Special Guests for the 6-Episode Season Include Famed Tenor Andrea Bocelli, Academy Award-Winning Actress Marisa Tomei, 3-Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura
DENVER (December 15, 2023) – The hit travel series Dream of Italy, distributed by American Public Television, returns to PBS stations across the United States with a third season this winter with many PBS stations premiering the season in January and February 2024 with episodes available on-demand to U.S. viewers via PBS.org, the PBS app and PBS Passport. Host Kathy McCabe brings her enchanting mix of star power and authentic Italian life to the latest season of six episodes with special appearances by famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei and 3-Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura.
The season kicks off with a visit with tenor Andrea Bocelli at his home on the Tuscan coast where he introduces Kathy to his four dogs and plays the songs that have touched his heart. The first episode “Andrea Bocelli’s Tuscany” explores the places that have made the man, including Bocelli’s beachside paradise in Forte dei Marmi, his hometown of Lajatico and the towns of Lucca and Torre del Lago, that were home to Bocelli’s inspiration, opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
Viewers will also see Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei as she joins McCabe to exploring the mysteries of the Black Madonna in their shared ancestral region of Campania. What is Italy without food? This season features not to just one but two episodes visiting with world-famous chef Massimo Bottura and his wife Lara Gilmore who have created a culinary empire from the center of Italy’s “food valley” in Modena.
This new season of Dream of Italy follows the hot trend of Americans moving to and retiring in Italy and the boom in one-euro houses. McCabe visits with four Americans expats who purchased homes in the ruggedly beautiful region of Abruzzo. These expats share how the Italian lifestyle, cost of living, sense of community and affordable healthcare factored into their decision to make a new life in Italy.
“Italy is so much more than a destination for our viewers, but rather a place that evokes deep connection and the sense of possibility,” says McCabe. “I’m thrilled that in this new season, our viewers will not only explore new and surprising corners of Italy, like regal Caserta, but also take an intimate journey with celebrities who share a new side of themselves and their profound love for Italy.”
The six Season 3 episodes (see full descriptions below) in the order they will air are:
- Andrea Bocelli’s Tuscany
- Americans Moving to Abruzzo
- Caserta: A Grand Palace and Pizza (with Chef Franco Pepe)
- Massimo Bottura: Slow Food, Fast Cars, Big Dreams
- Massimo Bottura Part 2: Modena, Philanthropy and Opera
- The Black Madonna with Marisa Tomei
McCabe serves not only as host but executive producer of Dream of Italy as well as the forthcoming public television series Dream of Europe. The series airs in 97% of U.S. television households via broadcast as well as via streaming and VOD on PBS.org, the PBS app and PBS Passport. Season 3 is underwritten by the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, Go Traveler, Dalla Fonte and Italian Culinary Adventures among others.
About Kathy McCabe
Italy travel and lifestyle expert Kathy McCabe believes that Italy can change your life. Her first trip to Italy 28 years ago, to rediscover her ancestral home, inspired her to create Dream of Italy, an award-winning travel magazine and website in 2002. Since then, Dream of Italy has published more than 200 issues but has also grown into the public television travel series Dream of Italy inspiring millions of viewers to embrace the magic of Italy. The podcast of the same name was recognized by The New York Times as one of “13 Podcasts for Wandering Souls.” McCabe is also the author of the book Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive published as a companion to the public television pledge special of the same name that inspired viewers to age better the Italian way and explore making their dream of living in Italy a reality. McCabe is also the host and executive producer of the new public television series Dream of Europe which will debut at the end of 2024. Read more about Kathy McCabe
About American Public Television (APT)
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
Dream of Italy: Season 3 Episode Descriptions
Episode 301 – Andrea Bocelli’s Tuscany
Italy’s most famous tenor introduces us to the Tuscany that shaped him.
We visit the seaside home of famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany to learn how this region has influenced Bocelli’s life and music, exploring his deep faith and love of dogs and visiting the people and places that made him who he is, including Forte dei Marmi, Lajatico and Lucca. Of course, Bocelli performs for us…Welcome to Andrea Bocelli’s Tuscany – a travel episode unlike any other!
Episode 302 – Americans Moving to Abruzzo
We meet four Americans who have bought homes and affordably retired in this gorgeous region
As Americans expand their horizons for more adventurous lives and retirements abroad, we return to one of our favorite regions – Abruzzo – filled with stunning mountains and coastlines. We meet four Americans who have taken advantage of very affordable real estate and health care and moved here. We also visit a town selling those famous 1-euro homes to see what the hype is all about.
Episode 303 – Caserta: A Grand Palace and Pizza
Explore a 1,000-room palace tastes Franco Pepe’s pizza which may be the best in the world.
Did you know that there’s a 1,000-room palace in southern Italy that rivals Versailles? We travel to Caserta to visit this very special Reggia (it even made an appearance in Star Wars). The province is also home to captivating ancient ruins where gladiators once fought. And a little town nearby just might be home to the world’s best pizza made by the lauded Chef Franco Pepe.
Episode 304 – Massimo Bottura: Slow Food, Fast Cars, Big Dreams
The famous chef and his wife Lara welcome us into their culinary (and car) world in Modena.
When we visited with 3-Michelin star Chef Massimo Bottura and his equally dynamic wife Lara Gilmore in Modena, a town in the “slow food, fast cars” region of Emilia Romagna, we had such fun we turned into two very special episodes about the chef, who shot to fame on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” and the unusual culinary empire he and Lara have built in the land of balsamic and Parmigiano Reggiano. This is part one.
Episode 305 – Massimo Bottura Part 2: Modena, Philanthropy and Opera
More with Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore on Modena and philanthropy
In part 2 of our visit to Chef Massimo Bottura and Modena, we explore charming city and delve into the philanthropic side of Modena and the Botturas. Lara Gilmore introduces us to Tortellante and Food for Soul in Milan. We can’t visit Modena without learning more about its late opera stars tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Mirella Freni, and visit the theater that is carrying on their legacy in training young opera stars.
Episode 306 – The Black Madonna with Marisa Tomei
The Academy Award-winning actress joins us for an ancestral, spiritual journey to Campania
Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei and Black Madonna expert Alessandra Belloni join us for this unique episode in search of the revered and mysterious Madonna Nera in Campania, the region that both Marisa’s and Kathy’s families hail from. We attend two incredible celebrations for the Madonna in the town Moiano and Sanctuary of Montevergine, complete with chanting, fireworks, and incredible acts of veneration.
Contact for More Information, Screeners, Photos and Video Clips:
Kathy McCabe