English If there’s one thing this year has confirmed, it’s this: there’s so much (sooo much) confusion when it comes to Italian bureaucracy among expats moving to Italy, but also surprisingly little awareness of what Italy truly offers beyond the usual spots – which often leads people to the same popular destinations, only to discover later that something important is missing.
Since Magic Towns Italy began, our mission (as expats ourselves) has always been the same: to bring clarity and give you useful tools – the same ones we wish we’d had back then. That’s why this year we worked hard to improve our Town Explorer, a search tool that we keep updating by adding more cities, where you can find the place that best suits you based on what you need (airport proximity, hospital quality, internet connection – even tax incentives). We finally got to meet and talk with you through our consultation calls… and we hope to keep getting better and better in the new year.
So here’s a very personal recap of the articles that defined our year – the ones you read the most, shared the most, and wrote to us about.
⚖️ Visas & Citizenship
Let’s start with what you’re most scared of: Italian bureaucracy. In fact, as you’ve probably noticed, Italian laws are a bit… interpretative. You go to one place and some people tell you something, then you go to another and you hear a different version. That’s why it’s always good to be well-informed and accompanied by professionals during this stage of moving to Italy.
And this year there were LOTS of changes, starting with the 2025 Citizenship Reform, which closed the doors to millions of Italo-Descendants, to the new quota-free work visa that seems to balance things out a bit. These were our top articles:
- Italy’s 2025 Citizenship Reform: Impact and Other Immigration Options for Italo-Descendants
Because not every door closes at the same time — you just need to know where to look. - New Quota-Free Work Visa Pathway to Citizenship for Descendants of Italian Emigrants
Plot twist: there’s actually another way in, and nobody was talking about it. - Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa: A Practical Guide for Remote Workers
Written after countless emails that started with: “I work remotely… could Italy work for me?” - CIMEA Certification for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa: Your Complete Guide
Unsexy, technical — but absolutely essential if you’re applying for the DNV.
👉 Quick note: We work with immigration lawyers who actually get the Digital Nomad Visa. If you need help, just ask.
🏡 Property & Real Estate
Ah, Italian property. It starts with a Zillow search at 2am and ends with… well, it depends.
Some of you bought. Some of you are still looking. Some of you learned the hard way that “rustico con vista” can mean a ruin where you end up spending double on renovation works than you ever imagined.
So, first of all: where? Luckily, there isn’t a single answer. Italy is a big country, and so are the places that could be a great fit for you. Ask yourself: “What are my top priorities in this town?” – internet connectivity, proximity to airports, good schools for your children, good hospitals max. 10 minutes’ drive away? And once you’ve found them, then you can really start your property research.
- Italy’s 1 Euro Homes: Opportunity or Illusion?
There are lots of prejudices around this, but the reality is that it really depends on your situation. - 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating Property in Italy
A detailed guide covering the most common oversights that often cost expats thousands of euros. - 2025 IMU Property Tax: A Guide for Expats in Italy
A date to mark on your calendar if you own property in Italy. - How to Open a B&B or Farmstay in Italy: A Step-By-Step Guide for Expats
For those who don’t just want a house, but a project — and a purpose. - Italy Coolcation: Beat the Heat and Bag Property Bargains
Climate change is real, and it’s quietly reshaping where people want to live.
📘 Considering that this is a hot topic, and lots of people end up making bad choices (even losing lots of money), we decided to create a PROPERTY GUIDE (free for Magic Towns members), where you can find all the answers you need to buy a property in Italy.
💰 7% Tax Towns
As many of you probably know, retirees can benefit from a 7% flat tax if they move to a town with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants – which is obviously shaping where lots of people choose to live. “Where should I move?”, “How does this actually work?”, “Am I even eligible?” – these are just some of the questions flooding our inbox, so we decided to tackle them head-on with a series of articles and a detailed guide. Here are the most popular ones:
- The Definitive 2025 List of Italy’s 7% Tax Towns
The full list of the 7% tax towns you can choose from around Italy, with all the info you need. - Housing Pitfalls for ERV and 7% Tax Applicants Moving to Italy
The tricky part nobody warns you about: finding a visa-compliant rental before you even arrive. - Earthquake Risk in Italy’s 7% Flat Tax Towns
What you need to know about earthquake zones before falling in love with that hilltop village. - 10 Charming 7% Tax Towns in Umbria and Marche
Ten beautiful towns in Umbria and Marche that qualify for the 7% tax.
🎙 We drop a new podcast episode every week – expat stories, bureaucracy made simple, and the kind of Italy conversations you’d have over coffee.
🏘 Expat Stories
Listening to your stories is always a pleasure. Some of you come here completely alone after dreaming of Italy for a lifetime. Others arrive as couples or families. We’ve met people who bet everything on this move despite setbacks – people who lost thousands on renovation mistakes they didn’t see coming, people who arrived blind with just hope and a suitcase, people who knew deep down this was right and invested in a B&B to make it work, and people who were simply searching for peace after years of chaos. Here are some of our interviews:
- George Laing and the €1 House in Mussomeli, Sicily
A Londoner with no renovation experience who bought a one-euro house and decided to rebuild it entirely by himself. - Kathy Jackson Christ Living in Bari with a Digital Nomad Visa
She left Florida, applied for Italy’s brand-new Digital Nomad Visa, and now works remotely from a balcony overlooking the Adriatic. - Tim Epstein’s Leap from Melbourne to Lake Garda
Trading Melbourne for Lake Garda meant more than a move – it meant opening a B&B and starting from scratch. - Mark Hinshaw’s New Life in a Small Town in Le Marche
An architect and author who spent decades moving across America, only to find home in a 1,200-person hill town in Le Marche – where the people he met inspired an entire book.
A Final Thought
What started as a resource has become a community – and that’s entirely because of you. Your questions push us to dig deeper, your stories inspire us to keep going, and your trust reminds us why this matters. Here’s to another year of making Italy feel a little less impossible.
Buon anno a tutti!
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