortunately, the state of Massachusetts doesn’t make name corrections easy. I was surprised to find out that state documents, like marriage certificates, cannot be amended at all! The death certificate however, had more wiggle room. I was able to go directly to the funeral home and have them submit the request to amend the record. Although they fixed my grandfather’s name, they were unable to fix his father’s name because there was not enough room on the form! Luckily, the comune worker who accepted my application was unbothered by this minor misspelling.

The more time that passed, the more people around me started to voice their doubts about my plans. I realized that nobody actually believed me when I said I was going to move to Italy. It wasn’t just the citizenship process and document collection they found dubious. They asked me questions like: what are you actually going to do once you’re a recognized Italian citizen? Find a local job? 


I had been practicing Italian for about a year at that point, but I still had a long way to go. I have some distant relatives in Sicily, a few in Genoa, but I really didn’t know that many people in Italy. Between the constant doubters and my own worries about my language skills and finding work, eventually, I started to doubt that my dream would come true. Then in March of 2025, the laws governing Italian citizenship by descent started changing.

In the article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained, we breakdown all of the changes, from October 3, 2024 to present day, several of which could have disqualified me from citizenship.

I didn’t sleep at all for two whole months. Finally, when the officially amended laws took effect on May 24, 2025, I knew that I had to get to Italy before the government decided to take the changes any further and forever lock me out from obtaining Italian citizenship by descent. I booked my plane ticket in early June and arrived by mid-June. My head was spinning. My family was shocked and confused. They couldn’t believe I was getting on a plane to go live in a small town in Sicily that I had never even been to before, with only $1800 in my pocket, and a dream.


I arrived in Sicily on June 18, 2025, and was recognized as an Italian citizen on September 10th of that same year. Over a year later, the number one question I get from people is this: Was it worth it?


I think a lot of people are scared to step out of their comfort zone, to do what makes them happy- because it feels impossible, and because of the fear of failure. I hope that every time I answer “Yes!” to that question, it makes people realize that they too, can do whatever they set their mind to.


Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:46:21 +0200<![CDATA[A Seemingly Insurmountable Task]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/a-seemingly-insurmountable-task-how-I-made-the-move-from-the-US-to-ItalyMoving to Italy felt like an impossible dream that no one believed in. Discover the real story of how I left the rat race behind and chose to pursue dual citizenship.]]>

How I Made the Move From the US to Italy

When I decided to move to Italy, I knew I couldn’t tell anyone about my plans. The guilt of hiding such a momentous dream evaporated when I finally shared my secret- no one believed me. Not my colleagues, not my neighbors, not my family, or friends. It wasn’t my dream of moving abroad that they doubted- rather, they never thought that I’d actually do it. Some smiled politely, others laughed out loud. My boss flat out refused to hire my replacement even after I’d put in my notice. To them, my dream was a joke.

Outwardly, I continued going through the motions of my old life, as if it were just a movie playing in the background to appease my ADHD, meanwhile I worked tirelessly towards what felt like an insurmountable goal.

In retrospect, making the decision felt  like flipping a switch. I went to bed one night and when I woke up the next morning it was decided. In reality, I had been dreaming of living in Europe since I was in high school. As each year of my adulthood passed by, I witnessed the probability of my dream coming true grow smaller and smaller. It was in 2022, when everyone was trying to pretend that COVID was over, and I was the brokest I’d ever been in my adult life, that I heard about Italian citizenship by descent. 

Although I’d heard about jure sanguinis before, more than a decade earlier from a co-worker, I thought my Italian ancestry was too far back for me to qualify. At the time, I was too overwhelmed as a full time student and employee to do any research. Back then I still had hope that I’d find a great job that would sponsor my move to Europe, I never even contemplated dual citizenship. Maybe it was a Tik-Tok video or a Facebook post, I don’t remember now, but in August of 2022 I realized that my sister and I just might be eligible and I dove in. 

The timing was perfect, though in the moment it didn’t feel that way. After COVID my career was gone. I was an under-employed, jaded millennial, disillusioned with US politics and the mirage of the American Dream. I was burnt out from the perpetual rat race and I didn’t want to worry anymore about my lack of health insurance snowballing me into bankruptcy. Don’t get me wrong, Europe has its share of problems too- especially Italy. It wasn’t so much a “grass is greener” situation as it was a “I’ve got nothing left to lose, why not throw caution to the wind?” It never feels like the right time to go for your dreams. I had already spent too much time playing the game according to everyone else’s rules. I figured if I was going to continue to be miserable, it might as well be because I tried and failed to do things my own way.

            It was terrifying. It still is sometimes. Sometimes I’m awestruck by the beautiful wonder of the ancient buildings in my town and the view of the Mediterranean Sea from my balcony- I pinch myself in disbelief.

This is my real life and I feel so lucky! 

            Other times I lament the loss of being able to jump in my car, swing by the dispensary, and grab a pint of Haagen-Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream on my way back home. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Making this move wasn’t about transplanting my old life onto a new backdrop, and if that is your mindset you’ll certainly fail. It was about challenging what my life could be if I embraced the change, shifted my perspective, and tried something different.


