Consul General Valentini’s mission to Arizona, carried out together with the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, Emanuele Amendola, featured a series of institutional, academic, cultural, and community engagements highlighting the strong ties between Italy and the State.
Among the key moments was a visit to MSC Group’s offices in Tempe, responsible for operations across the Western United States. Sincere thanks to Branch Manager Mauro Dal Bo for the warm welcome. MSC represents an important Italian presence in the United States and a leading player in the global logistics sector.
At Arizona State University, the visit included the International Humanities Center and the Italian language program, which counts more than 850 students—the largest Italian program in the United States. The occasion also marked the inauguration of the Pier Raimondo Baldini Italian Library. Special thanks to Prof. Serena Ferrando and all the faculty for their outstanding commitment and for serving as a constant point of reference for the promotion of Italian language and culture.
The program continued with a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum to explore the exhibition dedicated to Florentine Baroque art and to meet with Museum Director Jeremy Mikolajczak and Steve Taddei, President of the Focus on European Art Foundation—further strengthening cultural dialogue and cooperation.
The visit also provided the opportunity to meet representatives of Arizona’s vibrant Italian community, including Roberto Brembilla, founder and shareholder of Il Sogno Toscano, and Andrea Fappani, owner of Fappani Performance Horses and one of the most renowned professionals in the equestrian world.
Finally, a special thanks goes to our Honorary Consul in Phoenix, Roberta Gentili Purcell, for all the support provided throughout the visit.
