A Controversial Choice

Today is a national holiday in Italy, la Festa della Repubblica, celebrating the referendum in 1946 that dumped the Savoy monarchy and made Italy a republic.  It was a close vote—54% for a Republic, 46% for Monarchy—but not without irregularities.  Many...

ROMA AETERNA

One of my favorite among humorist Mark Twain’s many famous quotes is, “Travel is fatal to prejudice.” Basically, he meant that traveling opens our eyes, hearts and minds, connecting us to our fellow human beings, live and in-person. Stereotypes and...

ITALIAN-AMERICAN FIRSTS

Alfred E. Smith Who were the pioneer U.S. government officials with Italian roots? The answers are more than names that belong in history books. In a tangible way they provide a measure of how far Italian-Americans have come in the greater American society. Let’s...

Old Times Here Are Not Forgotten

America is gearing up to host the World Cup of Soccer next month.  Not exactly a sport that gets Americans excited, although an American team will be showing its stuff.  Besides, hyphenated Americans can cheer on their ancestral homelands. Alas, Italy will...

The Miracle that is Italy

Today marks the anniversary of Garibaldi’s landing in Bourbon Sicily in 1860 with his 1,000 Redshirts.  That bold adventure led to the addition of southern Italy and Sicily to what would become the Kingdom of Italy nine months later.  It was a remarkable course of...

Leaving for Rome

A note to my readers: I am taking a two-week trip to Rome (with a few days in Lucca and perhaps a side-trip to Florence) and will probably not be able to write a new blog until after my return on May 23rd.  Altare della Patria So I’d like to indulge your...