The scent of the Tyrrhenian Sea mingled with the promise of new beginnings on the picturesque island of Capri, as John Calvelli, Chairman of the Board of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), and Robert Allegrini, NIAF President, arrived to forge a new alliance. Their mission: to sign a protocol of understanding focused on cultural exchange and tourist development, and to passionately advocate for the creation of an emigration museum in Naples – a city deeply intertwined with the history of Italian diaspora.
A Personal Connection to the Journey
Calvelli’s own family history mirrors the complex narrative of Italian emigration. “My great-grandfather left Naples at the end of the 19th century, hailing from Vico Aprigliano, Cosenza,” he recounted, his voice carrying the weight of generations. “My father later decided to return to Italy, and we disembarked again at San Vincenzo pier. It didn’t last long. The following year, we returned to the USA.” This “waltz of departures” underscores the profound personal connection many Italian Americans, including Calvelli, have to their ancestral homeland.
Representing 18 million Italian Americans, NIAF’s visit to Capri, under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the support of the Campania Divina project (Region) and the Port Authority, aimed to “intensify tourism seasonality,” as Mayor Paolo Falco explained. Beyond tourism, the cultural dimension is paramount. Falco highlighted the late Francesco Durante, a distinguished scholar of Italian American literature, whose memory will be honored within this new agreement. He also referenced Roberto Ciuni’s work, “Stelle e strisce sui faraglioni,” further solidifying Capri’s historical ties to this narrative.
The Unsung Story of Southern Italian Emigration
The backdrop to these discussions was a montage of NIAF’s more than fifty-year history, featuring iconic figures like Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Bill Clinton, and Gina Lollobrigida. “This agreement is the beginning of a journey that connects international institutions,” added Councillor Salvatore Ciuccio. Calvelli emphasized the strong ties with Campania, noting that many NIAF board members, including oncology luminary Antonio Giordano, and some of their 30 Republican and Democratic deputies, hail from the region, such as Rosa De Lauro, with roots in Scafati.
A critical point of discussion was the disproportionate representation of Southern Italians in the emigration narrative. “Over 85% of emigrants were from the South,” Calvelli stated. “It is incomprehensible that such an important history is not told in a museum. I have been to the Emigration Museum in Genoa, beautiful, but with all due respect, the most important history of that epic is here in Naples.”
This sentiment resonated deeply, echoing Durante’s earlier project for a museum at Immacolatella Vecchia. “We must start from there,” added Allegrini. NIAF, with its headquarters in Washington and an office in New York, recently established its first Italian base with the American Studies Center in Rome. “Naples cannot be excluded, especially now that it has improved so much,” Allegrini asserted. Despite his own family’s origins in Lucca and Valle d’Aosta – an anomaly in the Southern-dominated emigration story – he emphasized the urgency of filling this historical void. The upcoming America’s Cup, he suggested, could serve as a springboard, attracting a wealthy audience capable of supporting and financing such a powerful idea.
A Tribute to Heritage: The Capri-NIAF Award
The emotional highlight of the day, organized by Carmen Pisano, the Municipality’s head of major events, was the presentation of the Capri-NIAF Award. Conceived by Germana Valentini, the award was bestowed upon entrepreneur Giuseppe Iuele and accepted by his daughter Gabriella.
The luminous, double-sided rotating medal was crafted by Dante Mortet, a bronze artisan descended from five generations of engravers. Mortet, also the creator of the Figli del Mare Award (conceived by Valentini and Laura Valente), has previously cast the hands of luminaries like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Ennio Morricone, and Pelé. For this occasion, he took a mold of the hand of centenarian Capri-American Ida Di Pinto to create the first sculpture in “Le Mani di Capri” (The Hands of Capri) – a work that, palm by palm, will narrate the culture of craftsmanship between Capri and New York.
As the sun set over Capri, casting long shadows across the ancient stones, the echoes of past journeys and the aspirations for future connections filled the air. The partnership between Capri and NIAF, cemented by this agreement and the powerful call for an emigration museum, promises to keep the stories of Italian Americans alive, ensuring that the legacy of those who crossed oceans is never forgotten.
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cultura-e-tempo-libero/26_giugno_04/capri-italoamericana-un-premio-e-un-intesa-a-napoli-serve-il-museo-dell-emigrazione-aac1f2af-9d24-4e0d-a029-8f0692ae0xlk.shtml