Moving abroad is an enormous feat, but not impossible. It was a series of well organized, measurable tasks. The process demanded patience and flexibility. Things going wrong, or even just differently from my expectations was the norm- so much so that when things went according to plan it made me suspicious. People ask me all the time “how did you do it?” My answer is that I chose it. Not once, not twice, I chose it every day. Every time I was challenged, every time it felt too hard, every time I just wanted to give up or would rather just not exist- I chose it. And I still do. I think that’s true about every hard thing we can do: the real trick isn’t knowing the exact series of steps, or all the potential pitfalls and pain points, it helps, but nothing will make your dreams come true if you are not actively choosing them every single time.


For more details about my genealogy research, preparing my documents for jure sanguinis, and my application in Italy check out my other articles: The Truth in The Cashbox;In The Absence of Evidence; and Piano, Piano.

And for an in depth guide on how to prepare yourself to make a successful move abroad, check out our Pre-Arrival Workbook.


Book a Free Introductory Call
]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200<![CDATA[Piano, Piano]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/piano-piano-my-jure-sanguinis-application-in-italyFrom residency in Italy to complex bureaucracy, learn how careful preparation and the right local support can turn an impossible task into a success story. Read my journey and learn why navigating the process requires patience, local support, and to take things piano, piano.]]>

My Jure Sanguinis Application in Italy

        If you’ve spent any amount of time at all in the online communities regarding Jure Sanguinis you’ll know that applying in Italy is risky business- or so some would have you believe.

It’s true that a full blown move to Italy is no small undertaking, even if you only plan to stay for a year or so to process your recognition. Additionally, it’s critical to select a comune (city or town) that will be receptive to processing your residency and jure sanguinis application. Choose a comune too big and you’ll be met with government officials unwilling to take the time out of their busy schedules to deal with your application. Too small and you risk facing a clerk who isn’t at all familiar with the process. It’s important to understand that Italy isn’t the US, the bureaucracy works differently here, and if you’re not accustomed to it, it can make an application in Italy an impossible task.

Applying in Italy wasn’t always my plan. Although my goal was always to move abroad, I much preferred the plan where I became a recognized citizen through the consulate first without having to risk it all and move across the world. I knew that an application through the consulate would take at least two years to process, and that getting an appointment was difficult, but I really had no idea just how impossible it was until I tried. Before I was even certain that I qualified, I created a Prenot@mi account for the Italian Boston Consulate (in the region where I lived at the time). In 2022 I couldn’t even get onto the calendar page. I tried a midnight Rome time (CET), once a month when the appointments were released, on Thursdays, from the high speed wifi, from a different computer, from my phone, from a laptop, from a landline- the result was always the same, for months!

The day my sister and I were recognized as Italian citizens.

Finally I got onto the calendar in 2023, the soonest appointment was for Christmas Eve in 2029! I knew there was no way that appointment would stick, certain it was a mistake, I kept flipping through the pages. Month after month, red, red, red. Finally, I saw black! But I had skipped so far ahead, we were now into 2031. No. There was no way I was waiting a decade to have my citizenship recognized. There were already whispers of ‘The Minor Issue’, which luckily wasn’t an issue for my line, but I felt that if they could restrict the rules for one reason, other, more restrictive rules would be sure to follow. So, I focused and got to work. 

Document collection, amendments, apostille- I had it all covered. I was practicing my Italian every day, I was mapping out the comune and building an address book of all the places I would need to know in my day to day life. The one thing I couldn’t DIY was getting someone to respond to me about renting an apartment. After a tremendous amount of research, I found a service provider located in Italy who was willing to assist us. As part of her service, she contacted the comune to ensure they were willing to accept our application. It was a good thing she did, because the comune wasn’t willing to even look at our application until we held residency there for at least one year! She recommended a different comune, one she was familiar with, one where she knew they would accept our application, and knew of a landlord willing to rent to us. It wasn’t perfect, and there were plenty of bumps in the road, some of which could have been easily avoided with better planning, but she did what she said she would do- something I was unable to do for myself. For that, I will always be grateful.

The comune workers were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They appreciated my imperfect attempts at communicating in Italian, and calmed my nerves with a waive of their hands and the promise of ‘piano, piano’.


Piano, piano. An Italian phrase literally meaning ‘slowly, slowly’. 


It turned out that all of the work I did trying to prove my father’s paternity (In The Absence of Evidence) was unnecessary, as the comune worker decided that my grandfather’s name on his birth certificate was more than enough. Honestly, I was still glad I had it, better safe than sorry. We arrived at the end of May 2024 (which I truly do not recommend, plan on arriving in the fall or winter, because nothing ever gets accomplished over the summer in Italy). We had to nudge the comune a bit to get them to stop by our house to complete the residency check. Immediately after our residency was confirmed, we were able to make an appointment to submit our application for jure sanguinis at the end of July 2024. Like I said, nothing typically gets done over the summer, especially not in August. The circolare establishing ‘The Minor Issue’ came out on October 3rd 2024, which did not affect our line. And finally my sister and I were recognized by the middle of October 2024.

