Philadelphia ready to go the distance with RockyFest week dedicated to 'Rocky' movies
Rocky Balboa fans are ready to go the distance — by bus, by ice skates, by 72 steps — to honor Philly’s favorite fictional fighter almost 50 years after the first movie launched the enduring series of an underdog boxer persevering despite the odds. Yo, Adrian, Philly finally did it! The city Rocky called home at last has a week dedicated to the box...
Coccia Institute Works with the Montclair Women’s Club for Christmas Tradition
The Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America in collaboration with the Montclair Women’s Club, will present a conversation with Andrea Cammarato-Van Benschoten, author of The Italians of Newark, and Marialena Marzullo, an MSU Alumna/Co-Chair of the Montclair-Aquilonia Sister Cities Agreement. A Newark native, Andrea Cammarato–Van Ben...
Dr. Vitale honored as "Cavaliere dell'Ordine della stella d'Italia"
A moment of great pride for our community: Dr. Salvatore Vitale was awarded the title of "Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy", a prestigious recognition that celebrates his constant commitment to promoting italian culture and Italian values, including innovative and enterprising endeavors. Dr. Vitale has been active for many years in Maryland...
Ken Burns Previews ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Film at National Press Club
The renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns stopped by the National Press Club earlier this week with co-directors Sarah Burns and David McMahon to preview their latest work, a new film on the life of Leonardo da Vinci. The four-hour documentary, a departure for Burns, who typically focuses on America and American subjects, will air on PBS over tw...
‘Mosaico’ Italian art exhibit featured at Dupont Underground
“Mosaico Italian code of a timeless art” is the Dupont Underground’s latest exhibit, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy, running until Feb. 2. Decorating cathedral ceilings, palace walls and the Mediterranean seafloor, the ancient artistic tradition of mosaics, or the art of creating images or patterns out of small pieces of glass, clay and...
After more than 80 years, WWII soldier's remains returned to family in Delaware County
For Donna Duranti and Jo Ann Spata, Joseph Cocco is the uncle they never met. These sisters only knew the stories of "Uncle Joe," or U.S. Army Private Joseph Cocco, who died fighting in World War II. At 22 years old, the Overbrook native who grew up on the 800 block of North 66th Street was reported missing while in combat in Italy. On Sept. 9, 19...
Embassy of Italy in Washington-Uffizi: a bond spanning one hundred years
The Ambassador of Italy to the USA, Mariangela Zappia, hosted a conversation in Washington yesterday on the connection between art and diplomacy with the Director of the Uffizi, Simone Verde, and prominent American guests to celebrate the centenary of the first loan from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence to the Embassy of Italy in Washington. The ev...
Italy’s national unity and armed forces day celebrated at the Italian Embassy in Washington
“Our Armed Forces continue to operate in distant lands on numerous missions, highlighting through their commitment our country’s vocation to uphold and preserve respect for international law,” said Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, recalling President Mattarella’s message from November 4th and emphasizing Italy’s role as a global security provider with...
Italian American Leaders Take Victory Lap in Philadelphia
Founded 37 years ago by Dr. Pasquale Nestico, Filitalia International has grown rapidly to become one of the largest and most influential Italian American organizations, boasting 28 chapters across the United States, Italy, Venezuela and Cuba. This impressive growth and success were celebrated this past weekend at its gala in Philadelphia. COPOMIA...
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia
Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm at Watchung Booksellers (44 Fairfield Street in Montclair). Moderated by Coccia Institute Director, Mark Rotella. Register here. The Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America is thrilled to collaborate with Watchung Booksellers in presenting Juliet Grames, author of The Lost Boy of Santa Chiona. One uni...
What's next for Baltimore Little Italy's "Columbus Piazza"?
The circular plaza where a Christopher Columbus statue overlooked the Inner Harbor is still empty - more than four years after the statue was toppled into the water during the nationwide protests of 2020. In recent weeks there, have been a few new updates on the plaza's future. The destroyed Columbus statue itself was retrieved from the Harbor, and...
Franklin County Visitors Center to Host Fedeltà Documentary and WWII Italian POW Exhibit
On Veterans Day, November 11, Franklin County Visitors Bureau (15 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA) will host two special showings of “Fedeltà. Soldier. Prisoner," the Stephen Mancini Productions documentary of repatriated Italian POWs housed at Letterkenny Depot during World War II. “Fedeltà. Soldier. Prisoner" will be shown following the Chamb...