• March/April 2023

    Ferrazzano

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    By Nancy DeSanti


    Province of Campobasso, Region of Molise

    An overview of Ferrazzano.
    Credit: turismoinmolise.com

    The town of Ferrazzano is located five kilometers south of the provincial capital of Campobasso in the province with the same name. It has approximately 3,317 inhabitants, known as Ferrazzanesi. The small town rises on a picturesque, rocky hill covered with pine woods, overlooking the capital city in the distance.

    American actor Robert De Niro’s great-grandparents, Giovanni Di Niro and Angelina Mercurio, immigrated to the United States from Ferrazzano in 1887.

    The medieval town features field stone row houses with clay tile roofs. Its small piazza is anchored by a simple fountain. The village also has a small castle with a stone turret, and the parish Church of the Assumption. 

    Ferrazzano is situated in the area of the ancient Samnite town called Ferentinum, which was conquered by the Romans in 269 B.C.E. and included in the municipality of Sepinium. During Roman times, the area was repopulated by the Samnites who, together with others in the area, fought the Romans in the First Samnite War. When they realized that the Roman leader Sulla was on the verge of victory because he had already destroyed the nearby towns of Morcone and Bojano about 80 B.C.E., they gathered old men, women, children, and their herds and migrated eastwards to Lucera, abandoning the huts, the poor shelters, and the harsh land. Sulla then set up a garrison at the top of the hill, around which houses were subsequently built and the first nucleus of the town that today is called Ferrazzano was built. 

    In the Middle Ages, several feudal lords followed one after another, such as the Caldora, Di Sangro, and Carafa.

    What to See

    • The Castle of Girolamo Carafa, built in the 16th century, with two round towers. 
    • The parish Church of the Assunta, from the 13th century, originally in Romanesque style, still preserves an ancient Pergamon and a baptismal font built on a Roman column. 
    • Teatro del Loto

    Important Dates

    • June 13 — Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint.
       

       

    Italiano

       
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    Tradotto da Ennio Di Tullio

    Provincia di Campobasso, Regione Molise

    Il comune di Ferrazzano si trova a cinque chilometri a sud della capitale provincial di Campobasso nella provincia con lo stesso nome. Conta circa 3.317 abitanti, detti Ferrazzanesi. Il piccolo paese sorge su un pittoresco colle roccioso ricoperto di pinete, che domina in lontananza la città capitale.

    I bisnonni dell’attore americano Robert De Niro, Giovanni Di Niro e Angelina Mercurio, immigrarono negli Stati Uniti da Ferrazzano nel 1887.

    La città medievale è caratterizzata da case a schiera in pietra da campo con tetti in tegole di argilla. La sua piccola piazza è ancorata da una semplice fontana. Il paese possiede anche un piccolo castello con torretta in pietra, e la chiesa parrocchiale dell’Assunta.

    Ferrazzano si trova nell’area dell’antica città sannita chiamata Ferentinum, conquistata dai Romani nel 269 a.C. e compreso nel comune di Sepinium. In epoca romana, la zona fu popolata ancora dai Sanniti che, insieme ad altri della zona, combatterono i Romani nelle prime guerre sannitiche. Quando si resero conto che il condottiero romano Sulla era sull’orlo della vittoria perché aveva già distrutto i vicini centri di Morcone e Bojano circa 80 a.C., radunarono vecchi, donne, bambini, e I loro armenti e migrarono verso est, verso Lucera, abbandonando le capanne, i poveri ripari, e la terra aspra. Sulla stabilì allora un presidio in cima al colle, intorno al quale successivamente vennero edificate delle abitazioni e venne edificato il primo nucleo del paese che oggi si chiama Ferrazzano.

    Nel Medioevo, si susseguirono parecchi feudatari, come i Caldora, i Di Sangro, ed i Carafa.

    Le attrazioni del luogo:

    • Il Castello di Girolamo Carafa, edificato nel XVI secolo, con due torri circolari.
    • La parrocchiale dell’Assunta, del XIII secolo, originariamente in stile romanico, conserva ancora un antico Pergamo e un fonte battesimale costruito su una colonna romana.
    • Teatro del Loto

    Date da ricordare:

    • 13 giugno — Festa di Sant’Antonio da Padova, patrono
    Sources:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrazzano
    https://www.italyheritage.com/regions/molise/province-campobasso/ferrazzano.htm
    https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/destination/ferrazzano-6325/

    March/April 2023

  • March/April 2023

    Siamo Una Famiglia

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    By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers

    On Sunday, February 5, a group of 20 AMHS members and friends enjoyed an outing to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The afternoon included a lecture, a visit to an exhibition, and lunch.

