Our Italian Journey: Living Our Dream in Italy for One Year

Our Italian Journey Adventure, Book

By: Ilene and Gary Modica

Narrated by: Ilene Modica, Gary Modica

Imagine living in Italy for one full year. This was always the dream and promise Ilene and Gary made to each other. This story is an invitation to witness the magic of Italy through the eyes of two new Italian citizens. Listen to their own authentic voices, in alternating chapter format, sharing their story, raw emotions, laughter, triumphs, challenges, and experiences in this intimate format.

Their well-received popular book - now an audiobook, beautifully captures the essence of Italy, its people, and the strong sense of community that defines life in small Italian towns. Our Italian Journey is a travel memoir of an adventure that forever changed the lives of this couple. They invite you along their spellbinding journey, exploring quaint villages steeped in tradition and local culture. Come take a glimpse of Italy and experience firsthand the Italian zest for living “La Dolce Vita” while they find their “perfect Italian town.”

Italy is not just a destination; it’s a state of mind that continues to inspire them.

©2020 Ilene and Gary Modica (P)2023 Ilene and Gary Modica

A wonderful travel adventure!

Having read “Our Italian Adventure” I was excited to actually listen to their year long adventure. Hearing their own words, I felt like I was right there with them!

I loved the fact that they talked about hidden treasures and excursions that both the first time traveler and the seasoned traveler would enjoy along! And don’t forget about the food!!

Loved the book!

Listening to your book has brought back so many lovely memories of my trip.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful book!😊

Great story. Fun and engaging narration.

What a great story. You are going to fall in love with Gary and Ilene and THIS BOOK! The narration is so warm, engaging and funny. The story of their journey to get dual citizenship and find their special home in Italy makes me want to pack a suitcase and go to Italy. They provide step-by-step information on the process they went through dealing with the consulate and other agencies to get their documents ready for their Italian passport. It is very interesting and helpful if you are trying to get your dual citizenship. I love this book! I am going to join their blog now so I can keep updated on their journey.

A celebration of life, love and beauty in Italy

"Our Italian Journey" is a captivating audiobook narrated by the couple who experienced the adventure first hand. Their voices add an intimate touch to the story, making it seem like a shared experience. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of Italian landscapes, local cuisine and new friendships.

The story, full of humor and passion, shows personal growth throughout the year. The quality of the production is top notch.

In emphasizing the power of transformation resulting from embracing new experiences, "Our Italian Journey" is not just a travel diary; it is a celebration of life, love and beauty found in living fully. This audiobook will leave you with a renewed sense of wanting to travel and appreciation for life’s extraordinary moments.

Delightful travel memoir

This is a delightful account of a couple’s yearlong journey through Italy as they try to determine where they want to ultimately establish an Italian home. The couple spends one to three months in different principal locations they use as home bases while they expand their search to explore nearby villages and towns with day trips and multiple day trips.

Grab a coffee. get cozy and listen as Gary and Ilene tell their story to you.

I have never listened to an audiobook, as I enjoy reading, and have never felt the need. Nor do I have a work commute that would allow me the extra time to listen to an audiobook.  But this was different. When Our Italian Journey’s Gary and Ilene released their audiobook, I was so very excited to hear them, personally, tell the whole story of their Italian journey. When I closed my eyes as I listened, I felt as though I was sitting across from them at a café, “taking a coffee” as they told me their story.
My husband and I read “Our Italian Journey” during the Covid quarantine  because we were in the process of planning another trip to Italy as soon as the quarantine was lifted. Just like Gary and Ilene, a random trip to Italy every few years would never be enough for us. I was so inspired to take their advice and investigate any Italian citizenship options available to me. Knowing this could take years, we would have to settle for “another random trip.” So plan we did! We never dreamed we would meet Gary and Ilene on this trip, but we did!  They were the most gracious hosts, and were exactly as they seemed when we read their story—a truly genuine couple, so generous with their time. To hear a story actually be told by the author is quite a treat, but hearing it from Gary and Ilene was more than that. I could hear the passion in their voices that I myself feel for beautiful Italy. 
If you are obsessed with your Italian heritage, or just with Italy in general, as I am, you will thoroughly enjoy the audio version of Our Italian Journey.
Let Gary and Ilene inspire you to chase your dream and create your very own Italian journey as we did!

Charming and Resourceful

This was a heartwarming, resourceful, and charming book. A wonderful peak into their lifelong dream of traveling abroad and Italian citizenship. It proves anything is possible with enough perseverance and passion. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out on Audible.

Loved this glimpse into the author’s journey

Totally enjoyed this audiobook as a visitor returning to Italy as I picked up ideas on where to spend my precious time in my travels. Best of all heard the excitement for Italy directly from the authors.
I read “Our Italian Journey” from Gary and Ilene and found it so charming that I waited anxiously for their second book “When your heart finds its home” to be released! It also didn’t disappoint! In the meantime, it was my pleasure to have the opportunity to meet Gary and Ilene in Lucca. We shared a meal, a cappuccino and wine. They are as charming and welcoming in person as they are as authors. In their books they warmly and freely share their experiences and tidbits of life in Italy, where to visit and what to do. Fast forward to the release of the audiobook. How wonderful it was to have Gary and Ilene read the book to me in their voices. I enjoyed reading their story but I loved having them relay it to me as if we were having a cappuccino in Italy together! I have recommended these books and their audiobook to many friends and all have enjoyed it as much as I did. Kudos to these two and thank you for sharing your story.

You’ll think you’re in Italy!

This is a wonderful book! I read the Kindle version when it first came out and now have listened to the Audible version. I loved it both ways but hearing the voices of the authors is a special treat that truly takes you to Italy. You’ll feel as though you’re in Italy visiting every town with Ilene and Gary. In fact, I was taking an evening walk while listening and got so caught up in the story I smelled someone cooking with garlic and had to remind myself I wasn’t in Italy! If you’ve ever been to Italy, their descriptions of each town will transport you there as you connect with their story. If you’ve never been to Italy and just want to visit from your reading chair (or on your evening walk) you too will feel like you’re going through the experience with them. Their affection for the country and its people shines through and their love and affection for their family back home will bring tears to your eyes but you will finish this book feeling as though you are best friends with Ilene and Gary!

A Year of Adventures in Italy

I just finished listening to my very first audiobook, Ilene and Gary Modica's "Our Italian Journey." I enjoyed it thoroughly. Gary and Ilene both narrate the book and it was great to hear about their adventures while searching for their "chosen city" in Italy. Their voices are comforting and easy to listen to. I heard the emotion in their voices when they received confirmation of their Italian citizenship and the excitement they felt when their Italian passports were delivered. I cried when Ilene described the loss of her best friend at home in the US and I laughed along with them with they told of their suitcases rolling down the aisle of a train and their dancing, jiggling washing machine in one of their apartment rentals. Particularly nice, are their reflections on the many wonderful towns they visited. And hearing about the delicious meals they had. While listening to the audiobook on my cellphone I was able to do a search of the very town they were in and see pictures of what they were describing. Spread out over several days to complete the audiobook, I looked forward to listening to more of their adventures. It was as if I were sitting in a cafe with Ilene and Gary - swapping travel stories - over an espresso or Prosecco. Can't think of anything better!