America Discovers It Has Italian Lookalikes, No Passport Required

KEY POINTS

•Amy Bizzarri, an Italy veteran and teacher now in Chicago, spends summers abroad to connect her daughter with family.
•She finds U.S. spots mirroring Italian regions, like Catalina Island’s Capri-esque coves and Coral Gables’ Lake Como vibe.
•Frankenmuth, Michigan, mimics the Dolomites with Alpine-style buildings and the world's largest Christmas store, Bronner’s.

In a stunning revelation from August 18, 2025 (updated March 26, 2026), Amy Bizzarri, who survived eight years in Italy and returned occasionally to summon nonna bonding time, uncovered U.S. cities pulling a full-on Mediterranean identity crisis. Catalina Island, a 22-mile ferry ride from LA, tries to out-Capri Capri with its prosecco and postcard views, while Coral Gables, Florida, channels Lake Como's lavish mansion goals with its early 1900s Vizcaya Museum and Venetian Pool (yes, a coral quarry masquerading as Italian glamour). Meanwhile, Chicago and Milan are official 'sisters'—because nothing screams sibling rivalry like giant stuffed cheese pizzas at Giordano's. Sonoma insists it's Tuscany 2.0, complete with vineyards hosting people who might actually forget they're stateside. Venice Beach cracked a Venice veneer in 1905 but sadly forgot the gondolas. Frankenmuth, Michigan, then tossed in its Alpine buildings and World's Largest Christmas Store, apparently confident the Dolomites called shotgun on this winter wonderland. Apparently, you don’t need a plane ticket, just a willingness to be tricked by American versions of Italian charm with less jet lag and more suburban parking issues.