Val Tidone – a castle on every hilltop
You know you’re in Val Tidone when you see a castle on practically every hilltop, when you find yourself surrounded by a literal sea of vineyards, and when the road winds lazily through one hamlet after another as it slowly rises, revealing breathtaking views of the hills and the valleys! When you have to slow […] Read More
Eating the Italian Way
For Italians food is something extremely special. It is connected with pleasure, tradition, family and leisure and must always be savored with gusto! In Italy, eating is synonymous with slow, so take your time and enjoy your meal! The MammamiaFamily will guide you on an exploration of Italian food habits; their peculiarities and secrets with […] Read More
Understanding Italian coffee
In Italy drinking coffee is a ritual. Italians love going to cafés for their coffee and if skipped they won’t survive the day. Before you order a coffee, let’s clarify first the difference between café and caffè. Well, coffee translates in Italian as “caffé“, while café is known as the “bar”, the place where you […] Read More
Sea bass baked in a salt crust – “Branzino al Sale”
Many of the recipes that Italian’s are most fond of are the simplest ones, like pasta al pomodoro e basilico (pasta with tomato sauce and basil), caprese di bufala (buffalo mozzarella topped with tomatoes) and carpaccio grana e rucola (thinly sliced raw meat with arugula salad and Parmesan cheese). In this recipe, you are going to learn […] Read More
Cooking with Laurel Evans
Easy Milano had a quick chat with Laurel Evans, American foodie who’s been busy cooking up American treats in Milan since 2004. Evans a seventh generation Texan, followed her curiosity across the United States, or as she says ‘loving and hating its foods, cultures and contradictions.’ Love brought her to Milan where her passion for food […] Read More
Introduction to Italian Customs
Italian languageItaly, as we know it today, is a very young country, just over 150 years old. It was ultimately unified in 1861 following a campaign lead by Garibaldi. Before then, it was a peninsula with dozens of independent city-states, ruled by lords, kings and popes, with their own laws, dialects and customs. Yet, the […] Read More
What is Town Hall Registration and Why Do You Need It
Regardless of whether you are an EU or a Non-EU citizen, if you are planning on living in Italy full-time, you will need to register at the Town Hall as a resident where you live. This is a vital step in your Italian immigration process and is required to keep you compliant while living here. […] Read More
I Knew I Had Become Italian When…
As an American who has lived in Italy for over 30 years, my Italian friends and family often say to me “ah, you are Italian now.” My mental reply is always “nope, I’m not.” The July 4 celebrations in Milan organized by Easy Milano seem like a good time to share a lighthearted list of […] Read More
Language Matters
A month or so ago, I found myself wandering the streets of an unfamiliar town in northern Italy as I checked Google Maps on my phone for a specific address. As I rounded the corner in proximity to my destination, a sign caught my eye that made me stop in my tracks. I saw the […] Read More
Italian Real Estate Outlook for 2017
The Italian real estate market continues to show signs of consolidated growth, favored by the persistence of very low home loan interest rates and stable sales prices, now at record lows. After the prolonged decrease in the number of transactions and prices that began in 2007, with 2012 as the ‘annus horribilis’, from 2015 the […] Read More
Italian Style Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And although you may be far from home, make the most of the season with our tips on how to celebrate an Italian Style Christmas. Your beginner’s kit should include first and foremost a Nativity Scene or presepe. These are essential during the holiday season and in […] Read More
The Italian Bureaucracy Shuffle
After almost 17 years in Italy, I certainly can’t say I’ve “gone native.” However, there are times that I realize just how second nature certain things have become in my day-to-day life here. I had this realization recently when speaking with an American friend who had just relocated to Italy. She was expressing frustration with […] Read More
Do I need an Italian will for my Italian property?
As a foreign owner of Italian real estate, do I also need an Italian Will or does the Will I have in my home country suffice? This is a very important question and the answer is rather complex. The rules that decide which legal system applies have recently changed: Italian Law no. 218/1995 has been […] Read More
A Tale of Two Cultures
When coming from America to live in Italy there are many differences between the two countries to adjust to. There are obvious ones that are known before coming such as it being much hotter in Italy during the summer than most places (especially compared to my home in the Northeastern U.S.), but there are many […] Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 2 of 3)
In part one, we left off discussing stage two of the process of cultural adjustment, in which you were experiencing full-blown culture shock and all the frustrations and challenges that go with it. Again, this can be the most difficult stage of adapting to a new culture and the time in which it is most […] Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 1 of 3)
When thinking about and planning to move to a new country, the number of logistical preparations to take care of can seem endless. Especially if you are moving not just by yourself, but with a partner and children in tow. Sorting out housing, schools, cars, documents – documents! – and much more, add up to […] Read More
Dual-culture parenting… who controls the A/C
Dual-culture parenting boils down to priorities, values and who controls the A/C Salvatore’s fathering was dependent on two all-important remote controls, each kept in a separate pocket of his velour dressing gown. When you marry a Southern Italian man, you’ve got to be ready for major differences in childrearing. In the early years of our […] Read More
Intercultural Relationships: When They Don’t Work Out
You fell madly in love with an Italian man, someone who wasn’t like anyone else you had ever met. You quickly realized you could see yourself with this person in a permanent way. You decided you were willing – happy – to leave your own life behind and move across the world to be with […] Read More
Italian property purchase: what is it really going to cost?
