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....
What You Need to Know About Driving in Italy as a Foreigner
There’s a certain romance to driving in Italy. It’s not just the switchbacks that climb through olive-dotted hills or the highways that stretch lazily along the coast. It’s the freedom to veer off the expected path—to stop for a vineyard that wasn’t on your itinerary, to chase the sunset across unfamiliar villages. But for anyone visiting from abro...
New Haven celebrates famed pizzeria, Frank Pepe's, with street corner dedication, marking 100 years
The intersection of Brown and Wooster Streets in New Haven is now marked by a shiny, new sign which reads “Frank and Filomena Pepe Corner. Members of the Pepe family joined state and local leaders in New Haven’s iconic Wooster Street neighborhood Friday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ever-popular Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana. They ma...
This California Expat Found Her Rhythm in Lucca, Italy
"I learned how to work in the US, but I learned how to live in Italy," says Lucia Comnes, an American from the West Coast who has been living in Italy for the past 10 years. Growing up in San Francisco, Lucia heard many Californians speak highly of Italy, saying it was their favorite place they had ever traveled to. Although she, too, wanted to vis...
Orange/West Orange Chapter of UNICO National Holds Annual Scholarship Dinner
On June 11, 2025, the Orange/West Orange Chapter (O/WO) of UNICO National held its annual scholarship dinner at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover, NJ. Chapter President and Scholarship Chair Frank V. Gonnella presided over the evening. The Chapter awards scholarships to students from West Orange High School (WOHS) and Seton Hall Prep. Scholarsh...
Erika Tessarolo: The Italian Cowgirl Revolutionizing Rodeo One Mechanical Bull At A Time
In the heart of Italy’s Lake Garda region, Erika Tessarolo is crafting a revolution in the world of rodeo. As the founder and CEO of M.Art Technology and the creative force behind ShowGames.com, Erika has transformed the mechanical bull into a masterpiece of art, safety, and innovation, earning her the title of the “Italian Queen of Mechanical Bull...