    The group attended a public lecture given by Dr. Eric Denker, lecturer emeritus, on The Venetian World in Six Impressions: Jacopo de’ Barbari’s View of Venice (nga.gov). Dr. Denker used images of de’ Barbari’s woodcut of Venice to explain the layout and the importance of different sections of the city to lend perspective to the exhibition, “Vittore Carpaccio: Master Storyteller of Renaissance Venice,” which was then on display at the gallery. Dr. Denker then led our group to the exhibition where he spent about 20 minutes giving an overview. The exhibition was made up of a focused selection of some 45 paintings and 30 drawings. Carpaccio is best known for his large, spectacular narrative paintings that brought sacred history to life. Although for centuries he has been loved and celebrated in his native city for his observant eye, fertile imagination, and storytelling prowess, this exhibition marks the first retrospective of the artist ever held outside Italy. 

    After touring the exhibition, some of the group went to the gallery’s Cascade Café to enjoy a late lunch together. A good time was had by all. AMHS thanks Chris Renneker, Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, and Nancy DeSanti for organizing the outing; and Dr. Eric Denker, for taking his time to meet with the group and discuss the exhibition. We look forward to doing similar events throughout the year.

    AMHS Members and Friends outside the Carpaccio exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.

    Celebrating Carnevale

    By Nancy DeSanti

    The AMHS was one of several co-sponsors of the Carnevale celebration at Casa Italiana on February 12, 2023. The event, marking the traditional pre-Lenten festivities, featured a live band and plenty of good food. The children enjoyed dancing to the music in their cute costumes. The event was organized by the Casa Italiana Language School.

    Fun for all ages at Casa Italiana’s Carnevale festival.
    Credit: Giovanni Sciannameo
    Carnevale would not be complete without a festive cake.
    Credit: Nancy DeSanti

    Passing of AMHS Member Joe Ruzzi Sr.

    By Nancy DeSanti

    Joseph M. Ruzzi, Sr.

    The AMHS mourns the loss of our long-time member Joseph Michiel Ruzzi, Sr., who passed away on January 6, 2023. Joe Sr. and his late sister Mary Catucci were pillars of Holy Rosary Church for many years, and Joe Sr. was honored at a Gala in 2013 when he was named the church’s Man of the Year. Joe Sr. is the father of AMHS member Joseph Ruzzi, Jr., who lost his wife Betsy in October 2022. Joe Sr. was also the father of four other children, the grandfather of eleven, and the great-grandfather of two.  We offer our sincerest condolences to the Ruzzi family and friends in this difficult time.

    March/April 2023

  • March/April 2023

    AMHS Membership

    By Lynn Sorbara, 2nd Vice President-Membership


    New Members
    Welcome to our New Members: Karen De Luca
    Birthdays
    Compleanni a Marzo
    Eileen Parise Del Monaco, March 1; Greg Bernabei, March 2; Maria Fresco, March 3; Stephen D’Alessio, March 5; Salvatore DiPilla, March 8; Charles Philip D’Adamo, March 9; Maria Antoinette Kellaher and Sam Yothers, March 12; Mary Petrino, March 14; Joanne Balzano, March 16; David Scalzitti, March 19; Pam Lupo, March 21; Diana Hoopes, March 23; Thomas Ronan and Benjamin O’Hara, March 24; Mary Katherine Theis, March 25; Natalie Lui Ducan, March 26; Lucio D’Andrea, March 28; Macarena Clark, March 29; and Anna Maria DiPilla, March 31.
    Compleanni a Aprile
    Albert Grasso
    , April 1; Joseph Theis, April 4; Susan Ann Bonsiero, April 5; Diana Bernabei, April 6; Donald Kellaher, April 10; Angela Petruzzelli, April 13; Teresa Talierco Scafetta, April 14; Dominic Balzano, Stephen Ulissi and Elena Francini-McGrann, April 21; Julia Conti, April 22; Berardino Palazzo, April 24; Belinda Sabatini, April 25; Christopher Renneker, April 26; Joann Novello, April 28; Tommaso Profenno and Rita Costello, April 30.
    Anniversaries
    Anniversari a Marzo
    Robert & Marlene Lucian
    , March 3; Albert & Karen Grasso, March 4; Maria Antoinette & Donald Kellaher, March 22; and Raymond & Barbara Bernero, March 26.
    Anniversari a Aprile
    Anthony & Norma Phillips
    , April 14; Michael & Elizabeth Iademarco, April 20; and Roberto & Bess DiTullio, April 25.
    Membership Information
    Category                          # of Persons
    Associate (Couple):         2 x 2 = 4
    Associate (Individual):    39
    General (Couple):           51 x 2 = 102
    General (Individual):       79
    Honorary:                         9
    Scholarship:                     2
    Student:                            5
    Total Membership:         240

    March/April 2023