Babylon Berlin: Something Worth Watching, Eventually

A friend recently informed me, much to my delight, that the fifth and final season of Babylon Berlin was premiering this September. At last, I thought, something new worth watching.

My excitement lasted about as long as it took me to look it up. Turns out, the German premiere was September 10th. Apparently, here in the United States, we will have to wait until early 2027 to see it.

At a time when seemingly endless quantities of forgettable television are being churned out with remarkable efficiency, one of the few series I actually look forward to remains (for now) out of reach.

Not without its flaws, Babylon Berlin still has plenty that so much contemporary television lacks: atmosphere, style, intrigue, memorable characters, and the death knell of Weimar Berlin as its historical backdrop.

So, while Germany gets to return to the smoky cabarets, brothels, political conspiracies, criminal underworld, and a city standing on the threshold of catastrophe, I suppose I will spend the next several months doing what I usually do: watching old movies and wondering how, with more streaming content available than ever before, there can be so little worth watching.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli

Frank Frazetta Takes His Place at the Lucas Museum

A selection of Frank Frazetta collectible cards from my personal
collection, featuring several works that will be on display
at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

For admirers of Frank Frazetta, there is another reason to look forward to the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles this September.

When the long-awaited museum opens its doors on September 22nd, Frazetta will be among a select group of illustrators honored with individual galleries. His gallery will showcase a selection of illustrations and book covers from the museum’s collection.

It is a fitting tribute to an artist whose influence extends far beyond the fantasy genre. With his brooding warriors, fearsome monsters, strange worlds, and voluptuous women, Frazetta helped define the visual language of modern fantasy and inspired generations of illustrators, filmmakers, comic artists, and designers.

Among the Frazetta works in the Lucas Museum collection are his magnificent 1970 cover for Edgar Rice Burroughs’s A Princess of Mars, depicting John Carter and Dejah Thoris, as well as his eerie 1980 painting Mothman.

For those of us who have long regarded his work as something more than commercial illustration, seeing Frank Frazetta given a gallery of his own in a major museum feels long overdue.

Limited-Edition San Gennaro Statuettes Now Available at the Italian American Emporium

Just in time for the Feast of San Gennaro, the Italian American Emporium in Little Italy, New York, has introduced beautiful new statuettes of the beloved patron saint of Naples.

These miniature figures are faithful copies of the statue of San Gennaro venerated at Most Precious Blood Church, offering devotees a small piece of Little Italy’s religious and cultural heritage to bring into their homes.

Alongside the traditional version is a special gilded edition, limited to just 100 statuettes. With the feast approaching and only a small number available, they are a fitting keepsake of San Gennaro, Most Precious Blood Church, and the enduring traditions of Little Italy.

Italian American Emporium/Red Sauce Studio
155 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10013

Paula Gambra Mariné, Carlist Leader, Dies in Segovia

Paula Gambra Mariné, a prominent member of Spain’s Carlist movement and head of the Margaritas of the Comunión Tradicionalista, died in Segovia on August 25th, the Feast of St. Louis IX, King of France.

Born into a family deeply rooted in the Carlist tradition, Gambra Mariné devoted herself to the ideals and apostolate of the Comunión Tradicionalista. As leader of the Margaritas, she carried forward a tradition of Catholic faith, service, and fidelity that has long distinguished the movement.

We ask the faithful to offer prayers for the repose of her soul.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

A Changing of the Guard at Ernesto il disingannato

We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Gianandrea de Antonellis for his many years of dedicated service as founder and Director of Ernesto il disingannato. His vision and commitment have shaped the publication since its founding in 2017 and established the course it continues to follow today.

As Riccardo Pasqualin assumes the role of Director, we wish him every success in carrying forward this important work while remaining faithful to the principles and traditions upon which the journal was founded.

Dios, Patria, Fueros y Rey!

The Sphinxes Shall Keep Their Watch

After nearly a decade of legal battles, protests, and uncertainty, the fight to save the Elizabeth Street Garden appears finally to be coming to an end. The beloved sculpture garden in downtown Manhattan had long faced demolition, with the city seeking to raze it for affordable housing. Now, according to several sources, the city is expected to step back from those plans, bringing an extraordinary reprieve to a place whose survival had seemed increasingly uncertain.

I am especially pleased by the news because this little refuge has long been a favorite haunt of mine. Tucked away from the commotion of the surrounding streets, it is one of those increasingly rare corners of Manhattan where the city seems to recede. I often stop there with a cup of coffee, finding a shady place among the greenery and old stone where I can gather my thoughts and enjoy a little peace in its tranquil environs.

