Italian Historical Society of Americanewsletter
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Italian Historical Society of America Newsletter OCTOBER 2017 BY JANICE THERESE MANCUSO VOLUME 13, NUMBER 10 Tutto Italiano Benvenuto a Tutto Italiano The geography of Italy is stunning. The “boot shaped peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea” has “some of the most varied and scenic landscapes on earth.” About 50 percent of the land has mountains and foothills – rimming its borders, extending through the entire center of the country to the toe of the boot, and almost covering the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The terrain makes it ideal for terraced gardens, planned to utilize the land more efficiently for planting, adding beauty, and preventing erosion. Terraced gardens date back to ancient times, but it was during the height of the Italian Renaissance when the formal design gained popularity. The gardens at Villa d’Este in Tivoli, about 20 miles slightly northeast of Rome (region of Lazio), were commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este in the mid 1500s. The UNESCO World Heritage Site “is one of the most remarkable and comprehensive illustrations of Renaissance culture at its most refined.” Construction began with an aqueduct that supplied the city and villa with water. The hill where the villa was to be built had to be reshaped, and a second aqueduct was added. The layered terraces showcase thousands of plantings and more than 50 fountains. Some of the most well known are The Hundred Fountains (a walkway with three tiered canals and spouts), the Fountain of Rometta (symbolizing ancient Rome), the Fountain of the Owl (animated with singing birds and an owl), and the Fountain of the Organ (music by water and air). Ponds, grottos, and other water features, statues, and panoramic views provide a magnificent setting for the sixteenth century villa. Map of Villa d’Este (Scroll Down) The Exquisite Fountains of Villa d’Este (Beautiful Photos) Tivoli Villa d’Este (More Beautiful Photos) Villa d’Este - the Gardens (Great Photos) Villa d’Este: A Triumph of the Baroque Map of Aqueducts To Save Its Cliffside Towns, Italy Revives the Art of Terracing (NYT Article, June 2017) When in Rome Italy’s history is filled with nobility and many made their homes in Rome. A Directory of Roman Palaces Mingling with aristocrats: A peek into Rome's palaces (CNN, January 2017) The city was also home to the working class and those who served the nobles; all creating a diverse socio-economic group. As the aqueducts supplied easier access to water, Roman roads provided a straightforward means of transportation; and because Roman law banned burials within city walls, the roads also provided the final resting place for many residents. Those with money built tombs along the roads, those without were sometimes buried on the side of the road. One road, an offshoot of the Appian Way, was discovered while building a McDonalds in Marino (about 13 miles southeast of Rome). McDonalds Italia funded the restoration of the road, creating its first “restaurant-museum.” A glass floor shows the road beneath “preserved in an underground gallery that features educational panels describing what archaeologists have learned about it.” The road is “accessible from the outside; you don’t need to set foot in the restaurant,” and the exhibit includes the (resin) skeletons of three bodies that were buried on the side of the road. Italian McDonald’s Serves Up a Side of Roman Ruins The dangerous streets of ancient Rome The Romans and Their Dead From the Italian American Press Learn more about Rome from these books listed on the Italian American Press The Devils of Rome Made Me Do It by Jackelin J Jarvis: A collection of wisdom and life experience that will take the reader through a fascinating journey of Roman culture. 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go by Susan Van Allen: A guide to attractions that focus on a female association (but not just for women), with behind- the-scenes information that gives the visitor a better understanding of each location's fascinating history. The Italian Achievement by Arturo Barone: An A-Z of over 1000 "firsts" achieved by Italians in almost every aspect of life over the last 1000 year. Our Lady of Loreto Update Our Lady of Loreto Church, the National Italian Church designed and built by Italian immigrants from 1906 to 1908 in Brooklyn, New York is still standing. