Kate Langbroek’s dream move to Italy has become a living nightmare for her and her family.
After relocating to the historic city of Bologna last year, they’ve spent the past six weeks under lockdown inside their apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 54-year-old said on Wednesday she hopes her family are deported from the country so they can return to Australia, as they face more time in isolation.
Move from hell: Australian radio personality Kate Langbroek (pictured) has compared her Italian home to a ‘prison’ as her family enter their sixth week in isolation amid COVID-19
Until they do manage to leave Italy, Kate, her husband Peter Allen Lewis and their four children must remain inside their home, which she has compared to a ‘prison’.
‘We are in a lovely prison – but still a prison. Hope no one gets shanked,’ Kate joked as the family entered their third week in quarantine in March.
The Langbroek clan first moved into their traditional apartment in Bologna, which boasts views of the world-famous Piazza Maggiore central square, in early 2019.
The property boasts oak-floors, antique furniture and rich colours and patterns.
It also has a large foyer with historical vases and a large circular table.
Stunning: They moved into a traditional apartment in Bologna, with views of the world-famous Piazza Maggiore central square, in early 2019, long before the deadly virus started
Traditional: The property boasts oak-floors, antique furniture and rich colours and patterns. Pictured: Kate’s four children Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan at their dining table
Wow: Kate and Peter’s master bedroom features striped green and yellow wallpaper
‘We are in a lovely prison – but still a prison. Hope no one gets shanked,’ wrote Kate to Instagram as the family entered their third week in quarantine in March
Kate and Peter’s master bedroom features striped green and yellow wallpaper, patterned floral sheets and stunning views of Bologna.
They share a courtyard with neighbours, which they’ve been able to briefly use.
The family have been keeping active by cooking meals together and baking.
As of Wednesday, Italy has had 165,155 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 21,645 deaths. So far, just 38,092 people in the country have recovered.
During their brief trips out to stock up on supplies, they’ve ran into trouble with the local police, and have struggled with the language barrier.
Pandemic: Kate and her family have spent six weeks under lockdown now, as Italy fights to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She has been home schooling her four children
Fresh air: They share a courtyard with neighbours, which they’ve been able to briefly use
Feasts: The family have been keeping active by cooking meals together and baking
Speaking to Fox FM’s Hughsey and Ed on Wednesday, Kate said she’s so frustrated with Italy’s extreme coronavirus rules she hopes her family are deported.
Kate, who regularly appears on the show to give updates on her life in Bologna, recently revealed that her husband Peter, 44, had a run-in with local police for supposedly breaking lockdown rules by riding his bike.
‘[The police] held him up for 40 minutes,’ Kate said of the incident.
‘They basically interrogated him and gave him a piece of paper (which he signed) even though it was in Italian, and he couldn’t understand it. It said he’s being sued by the police,’ she added.
‘It’s the only way we’ll get out of here’: On Wednesday, Kate said she hopes her family are deported from Italy after nasty run-in with the police during coronavirus lockdown
Kate continued: ”I laughed and said: “Good, I hope they deport us. It’s the only way we can get out of here!”’
The mother-of-four went on to reveal that she and Peter also had a run-in with police on Good Friday.
The couple were walking to the shops to buy Easter eggs when they were stopped by police who said they couldn’t be outside together.
‘I was so annoyed. I hate the one size fits all rule,’ raged Kate.
‘They basically interrogated him’: Kate revealed that her husband Peter, 44, (right) recently had a run-in with local police for supposedly breaking lockdown rules by riding his bike
Lockdown: Kate recently uploaded this photo of local Bologna police patrolling the streets amid the COVID-19 pandemic