Much of the garden’s peculiar charm comes from the architectural fragments, statues, columns, urns, and weathered monuments scattered throughout the grounds. The place possesses something of the atmosphere of an old European garth, where nature and antiquity intertwine.

Of all its silent inhabitants, I am especially fond of the twin stone sphinxes. Reclining enigmatically among the foliage, they often invade my thoughts as I sit nearby. There is something wonderfully incongruous about encountering those ancient forms in Nolita, silent guardians of mysteries transplanted into a small garden between tenements.

The preservation of the Elizabeth Street Garden is about more than saving a patch of greenery. The city is crowded and dirty, and it needs more green spaces, not fewer. It also needs places that serve no immediately measurable purpose beyond beauty, contemplation, memory, and repose. The garden is one of those rare places. God willing, I will continue to sit there with my coffee, gathering my thoughts beneath the trees while the two sphinxes keep their inscrutable watch.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, August 12th, Feast of Santa Chiara d’Assisi

La Furia Roja: A Worthy Champion

Congratulations to Spain on a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup Final.

As a Napoli club-over-country supporter, and with Italy shamefully absent from the tournament anyway, I came into this match as a genuine neutral. With a soft spot for both teams, I had no preference as to who lifted the trophy. More than anything, I simply hoped for a final befitting the occasion and decided by quality rather than controversy.

After a tournament in which officiating decisions and needless drama too often overshadowed the football itself, it was refreshing to see the world’s greatest prize settled on the pitch. Spain proved the stronger side on the day, defending with discipline and taking their chance when it mattered most. Argentina, for their part, fought until the final whistle and can leave the tournament with their heads held high after another remarkable campaign.

In the end, football was the real winner. Spain are worthy world champions.

Farewell to Neapolitan Poet Luciano Somma

Luciano Somma overlooking
his beloved Bay of Naples

Neapolitan poet Luciano Somma, a familiar presence at literary salons and cultural events, died in Naples on 9 July 2026. His funeral was held at the Parish of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore in the Vomero-Arenella neighborhood.

Born in the Quartieri Spagnoli on 18 March 1940, Somma began writing poetry in the Neapolitan language at the age of thirteen. While enjoying a successful career in commercial sales, he devoted his life to literature and to the promotion of the Neapolitan language and culture. He participated in numerous radio and television programs, mentored emerging recording artists, and wrote thousands of songs over the course of his lifetime.

His literary works are included in numerous anthologies and are studied at the University of Naples Federico II as examples of contemporary Neapolitan poetry. His poetry is also featured in the anthology Nati per la Vita, published by the Russian publisher Raduga, alongside such Italian literary figures as Salvatore Quasimodo, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Umberto Saba, and Eduardo De Filippo.

Somma received hundreds of literary awards and was twice honored with the Silver Medal of the President of the Italian Republic. He was also a prolific contributor to more than 150 newspapers, magazines, and literary periodicals, including Il Mattino di Napoli, La Nazione di Firenze, Men, Topolino, Intimità, Roma, Frate Indovino, La Disfida, Il Pungolo Verde, L’Eco del Popolo, Il Club degli Autori, Brontolo, Miscellanea, and Cronaca Filatelica. A member of the SIAE since 1967, more than 500 of his songs were published and recorded during his career.

Somma remained steadfastly proud of his native city, especially of his upbringing in the Quartieri Spagnoli. He embodied the napoletanità of the generation born during the Second World War—a generation that served as a bridge between the world of inherited traditions and the forces of modern globalization. Rather than merely preserving the past as folklore, he lived it and carried it into the twenty-first century.

His exploration of the challenges of urban life, Cristo Napulitano, was translated into English and presented in the United States at several academic events, including the Delirious Naples conference at Hofstra University in 2011. Several of his poems were published in the Journal of Italian Translation, Volume VI, Nos. 1–2 (Spring/Fall 2011).

Above all, however, Maestro Luciano Somma will be remembered by his family and friends for the deeply personal poems he composed for them throughout his life.

Among his principal published works are Ddoje voce ’e Napule (1968); La mia ricchezza (1971); Dimane (1977–1978); N’atu dimane (1982); ’E Ggranate (1990); Musica nova (1993); Momenti di versi (1997); Memorie d’Alba (1999); Brividi di ricordi (2000); Cristo Napulitano (2000); Il pianeta dei silenzi (2001); Ll’appuntamento (2001); and Immagini (2001).

