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Posts by: Lara Bianco

Lara Bianco

Lara is an Italian-American senior writer and content manager at My Dolce Casa. Lara splits her time between Chicago, United States and Puglia, Italy, sharing la dolce vita with her adorable beagle Goldie.

Pharmacy in Portugal
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Countries Guides Living Living Abroad Portugal

How to get your medication prescription in Portugal hassle-free

by Lara Bianco on January 9, 2023
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If you are a little confused about how to get prescriptions for medications when you live in Portugal, you’re not alone. The Portuguese healthcare system is excellent and well-organized, but some things are done a bit differently in Portugal compared…

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Remote worker
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Guides Living Abroad Working

Working remotely from another country for a US employer: W2 employee or 1099 contractor?

by Lara Bianco on January 7, 2023
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The chance to work remotely from another country for a US business as an American might be a tempting one. You can explore other cultures, new lifestyles, and new foods while having the security of a steady income in a…

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Portugal
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Countries Guides Living Portugal

What is a NIF? How to get your Portugal fiscal number and why [2023 Edition]

by Lara Bianco on January 6, 2023
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What is a NIF?  It is essential to get acquainted with Portugal’s tax laws and acquire a NIF if you are an expat or foreign national living in Portugal. The NIF is a special tax identification number issued by the…

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Living in The Netherlands
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Countries Greece Italy Lifestyle Living Abroad Spain

The safest countries in the world to travel in 2023 are mostly in Europe

by Lara Bianco on January 4, 2023
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The top 3 safest countries in the world for 2023 are the Netherlands, Denmark, and Iceland. If you still had doubts that Europe is the place to be, a newly published ranking should put those doubts to rest. Europe is…

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Lisbon Portugal
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Countries Guides Living Portugal

How to exchange your US driver’s license for a driving license in Portugal

by Lara Bianco on January 3, 2023
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If you’re an expat who has been driving in Portugal with a US license and plan to live in Portugal permanently, you may want to swap out your US driver’s license with a Portuguese driving license. Not only is this…

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digital nomad
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Countries Guides Portugal Working

How to get a Portugal digital nomad visa D8

by Lara Bianco on January 1, 2023
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An overview of the Portugal digital nomad visa D8 A new digital nomad visa, known as the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8), was recently introduced. This visa is a form of temporary stay in Portugal developed exclusively for those who…

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Sintra Portugal
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Countries Portugal Real Estate

Can you get a mortgage in Portugal as a US citizen?

by Lara Bianco on December 30, 2022
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Can you get a mortgage in Portugal as a US citizen? Yes, you can apply and obtain a mortgage in Portugal as a US citizen. There is no requirement to be a Portuguese resident or citizen in order to buy…

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Coimbra Portugal
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Countries Portugal Real Estate

Can you buy a house in Portugal without a visa or residency?

by Lara Bianco on December 20, 2022
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Can you buy property in Portugal without applying for a visa? Yes, you can buy real estate in Portugal without a visa. There is no requirement to have a Portuguese visa or be a resident of Portugal when buying property.…

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Italian flag
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Countries Italy Real Estate

Can you get a mortgage in Italy as a US citizen?

by Lara Bianco on December 13, 2022
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Applying for and getting a mortgage to buy a home in Italy as a US citizen is possible, but be prepared for a very lengthy and tedious process. Italian loan requirements can be very stringent for foreigners, unless you have…

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Puglia, Italy
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Countries Guides Italy Living Abroad Retiring

Living Your Best Retirement Life: Top 5 Regions to Retire in Italy

by Lara Bianco on December 1, 2022
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It is no wonder that Italy is a country that many talk about. The food, the culture, and its history are the few things that attract tourists. However, it has become increasingly common that those “tourists” come back, not for…

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Best beach towns in Amalfi
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Countries Italy Lifestyle Living Abroad

Best beach and coastal towns on the Amalfi Coast

by Lara Bianco on November 13, 2022
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Trying to find your sunshine in Italy? The Amalfi Coast is surely a great area for coastal living, with lots of picturesque little towns, perched up on cliffs among lemon orchards, set against the backdrop of the glittering blue sea.…

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Best beach and coastal towns in Italy
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Countries Italy Lifestyle Living Abroad

Best 22 beach and coastal towns in Italy in 2023

by Lara Bianco on November 11, 2022
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Italy boasts the best beach and coastal towns anyone would dream of calling home. This country has so many great areas to live in, it can take months to research all the coastal towns of Italy. So we compiled a…

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Italian citizenship
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Countries Guides Italy Working

Working in Italy as an Expat: How to Obtain a Work Visa

by Lara Bianco on November 8, 2022
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Many people intend to move to Italy hoping to make a living, looking either for traditional jobs in Italy, remote work, freelance work, or running their own business. Thanks to European freedom of movement laws, working in Italy is easily…

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Living on Dalmatian Coast Croatia
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Countries Croatia Lifestyle Living Abroad

Top 10 best places to live in Croatia

by Lara Bianco on October 29, 2022
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Is Croatia a good place to live? The growing number of expats in Croatia would say it is one of the best places to live in Europe. Croatia is a country with beautiful coastlines and many picturesque islands bathed in…

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jobs in Milan Italy
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Countries Guides Italy Living Abroad Working

Top 9 best jobs in Italy for English speaking expats

by Lara Bianco on October 26, 2022
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Finding a job in Italy for English speakers can be difficult if you don’t speak Italian. However, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of finding employment. If you’re looking for Italy jobs in English, one…

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Living in Split Croatia
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Countries Croatia Living Abroad

How much does it cost to live in Croatia? Check out expenses in the 15 largest Croatian cities

by Lara Bianco on October 22, 2022
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Croatia is a hidden gem of a country with stunning cities and picture-perfect coastal towns. But how much does it cost to live in Croatia? As it started to gain worldwide fame after serving as the filming location for the…

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Dubrovnic Croatia
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Top 8 most popular jobs in Croatia for English speaking expats

by Lara Bianco on October 8, 2022
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Croatia is a top destination for moving abroad, located in southeastern Europe attracting more and more people every year. Bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Croatia has miles of spectacular rocky coastline and stunning beaches. The capital city of Zagreb is…

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Best places to live in France for english speakers
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Countries France Living Abroad

Top 5 best regions to live in France as an expat

by Lara Bianco on September 28, 2022
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France often makes the shortlist of the most attractive locations to retire abroad. With its stunning scenery across the country, world-renowned cuisine and wine varieties from its North to the South, from its East to West, culture-rich cities, friendly residents,…

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Farmhouse in Tuscany
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Countries Italy News Real Estate

Dreaming of owning a villa in Italy? Here’s what you can you buy in Italy for the median U.S. home price

by Lara Bianco on September 15, 2022
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Key Takeaways: For the median U.S. home price, in Italy you can buy a home up to 2.75 times larger than in the U.S.  You can get the most space for $450K in Southern cities, where you could buy a…

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Homes in Emilia Romagna
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Countries Italy Real Estate

What are the cheapest regions to buy a home in Italy? Molise tops the list.

by Lara Bianco on August 15, 2022
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If you’re looking for a cheap house for sale in Italy, comparing real estate prices by region is a great way to start. Real estate prices in Italy vary widely from region to region, and finding the best region for…

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