We tend to focus a lot on our Southern Italian roots here at the Italian American Podcast, but today we’re asking…  “What’s up North?” This week’s episode is the first in a two-part series featuring special guest and Northern Italy expert Robert Allegrini, the honorary consul of San Marino in Chicago, where we will dig into a history of the contributions, communities and characters of the Italian Americans descended from northern and central Italy.

We dive into the history of Northern Italy, including exactly how it can be defined and how its history differs from that of Southern Italy. We’ll also talk about the how the first Italians in the New World were from the North and how they helped contribute to our nation’s founding and early formation. We also pay homage to the Italian pioneers of America’s western expansion and how the further West you go, the more Northern Italian communities you see.