How one story became two

Two women sitting at a table with glasses of white wine, smiling, in a bright, modern cafe with plants outside the window.

When I started my Italian citizenship journey, I thought I had a rough idea of what was needed…until I met Italian bureaucracy. Suddenly, every simple task had six steps, every form had a twin and I was starring in my own personal version of “Guess Which Office Is Open Today.”

Then I met Valentina.

She guided me through everything — the documents, the deadlines, the appointments, the legal labyrinth and all the tiny-but-crucial details that make the process feel impossible when you’re doing it alone. What should’ve been overwhelming ended up feeling calm, clear and (dare I say it?) totally manageable. And somewhere between the apostilles and the “come back tomorrow” moments, she also became a friend.

Working so closely together made one thing clear: we’re a perfect team. Her legal expertise + my lived experience and communications background = a very powerful (and surprisingly fun) combination.

By the time my citizenship was finalised (what a day!!!), teaming up was the most natural next step. Now, together, we help others navigate their own Italian story with the same clarity, care and genuine support that helped me find my way here.

A Little More About Us, Professionally Speaking

  • A woman with long wavy dark hair smiling and sitting in a modern cafe with white wireframe chairs, wearing a black top and skirt, and pink nail polish.

    Stefanie Reilly

    Relocation + Communications

    I’m Stef, the founder of To Italy and Back. Before moving to Italy, I spent close to 20 years working in communications and marketing in Melbourne, helping hospitality and tourism brands tell their stories through my agency Fox+Fleur. After relocating to Puglia and completing my CELTA qualification, I began teaching English, alongside helping Italian businesses communicate with English-speaking audiences through PR, marketing and brand storytelling.

    My own journey to Italian citizenship — and all the paperwork, waiting, translating and navigating that came with it — is what inspired this business. Now I combine my background in communication, my experience teaching English and my lived experience of moving countries to help others start their own Italian chapter.

    Let’s chat about your story!

  • A smiling woman with long, wavy dark hair and earrings, wearing a white blazer over a turquoise top, crossing her arms against a plain white background.

    Valentina Leone-Milli

    Citizenship & Family Lawyer

    This is Valentina, the amazing lawyer who guided my entire citizenship journey and now works alongside me at To Italy and Back. She specialises in Italian citizenship and visa support, and handles everything from eligibility checks and document preparation to applications, bookings and court representation when it’s needed.

    Valentina has a calm, organised and genuinely caring way of working. She makes complicated processes feel simple and manageable, and she’s incredibly dedicated to helping people build their life here. After experiencing her support firsthand, teaming up with her felt like the most natural step, and now she brings that same expertise and commitment to our clients.

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