Italy and New Orleans: A historic bond at the heart of our future

Apr 20, 2018 730

BY: Armando Varricchio

On the 300th anniversary of New Orleans's founding, and as the United States and the world celebrate the city's rich and diverse history, I am reminded of the many links that join the Big Easy to Italy. New Orleans has a unique and impressive Italian tradition that has blended into the city's broad cultural tableau and has become a key feature of today's Crescent City.

The early explorations of Italian-born Henri de Tonti; the stories of the many Italians, mainly from Sicily, who moved here in search of a better future, and the origins of jazz, going back to the performances of Nick La Rocca with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, testify to the intense and deep impression that Italy and Italian culture have left on the city. New Orleans, it's fascinating and colorful culture, tracing back to Africa, Acadia, Spain and France would simply not be the same without that Italian touch.

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SOURCE: http://www.nola.com/

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