If we had waited even just a few months, we may have hit the Decreto Legge (Decree Law) 36/2025 of March 28th 2025, restricting jure sanguinis applicants to only those whose parent or grandparent was born in Italy, and also only those who did not naturalize, remaining solely Italian. Both of these pieces would have made my sister and I ineligible. To learn more about the current laws governing jure sanguinis check out our article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained or book a free introductory call with us to find out how we can help you.


For a detailed breakdown of how to determine your legal pathway abroad and what to expect in your first 90 days after the move, download our free guide: The Relocation Roadmap.

Book a Free Intro Call
]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200<![CDATA[The Truth in the Cashbox]]>https://www.studiosettebello.com/articles/post/the-truth-in-the-cashbox-the-importance-of-genealogyNavigating the complexities of Italian citizenship by descent? My genealogical journey taught me one vital lesson: don't always trust family lore. Learn about my experiences with official records, overcoming 'brick walls,' and the true importance of thorough genealogy research.]]>

The Importance of Genealogy

My mother showing my sister and I family photos.

As a little kid, I spent a lot of time pestering my parents and grandparents about my ancestors and where my family came from. Perhaps it’s just part of our natural instinct to want to know who our people are and where we belong. Growing up in the melting pot that is the US, it wasn’t unusual for people to ask “what are you?” Translation: “where are your ancestors from?” Although I don’t remember exactly what sparked my interest when I was little, in 2022 I wondered if there was a part of me that knew I would need the information later.

           In August of 2022, I began a deep dive into my family’s roots, determined to discover whether or not I could qualify for Italian citizenship by descent (also known as jure sanguinis or jus sanguinis, literally ‘law of blood’). In some countries, citizenship is based on jus soli (law of the soil) meaning if you are born on the soil of that country, you are a citizen of that country- like the United States of America. Italian citizenship is a little more complicated. Being born in Italy isn’t enough to make you eligible for citizenship. In order to be considered Italian, you must have at least one Italian parent.

It is important to note that there have been several changes to Italian citizenship laws since my sister and I applied in July 2024, including the October 3rd circolare in 2024 regarding “The Minor Issue” and the Decreto Legge (or Decree Law) 36/2025 that was put into effect on March 28th 2025, and passed into law as Decreto Legge 74/2025 on May 24th 2025. For more information on the current rules governing Italian citizenship by descent, check out our article Jure Sanguinis: The Laws Explained.

        I consider myself extremely fortunate that I was able to collect my documents and submit my application in Italy via residency in 2024. It wasn’t easy or straight forward- I later learned that hardly anyone’s pathway is, no matter how direct. Beginning with genealogy to determine if I was eligible, I hit several road blocks before I even got started.

           The first brick wall was finding my grandfather’s birth certificate. Although locating his death certificate was quick and relatively painless, as I had been alive at the time of his passing, the details beyond his date of birth were much more elusive. According to my living family members, our ancestors resided in New York City or New York State from the time they arrived in the US, but none of the vital statistics offices had any record of him. Hour upon hour was wasted as I pored over census records and searched relentlessly for all potential variations of his name with no luck. 

My first mistake was working under the assumption that my family had given me the correct information. In this case, the misinformation was that my paternal grandfather, Salvatore, was the son of my great grandfather, also named Salvatore. What I didn’t know was that at some point after my father (haha, you guessed it, also Salvatore) was born my grandfather had a falling out with his parents (over what? I’m not sure. I have a few guesses but that’s a story for another time). Desperate for a clue, I tried searching for my great grandfather’s naturalization records by last name only. When I saw his picture, I knew instantly I found the right person. His strong jawline and piercing eyes matched perfectly the black and white photos I inherited from my father in an old metal cashbox. But his first name was not Salvatore, it was Paolo. 

My great grandfather’s name wasn’t the only shock. To my surprise, I learned that my grandfather was not an only child as I had been led to believe. He had an older brother and a younger sister, both born in Italy! Additionally, according to Paolo’s naturalization records, my grandfather was born in the US, but not in New York as I had originally believed, but in West New York, New Jersey! With that final piece of information uncovered, I flew to the New Jersey State archives (as his birth was over 100 years ago) and was easily able to locate the record I had struggled to find for so long.

       Between my grandfather’s birth certificate and my great grandfather’s naturalization record I had everything I needed to prove that my sister and I qualified. Naively, I thought all we needed was the rest of our family’s documents and an appointment at the consulate! If you’ve been on this journey for yourself, I’m sure you don’t have to imagine some of the other hiccoughs I encountered along the way. The story continues in my article In The Absence of Evidence, where I discuss options for missing or non-existent records (because apparently my grandparents were NOT married) and why we decided to apply in Italy (Italian consulates- if you know, you know).


P.S.

Ironically, right after I had the breakthrough of finding my great grandfather’s naturalization record, I went looking through my family photos just to be 100% certain that they matched and that I had the right person. Amongst those old photos was a page from my grandfather’s first passport when he was 16 years old- and there it was: “Place of Birth: West New York, New Jersey”. The lesson here is, don’t trust everything your family tells you, but definitely take a closer look at whatever printed documents your family has- even if it’s only a photograph.

Book a Free Intro Call
]]>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:28:57 +0200