A powerful moment of memory and identity unfolded in Naples when former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio visited a massive waterfront mural dedicated to the millions of Italians who left for the United States during the great waves of migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the faces portrayed on the artwork were two people de Blasio immediately recognized – his maternal grandparents, Giovanni De Blasio and Anna Briganti.
The mural, created by artist Vittorio Valiante using historical photographs, features real emigrants who departed from the Port of Naples in search of opportunity in America. As de Blasio found the images of his grandparents, he became visibly emotional and embraced the creators of the project, Germana Valentini and Francesco Andoli, who developed the initiative to preserve and celebrate the history of Italian migration.
For de Blasio, the visit was more than a personal tribute. It represented a journey back to the origins of a family story that mirrors the experience of millions of Italian Americans. His grandmother, Anna Briganti, left Basilicata for New York in the early 1900s, while his grandfather Giovanni De Blasio emigrated from Campania. Their story eventually became part of the larger Italian American experience that helped shape New York and the United States.
The project also reflects the deep historical relationship between Naples and New York. Between 1880 and 1924, more than 4 million Italians emigrated to the United States, many departing from southern Italian ports. Today, roughly 17 million Americans claim full or partial Italian ancestry.
Organizers say the initiative will continue with a new mural planned for Manhattan’s Little Italy, creating another symbolic connection between Naples and New York. Through art, family stories, and shared history, the project demonstrates how the legacy of Italian migration remains a living bridge across the Atlantic.