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn/Catholic Charities owns and agreed to maintain the church, but let it deteriorate as an excuse to tear it down and build 64 apartments for low-income housing. The building is “eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places,” and community residents have banded together in their efforts to convert the church into a well needed arts and cultural center. In April, a judge issued a temporary order to block the demolition, but recently lifted the order, stating the petitioner had no standing. Members of The Brownsville Cultural Coalition, formed by those who live in surrounding areas, have filed a petition for breach of contract. Help the Coalition preserve this important part of Italian American heritage and history. From Mario Toglia, historian and member of the Coalition: The Significance: Our Lady of Loreto church is a true marvel of advanced construction and the first church built in Pure Italian Renaissance style in the United States. This structure is a rare and only example of a church built by a team of all Italian immigrant crafters – deliberately chosen to highlight the architectural talents of their native land and to counterattack the nativist prejudice against Italians as being uncivilized and uneducated. Adriano Armezzani is the first Italian-born architect of a Roman Catholic Church in NYC. The 33-ft long pediment is New Jersey sculptor- laureate Gaetano Federici’s largest artwork and the only representation of the Miracle of Loreto outside Europe. The frescoes on the ceiling were done by Gaetano Capone and include replicas of Raphael’s Transfiguration of Christ and Murillo’s Immaculate Conception. By coincidence, the land under the church was once owned by Pietro Alberti, first Italian settler to New Amsterdam. Brownsville residents and allies seek to preserve this testament to 90-years of Italian- American history and re-adapt this exceptional landmark-eligible structure as a cultural arts center. Many artistic organizations have demanded from city and state a decent venue other than the basement of a housing project. Our Lady of Loreto is near major transportation, seats over 1,000 people, has an amazing architectural appeal and has a legacy rooted in family, which is so fundamental to appreciating the arts. The Scandal: In 2010 the Diocese of Brooklyn and their real estate arm, Catholic Charities, received millions of dollars from New York State and New York City to build housing around Our Lady of Loreto. As a condition for this grant, Catholic Charities was required to preserve and maintain this historic church building. However, Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Brooklyn deliberately let the building deteriorate, and then used the allegedly dilapidated condition of the building as a pretext for its demolition. Now Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Brooklyn are attempting to demolish the historic building, breaking a contract with the government and walking away with millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Therefore, the Brownsville Cultural Coalition (BCC) -- a group of concerned residents, historians and art connoisseurs -- has filed a lawsuit for breach of contract. How You Can Help: If demolished, not only does Brownsville (and all of Brooklyn) lose an architectural gem, but also its last vestige of Italian immigrant history and achievements. Currently, BCC is looking for financial support to pay for its lawyers. BCC is seeking help through donations at www.gofundme.com/saveOLL. Please also follow our campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/saveOLL Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita, Janice Therese Mancuso Author of Con Amore Thirty-One Days of Italians The Italian American Press *~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~ Please Note: On the date of publication, the links in this newsletter were current. In older newsletters, some links may be inactive if the URL has changed or is no longer available. ©2017 by Janice Therese Mancuso. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when quoted for promotional purposes. Publish with this credit: Excerpted from Tutto Italiano ©2017 by Janice Therese Mancuso. www.jtmancuso.com October is an exceptional month for celebrating Italian heritage and culture. Whether it’s designated Italian American Heritage Month, Italian American Heritage and Culture Month, or Italian Heritage Month, the rich history and traditions of a nationality that has vastly contributed to humanity – not only in America but also throughout the world – deserves awareness. In today’s volatile political environment, and with concerns about immigration and naturalization, it’s important to know about the Italians journey to America, and the significance of keeping our history and cultural identity alive. During the mass migration, from the late 1800s to the early 1920s, Italians faced many perils when they arrived in America. At a disadvantage because of language and cultural barriers, they also encountered deep hostility, prejudice towards their religious beliefs, and acts of violence. Considered undesirable, they had difficulties finding jobs and places to live; however, they were not the first immigrants to experience discrimination. “Nativism is a strong dislike for ethnic, religious, or political minorities within one’s culture. In North America it was founded principally upon the fear that immigrant attitudes will erode the distinctive features of the majority culture. … Nativism is common in most cultures during times of economic or political turmoil …” The first “full-blown nativist frenzy” occurred during the 1830s, when an “influx of more than a quarter million Irish, most of them Catholic” arrived in America.