Literature has always been an important part of Italian culture, and that importance has carried through to Italian-American culture, as well. There have been many great books written by Italian-American authors, like Mario Puzo, for example, who wrote The Godfather. Besides “The Godfather, Mario Puzo also wrote a few other books around this topic. “The … Read more
Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) was an Italian-American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and was one of the key figures in the development of the atomic bomb. Fermi was born in Rome and for the most part had a “normal” childhood of the day. One morning, at the daily market in … Read more
While soccer (calcio) is unquestionably the most popular sport in Italy, and indeed all of Europe, the Italians who immigrated to the U.S. were quick to adapt to the local sports. This quick assimilation was a notable trait of Italian-Americans, and this desire flowed through many aspects of daily life. Consequently, Italian-Americans have made their … Read more
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born on April 7, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, to a family of Italian immigrants. Coppola spent his childhood in Queens, New York, where his father worked as a flautist and his mother as a seamstress. Coppola attended Hofstra University, where he studied … Read more
Food is an important part of any culture, and the Italian-American community is no exception. For generations, Italian-Americans have taken the food traditions from the Old County, and adapted them to life in the United States, creating a food culture that is all its own. Some of the most popular and iconic Italian-American dishes, such … Read more
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) was an Italian military general, politician, and nationalist who played a key role in the unification of Italy in the 19th century. Born in Nice, France, he spent much of his early life as a sailor before becoming involved in political activism and military campaigns for Italian unification. Garibaldi became famous for … Read more
Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta was born on February 18, 1745, in Como, Lombardy, to a noble family that had lost some of its social status. Unlike his siblings, young Alessandro did not enter the religious life. As a child, he did not show signs of being a prodigy, and his family thought he … Read more
Italian-American music has had a significant impact on American pop music, both in terms of style and content. The earliest Italian-American music in the United States was brought over by Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This music was characterized by the use of traditional Italian instruments such as the mandolin, … Read more