With Columbus gone, statue of saint to take its place in Piazza Italia Park
Three years after a statue of explorer Christoper Columbus was vandalized and ordered removed from a downtown park, a new statue will go up in its place. The new statue of a Catholic saint, which was sought by a retired construction company executive, will be erected on the pedestal where the Columbus statue stood in what used to be known as Columb...
St. Joseph’s Day traditions trumpet his protective role
I’m pretty sure that almost everyone who lives in the New Orleans area has heard of and or visited a St. Joseph altar. But, for those of us who are Catholic and Italian, St. Joseph’s Altars are steeped with family tradition, delicious food, recipes handed down through the generations and an anticipation of visiting various churches to view the beau...
Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii
Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii is the first exhibition in the United States to explore landscape scenes as a striking new genre of ancient Roman art. These works depict a fascinating, yet imaginary vision of a countryside dotted with seaside villas and rural shrines, where gods and mythological heroes mingle with...
A taste of Italy is coming to Dickinson this weekend
If you're wanting to know more about Italian culture then Dickinson is the place you want to be this weekend. On Saturday, the city is hosting its 4th annual "Dickinson Little Italy Festival of Galveston County." There will be a huge market at the festival featuring more than 30 vendors who will be offering an assortment of food, information and wa...
Post-war Italian culture, both in New Orleans and Sicily, stars in 2 new local books
Two local authors, Elisa Speranza and Vincent B. “Chip” LoCoco, will talk about their new books at 7 p.m. March 22, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The Italian Prisoner - By Elisa Speranza Set in 1943 New Orleans, the book follows Rose Marino, who lives with her Sicilian immigrant parents and helps in the family...
How one rural town became Louisiana's 'Little Italy': 'It was just a big part of life'
Louisiana’s cultural heritage is often characterized by its French roots, with its common family names like “Thibodeaux" and “Hebert,” etc. And parts of the state are known for their Creole, African or even Spanish influences, like architecture in the French Quarter. But what’s less well known is the prominent Italian population residing in Southea...
Duncanville Delegates Visiting Italian Sister City in June
A delegation of Duncanville travelers and friends are planning a trip to Italy in June. They will enjoy an event-packed visit to their Sister City, Monasterolo di Savigliano, in northern Italy. The trip marks the 26th anniversary of the Sister City relationship and cultural exchange program between these two small cities over 5,000 miles apart. Del...
Italian American Community in San Antonio
Italian immigrants began arriving in San Antonio in the 1870s. By 1890 a number of families had established an Italian neighborhood northwest of downtown. In April of that year a small group gathered together in a fruit store at the corner of Commerce Street and Plaza de Armas to organize a benevolent association. They obtained a charter for the Ch...
Exhibition showcasing artwork of ancient Rome debuts at the San Antonio Museum of Art this week
The San Antonio Museum of Art's latest exhibition features 65 wall paintings, sculptures, mosaics, silver vessels and pieces of cameo glass created in Roman Italy between 100 B.C. and A.D. 250. "Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii" aims to introduce visitors to the cultural and archaeological contexts of Roman art, de...
New Orleans 2023 Mardi Gras to Honor Siena’s Historic Palio
New Orleans and Siena are, in many ways, spiritual sister cities. The Palio and Carnival are both important civic rituals that bring their communities together in celebration. Just as the foundation of Mardi Gras is religious, celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, the same is true for the Palio, as each race is run on a feast day honoring the...
Sicily in Louisiana: a memory
My mother's father's father, Francesco Bruscato of Vicari Sicily, came to America twice. Once at age 18 in 1900 through Ellis Island in steerage with his 15-year-old sister, and a friend whose last name was Zagone. There were 1,300 other Sicilians on the boat pictured. He arrived in America with $4.00 to get from New York to Clarks, where his spons...
Monument to the Sicilian Sugarcane Harvester Immigrants
Donations have launched our Fundraising Campaign to erect the 16' High Monument to the Sicilian Sugar Cane Harvester. Please Place Your Order Here. Sixty-Thousand Sicilians were recruited to work in Louisiana's Sugar Cane fields from 1870-1920. We have started fundraising for a 12' high monument to be placed on a 4' pedestal to honor those whose sh...