Dear friends,
We are making history in the relationship between Italy and the United States - and that is no exaggeration. For the first time ever, the extraordinary Treasure of San Gennaro is coming to the United States, and We the Italians is bringing it.
From November 21, 2026, through February 21, 2027, the Italian American Museum in Little Italy, New York, will host “Il Tesoro. San Gennaro from Naples to New York,” an exhibition bringing 13 masterpieces from the Deputation of the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro in Naples to the United States for the first time. Created through centuries of faith, generosity, and artistic excellence, this collection is among Italy’s most precious treasures. Its journey across the Atlantic celebrates the enduring bonds between Naples and America and the generations of Italian Americans who have preserved their traditions, devotion, and identity. I’ve just returned from Naples, where we signed the official agreement with the Deputation, the owner and custodian of the Treasure, and I must confess that I’m truly moved.
We invite everyone to become part of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, both by visiting the exhibition and by supporting it as a Patron or Donor. Individuals, families, associations, and businesses can participate at different levels, with opportunities including recognition in the official Book of Patrons, commemorative gifts, special invitations, and unique experiences connected to San Gennaro. The Treasure itself was built through generations of generosity; today’s supporters can add a new chapter to that remarkable story. Visit the museum between November 21 and February 21, become a Patron, and help make this historic encounter between Italy and America possible. Discover more and support the project here.
And there’s more.
In 2026, We the Italians is also celebrating another story of transatlantic friendship with “Grazie, America – Thank You America. Firenze ricorda – Florence Remembers 1966–2026,” a bilingual book marking the 60th anniversary of the devastating Florence flood. In November 1966, the Arno inundated the city and endangered priceless artworks, libraries, churches, and monuments. Americans were among the thousands of international volunteers, students, scholars, restorers, and benefactors who helped rescue Florence’s cultural heritage. Their generosity became a lasting symbol of solidarity and earned them a special place in the city’s memory.
Through historical accounts, photographs, institutional contributions, and personal reflections, our book honors those efforts and the friendship linking Florence, Tuscany, and the United States. Its publication has added meaning in the year of America’s 250th anniversary of independence. A presentation is being planned in Florence, and a special edition is being prepared for selected institutions, organizations, and distinguished representatives of the Italian American community in the United States. More than a commemorative volume, it is a heartfelt thank-you to those who helped preserve a heritage belonging to all humanity.
There’s more: on September 24, 2026, We the Italians presented RELOCALS at the Centro Studi Americani in Rome. Developed with NOMAG and ITS Italy, this research and community project looks at international residents who have chosen Italy as their home and examines the value they bring through skills, investments, businesses, relationships, and international networks. It goes well beyond traditional tourism or relocation by exploring their actual experiences and contributions to Italian communities.
The initial results are revealing. Fully 64.1% of respondents had not expected to stay in Italy for so long, while 75.7% said that living there had changed how they describe the country to others. Yet 65% had never been contacted by an Italian public institution or organization, suggesting a missed opportunity. In 2027, RELOCALS will expand through further research, community engagement, and a nationwide tour connecting international residents with Italian territories, institutions, and businesses.
And we will return to the Centro Studi Americani. On November 16, 2026, during its Festival of American Culture, I will give a lecture to Italian high school students titled “Gli italiani che hanno fatto grande l’America” (The Italians Who Made America Great). To celebrate 250 years of the United States, I’ll share stories of famous and lesser-known Italians and Italian Americans whose ideas, talents, courage, and hard work helped shape the nation, from its founding ideals to science, innovation, business, art, culture, and sports. I hope these stories will help a new generation understand how much our countries have built together.
But there’s more: our “Italian American Connection Index 2026” survey remains open until October 31. We’re only a few responses away from surpassing 1,000 participants! Conducted by We the Italians and the Italian America Reputation Lab, this research explores how Italian Americans relate to their heritage, cultural identity, traditions, and Italy today. Every answer helps us better understand and strengthen these connections. If you haven’t participated, please take a few minutes to do so, and share the survey with family and friends.
And there’s still more to share. I recently had the pleasure of attending Friday’s events at the Italian Embassy in Washington and Saturday’s NIAF Gala. These occasions are always wonderful opportunities to reconnect with old friends, meet new people, build professional relationships, exchange ideas, and learn. Congratulations to our friends at NIAF for another excellent event.
Back in Rome, we’re introducing two brand-new monthly columns in We the Italians magazine. The first, “Italian Myths,” is written by Frederik Quarta and inspired by his book “Aspetta 2 ore – Credenze popolari smontate con logica, scienza e satira.” In the book, Quarta explores more than 200 deeply rooted Italian beliefs using logic, science, and satire. Our column will take readers through regional superstitions, everyday traditions, and advice handed down within families, teasing apart cultural memory and scientific reality without losing the humor that makes these stories so Italian. It’s also a way to rediscover customs that traveled across the Atlantic with generations of emigrants.
Our second new column, “Italian Sweets,” will celebrate the remarkable desserts and pastries of Italy’s regions, specialties that deserve more recognition abroad. Each month, we’ll explore one traditional specialty, its ingredients, history, and place in local culture. We begin in Liguria with “The delicate art of Liguria’s flower-shaped butter cookies,” dedicated to canestrelli, the buttery, flower-shaped cookies that embody the craftsmanship and distinctive traditions of Italian pastry-making.
Last but not least, our family continues to grow with a new Thematic Ambassador. My friend Giampaolo Girardi is our new We the Italians Ambassador to Law. Giampaolo is a Rome Bar attorney with more than 30 years of experience in civil, commercial, family, and international law. He advises Italian and international clients, specializing in cross-border legal and real estate matters involving U.S. citizens. A bridge between Italy and the U.S., he has served since 2025 as Treasurer of the National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA).
And it doesn’t stop here! That’s why we ask you to subscribe to We the Italians, here.
It’s all for now (I think we did enough in just one month…). Please stay safe and take care, and enjoy our magazine and our contents on our website. Stay safe and take care: the future’s so bright, we gotta wear tricolor shades! A big Italian hug from Rome.
