Our story between two worlds

A couple is posing together outdoors near the ocean, with clear blue sky and scattered clouds. The woman is wearing a red sleeveless dress, and the man is dressed in a white shirt, dark vest, and dark pants. They are smiling and standing close to each other, with green bushes behind them and the ocean in the background.
An adult man in a gray hoodie and beanie talking to a young boy in a red jacket in a green, open field with mountains in the distance and clear blue sky.
A person carrying a child on their shoulders walking down a colorful European street with pastel-colored buildings, balconies, and a clear blue sky.
A person in a red jacket and black pants on skis, raising their arm in a celebratory gesture, on a snowy ski slope. There are other skiers in the background, surrounded by tall trees and a mountain with rocky cliffs and patches of snow, under a clear dark blue sky.
A man with a bald head and beard smiling while holding a large platter of cooked meat at a family dinner. A boy wearing a navy hoodie with a white logo is sitting beside him. The table is set with glasses, plates, a water bottle, and a red napkin. In the background, there is a brick archway and a cozy home interior.

One of us grew up in a small town in northern Italy, dreaming about seeing more of the world. In 2014, she packed her life into a few suitcases and moved to the United States, leaving behind family, familiarity, and everything she had ever known.

The other grew up in Detroit, Michigan, surrounded by the fast pace and energy of American life, never imagining that one day Italy would become home.

We met in Washington, DC, where we built our life together and experienced firsthand what it means to adapt to another country’s culture, systems, and way of life. We learned how exciting relocation can feel in the beginning, but also how isolating, confusing, and overwhelming it can become once the reality of paperwork, housing, healthcare, bureaucracy, and starting over truly sets in.

There were moments that no one prepares you for.

The frustration of trying to understand unfamiliar systems. The exhaustion of endless paperwork and appointments. The feeling of not knowing who to ask for help. The cultural differences that seem small at first, until they slowly become part of everyday life.

But there were also the moments that made it all worth it:

building a new community, discovering a different rhythm of life, learning to feel at home in a new country, and realizing how much personal growth can come from stepping into the unknown.

Years later, at the end of 2024, we made another life-changing decision together: moving from the United States to Italy.

This time, the roles were reversed.

One of us was returning home after years abroad — now with a family of her own — rediscovering Italy through completely new eyes. The other was experiencing Italy for the very first time not as a tourist, but as someone building a real life here: learning the language, adapting to the culture, navigating residency, healthcare, housing, daily logistics, and all the small details no one ever talks about before making the move.

We experienced the excitement of finding our favorite local café and exploring beautiful towns on weekends.

But we also experienced the reality of:

  • navigating Italian bureaucracy

  • understanding residency requirements

  • dealing with language barriers

  • opening bank accounts

  • setting up healthcare

  • finding reliable local contacts

  • managing timelines and appointments

  • adapting to a completely different pace of life

Thanks to our Italian family and network we were able to navigate even the most intricate situations, we would have not been able to do it without their support. Seeing first hand how stressful the process can be (even if one of us is perfectly fluent in Italian!) we felt the need to use our experience and network to help others. Our journey became the foundation of Verso Italia.

We created this company because we realized how rare it is to find people who truly understand both sides of the relocation experience. We are fluent not only in English and Italian, but also in the emotional and practical realities of moving between these two countries.

We know the excitement of imagining a new life in Italy.

We know the stress of trying to make it happen.

And we know how much easier the journey becomes when you have someone guiding you who has already walked that path themselves.

Today, we combine our personal experience, professional expertise, and trusted local network to help others make the move with clarity, confidence, and support every step of the way.

Because relocating to Italy isn’t just about changing countries.

It’s about building a life that finally feels like home.

Born and raised in Italy, Alice moved to the United States for graduate school and built a life in Washington, DC before returning to Italy years later with her American husband.

Having personally experienced relocation from both sides, she now helps North Americans navigate the move to Italy with local knowledge, bilingual support, and firsthand understanding of what it really takes to build a life abroad.

A woman with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and dark pleated skirt, smiling and holding a glass of champagne, standing outdoors at night on cobblestone pavement.

alice ferretti

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Jaime Castello spent years building his life and career in the United States before making the move to Italy with his Italian wife.

Having experienced firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life, he now helps others navigate the relocation process with practical guidance, local support, and the perspective of someone who has successfully made the transition himself.

A man with a beard and mustache wearing a white polo shirt with a Lacoste logo and sunglasses hanging from his collar, smiling while sitting at a table outdoors with a view of hills and water in the background.

Jaime castello