Aside from the purchase price, what other costs need to be factored in, when evaluating the purchase of a property in Italy? There is no straightforward answer to this as it depends on many variables, e.g., is the buyer eligible for first-home tax benefits? Is the seller a private individual, company or a developer? The […] Read More
Casa Scozia: A New Promoter of Scottish Events in Italy
Casa Scozia is a new non-profit entity set up to promote everything to do with Scotland in Italy. This will include Scottish cultural events (ceilidh dances, Scottish Country Dancing courses, Highland balls, folk concerts, theatre, ballet, etc.), Scottish sports events (6 Nations rugby, soccer) and Scottish produce (whisky, craft beers, Aberdeen Angus beef – spotted […] Read More
Top Tax Tips for Expats in Italy
Here are my top tax tips for living or moving to Italy. Beware of the DIY approach. Always discuss your tax situation with an experienced and knowledgeable commercialista and financial planner Taxes in Italy are not that much different to other countries around Europe and you might be surprised at just how little you have […] Read More
Applying for Italian Citizenship (with few tears)
You’ve been an expat in Italy for long enough to ponder if you should apply for Italian citizenship – but you might not be so sure about the process. Inspired by the imminent BrExit referendum, the Scottish association Casa Scozia recently held a seminar on Italian citizenship for Brits and other English speakers in the […] Read More
Helpful tips on buying a property in Italy
Buying a property in Italy can unfortunately be a nerve-wracking process and there are plenty of potential pitfalls. What starts out as an exciting adventure can quite easily turn into an unpleasant and costly experience. This is however no reason to be put off. Just be sure to do your research and to seek the […] Read More
Exposing Seven Myths about the Rules of US Expat Taxes
If you are a US expat, there are a few myths surrounding US expat taxes about which you should be aware. As a US Expat, you probably receive a lot of conflicting information. There are some common myths when it comes to US expat tax laws. Here, we will expose these myths and let you […] Read More
Tortelli di Carnevale
Tortelli di Carnevale are deep-fried puffs, coated with sugar. A delight for adults and kids alike. They can be served empty or filled with chocolate, whipped cream or other kinds of cream. The filling is inserted with a pastry syringe, after the tortelli are cooked and have cooled down. This popular and affordable Italian dessert is typical […] Read More
Cassoeula Recipe
Cassoeula [kaˈsøla] specialty typically from Milan, Lombardy. It is considered a ‘poor man’s dish,’ prepared with Savoy cabbage and pork, in fact it uses less choicer parts of the latter, but makes for a hearty winter meal. As per tradition, the cabbage should be used only after the first frost. It was a favorite of conductor […] Read More
Pizzoccheri Recipe
“Pizzoccheri” is a phenomenal Italian recipe commonly found at ski resorts in northern Italy. This pasta dish, served generally in winter, is a tradition of Valtellina in Northern Lombardy. The recipe, not suitable for those lactose intolerant, has two fundamental ingredients, buckwheat pasta and mountain cheese, lots and lots of mountain cheese. There is no […] Read More
Tizzy Beck an American in Milan
Tizzy Beck a native New Yorker arrived to Milan some seven years ago as a fashion photographer. Since then she has made a drastic career move and opened her very own American diner in the heart of the fashion capital’s Navigli district. Easy Milano had the opportunity to chat with her and bring you her […] Read More
Risotto ai Funghi Porcini – Porcini risotto
Porcini risotto is a classic Italian dish for the fall season. Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4 Difficulty: Easy Ingredients: 400 g Porcini mushrooms 320 g Carnaroli rice (or Arborio rice) 60 g butter 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil 1 small golden onion chopped 1 garlic clove salt freshly ground pepper parsley 50 g grated Parmesan […] Read More
Where is Waldo? Stuck in the toilet possibly!
We have all enjoyed playing where is Waldo and it’s quite amusing, but there is a time and a place for everything. Sure, Italians are creative and that is a good thing, mostly, but when flushing the toilet becomes a treasure hunt, that’s just too much! Over the years I’ve heard a hundred different variations […] Read More
