The quiet legacy of art in the heart of Italian politics
It’s no secret that museums and cultural agencies across Italy are home to countless hidden gems. What’s less known is that Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, housed in Palazzo Montecitorio, holds thousands of artworks—many of which have been sitting in “temporary storage” for nearly a century. While occasional headlines pop up over politicians displayin...
Taranto and its black gold: the story of the cozza tarantina
Taranto, often called the queen of Magna Graecia, is a city rich in history and art. Founded by the Spartans in the 8th century BCE, it was one of the most important city-states of the ancient world. Even today, its geography is unique, as it is surrounded by two bodies of water—the Mar Piccolo (Small Sea) and the Mar Grande (Big Sea)—precious trea...
Watertown’s Mount Carmel Feast kicks off this week
The Mount Carmel Feast is returning to Watertown (NY) this week for its 107th year. Frank Gorri and Vito DiGiovaccino appeared on 7 News at Noon on Monday to talk about the festival known for its Italian food, carnival rides, and fireworks. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast started in 1916 with the primarily Italian families at St. Anthony’s Churc...
From California to Abruzzo: a special visit celebrating Tommy Lasorda
Here we go! From June 26th to 28th, we’ll once again be welcoming our friends from Fullerton (U.S.A.), the city where Tommy Lasorda lived and with which the town of Tollo is twinned. After last October’s visit — which included a stop from the Mayor of the sister city, Bruce Whitaker — this time we’ll be hosting a group of students from Fullerton, w...
Italian American Museum Annual Golf Classic 2025
You don’t have to play golf to attend the 22nd Annual Golf Classic on Monday, June 30th. Please join us for dinner. The Gala Dinner, which begins at 4:30 pm, will feature a special live musical performance by Vanessa Racci. Up to 70 guests who register for dinner will also be able to purchase a Grand Raffle Ticket for $100 in addition to dinner cos...
Pirandello: three Generations Between Agrigento, Rome, and Paris
I looked out the window onto Boulevard Saint-Germain and watched life pass by. I thought: this is the life we should be giving form to. Life as it is now. What nudes? What neoclassicism? Where are the bathers? I poured my coffee. This is where people come together. I thought of the Classics: they always portrayed the life they were living – and the...
Italians in America – Our Immigrant Stories: John Stango’s ‘paintings for the people’ can be seen in museums around the world
John Stango’s grandparents immigrated to America from the Foggia region in Italy. His father, also named John, would return to Italy while serving in the Navy. In fact, he survived the Normandy invasion in World War II. John Sr. met John’s mom Elaine (née Rockwell) in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. Also an artist, John remembers her painting...
The Castle of Agliè: a Gem on the 'Crown of Delights' in Piedmont
The Ducal Castle of Agliè is part of the Royal Residences of the Savoy, a collection of twenty-two structures created by the Savoy dynasty in the splendid setting of Piedmont between the 16th and 18th centuries. From the sumptuous palaces of Turin, the center of political power, to the magnificent residences nestled among verdant landscapes, where...
Hammonton to celebrate 150th Our Lady of Mt. Carmel festival, procession
One of the most historic religious and cultural events reaches a momentous milestone this summer, when the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society hosts its 150th annual festival and procession Sunday through Friday, July 14-19. It is the longest running Italian-American festival in the U.S. honoring the faith and traditions of the region’s Catholic commu...
Rome's Victor Emmanuel II National Monument: everything you need to know about the Vittoriano
The Vittoriano, also known as the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II or the Altar of the Fatherland, is a national monument located in the heart of Rome, in Piazza Venezia. Dedicated to the first king of a united Italy, it stands as a symbol of national unity as well as democratic and European values. Its strategic position and imposing size make it on...
Who will be crowned this year’s queen?
One of the most thrilling and glamorous events in the Chicago-area Italian American community is the contest to determine who will reign as La Bella Regina of the Columbus Day Parade. “Few events in the community can match the pageantry of the annual Columbus Day Queen pageant,” says Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Ame...
Work on new Italian-American center begins soon
The renovation and expansion of an iconic white mansion that overlooks Gray’s Lake and downtown Des Moines is expected to begin this summer with much of the work completed by fall 2026. Members of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa have spent more than two years planning and raising money for the center at 2633 Fleur Drive in Des Moines....