BELLA ITALIA MARKET
SHOWCASES ITALIAN CREATIVITY AND EXCELLENCE
Pictured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bella Italia Market are: (left to right) Francesco Isgro, Oscar Bartoli, Nancy DeSanti, Franca Bartoli, Embassy of Italy First Counselor Domenico Bellantone, Anna Isgro, Liz DiGregorio, Giorgetta Keuter and Anna Llop-Keuter.
By Nancy DeSantia
By any measure, the Bella Italia Market at Casa Italiana on December 1-2, 2018, was a big success. Thanks to the hard work of a core group of volunteers, the market was more than a successful fundraiser for the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center; it was also an opportunity for more than 1,400 members of the public in the Washington metro area to enjoy a unique cultural experience. Bella Italia was an upscale market that showed off Italian creativity in a variety of ways.
The nearly 40 vendors and exhibitors included Dolci Gelati, The Italian Store, Beretta, several ceramics importers and designers, artists and jewelry designers, fashion house Amina Rubinacci, fragrance company Santa Maria Novella, and other vendors of fine Italian products and services.
In the Main Hall and Lower Hall of Casa Italiana, one could see art of all kinds, including painting, portraiture, photography, sculpture and ceramics in vibrant colors, mixed in with high-fashion clothing and accessories. La Moto of Washington D.C. brought several Vespas for display indoors and outside, including Piaggio’s famous Aprilia model, known as “the Ferrari of motorcycles.” Many people enjoyed taking their picture with the beautiful Aprilia.
The market was the idea of fashion designer Franca Bartoli and was made possible with the help of generous sponsors and donors, including Bethesda Travel Center LLC, La Moto of Washington DC, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, the Lido Civic Club, Cafe Milano, IULM University in Milan, IDI Group Cos., Marco Stilli, and Dario Zucchi.
The market opened on December 1 with a ceremony at which Father Ezio Marchetti gave the welcoming remarks, followed by Domenico Bellantone, First Counselor for Consular and Social Affairs of the Italian Embassy, who delivered brief remarks and then cut the ribbon inaugurating the Market. Standing alongside Father Ezio and First Counselor Bellantone was AMHS member Francesco Isgrò, president of the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center, Inc. (CISC), which sponsored the event.
Also present for the ceremony were representatives of the sponsors, including AMHS President Ray LaVerghetta and Past President Maria D’Andrea-Yothers. On the opening day of the Market, a fashion show, organized by Franca Bartoli and sponsored by Bethesda Travel Center, featured upscale designs by Amina Rubinacci, Anna Gobbi, Melitta Paterni, and Franca Bartoli. For nearly two years, a core group of five board members, including AMHS members Anna Isgrò and Nancy DeSanti, worked hard to make the dream a reality.
Many others volunteered their time and talents over the final months, including AMHS members Peter Bell, Mark Bush, Jim Cocco (CISC treasurer), Liz DiGregorio, Lena Lupica and Lourdes Tinajero. Joe Lupo and the Casa Italiana Language School also assisted. Finally, on the days of the actual event, AMHS members Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, Julie and Corrado Dal Forno, Mario Marinucci, Dora Leo Santacroce, and Lynn Sorbara also volunteered to help make sure the event ran smoothly. And Casa Italiana was beautifully decorated, thanks to Simonetta Baldassari, Liz DiGregorio and Darlene DiBattista.
The Market also had a very successful silent auction with about 50 items including restaurant and services gift certificates, ceramics, artworks and jewelry, a Ferragamo bag and scarf, fashion accessories, food baskets and other unique items such as a one-week timeshare at a resort in Egypt. One item that drew a lot of attention was a basket donated by Maria Marigliano full of items sent to her from Sulmona, Abruzzo, such as the famous confetti including the beautiful Stelle di Natale. And the market also proved to be a meeting place where people ran into friends they hadn’t seen in a while and those who were new to Casa Italiana but wanted to know more. A couple of attendees even recognized Luigi Einaudi, the grandson of former Italian President Luigi Einaudi. Many thanks to all the talented people who worked so hard on this outstanding event.