~ By Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

A Farewell to Peppino di Capri

An old cassette tape that
belonged to my parents

Iconic Neapolitan singer, songwriter, and pianist Peppino di Capri died on July 11 at his home on his beloved native island of Capri. Born Giuseppe Faiella on July 27, 1939, into a family of musicians, he rose to fame in the 1950s by blending the emerging sounds of American rock ‘n’ roll and the twist with the rich melodic traditions of Neapolitan song. As Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and the islands of the Bay of Naples regained their international glamour from the 1960s onward, Peppino di Capri and his music became fixtures of both the international jet set and local social life.

A child prodigy, he began playing the piano at the age of four. During the Second World War, he performed for Allied soldiers while continuing his musical studies in Naples. By the age of fourteen, he was already singing and playing piano professionally in Capri and Ischia. In 1958, he formed the group Peppino di Capri e i Suoi Rockers, adopting the affectionate stage name that proudly proclaimed his Caprese origins. His early Neapolitan-language recordings, including Nun è Peccato and Malattia, quickly became popular successes.

Over the course of a remarkable career spanning more than six decades, he recorded beloved classics from the Neapolitan repertoire alongside numerous original compositions. Among his most enduring songs are Roberta, Champagne, Forever, and Saint Tropez Twist. His willingness to evolve musically allowed him to move seamlessly from the twist era into contemporary Italian popular music while remaining unmistakably Neapolitan in style.

In 1965, he opened for the Beatles during their Italian tour. He won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1973 with Un grande amore e niente più and again in 1976 with Non lo faccio più. In 1970, he founded his own record label, Splash, and in 1991 represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with the Neapolitan song Comme è ddoce ’o mare.

His signature song, Champagne, released in 1973, became one of the defining love songs of modern Italian music. Reflecting the complexities of romance, marriage, and heartbreak, it established him as one of Italy’s great romantic interpreters and endeared him to successive generations of listeners.

In recognition of his extraordinary career, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2023. He continued performing well into his later years and, in 2025, became the subject of the successful Rai 1 biographical film Champagne – Peppino di Capri.

After a long illness, Peppino di Capri passed away on the island that had shaped both his life and his artistic identity. He lay in state in Capri, and the day of his funeral was marked by official mourning, with businesses and shops across the island closing in his honor.

By embracing the Neapolitan language and musical tradition while continually renewing its appeal for modern audiences, Peppino di Capri helped pave the way for generations of twentieth- and twenty-first-century Neapolitan recording artists. He demonstrated that Neapolitan music could remain rooted in its own traditions while speaking to audiences around the world. His legacy endures not only in his unforgettable songs but also in the renewed prestige he brought to Neapolitan music on the international stage.

Peppino di Capri is survived by his son, Igor Faiella, from his first marriage to Roberta Stoppa, and by his sons, Edoardo and Dario Faiella, from his second marriage to Giuliana Gagliardi.

~ By Cav. Charles Sant'Elia

Bonded by Blood, Across the Ocean

Germana Valentini

On Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of attending Bonded by Blood. New World. at the Italian American Museum in Little Italy, a thoughtful and inspiring program celebrating the enduring ties between Italy and the Italian American community.

The evening centered on In Sanguine Foedus. Nuovo Mondo (“Bonded by Blood. New World”), the monumental mural installed on the historic Molo San Vincenzo at the Port of Naples. Painted on the very pier where millions of Italians departed for America, the artwork stands as a powerful tribute to one of the greatest migrations in modern history. It reminds us that the story of Italian America begins not at Ellis Island, but on the docks of Naples, where countless families took their final steps on Italian soil before embarking for the New World.

Following welcoming remarks by Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, author and cultural researcher Germana Valentini presented the remarkable story behind the project. Her research and passion for preserving the history of Italian migration were evident throughout, demonstrating how public art can serve not only as a memorial to the past but also as a bridge between Italy and its diaspora.

Among the most exciting moments of the evening was the announcement of several initiatives that will further strengthen that bridge. Plans are underway to create a companion mural on the façade of Grotta Azzurra in New York’s Little Italy, creating a visual dialogue between Naples and New York. Also announced were plans for the City of Naples to present the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral with a replica of the statue of San Gennaro that stands at the Port of Naples.

Don Luigi and Dr. Scelsa

The Italian American Museum is also exploring a collaboration with the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro in Naples to bring an exhibition on the Treasures of San Gennaro to New York following this year’s Feast of San Gennaro. If realized, the exhibition would offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience one of Naples’ most revered religious and artistic collections in the heart of Little Italy.

Taken together, these initiatives demonstrated that In Sanguine Foedus has grown beyond a single mural into a broader cultural initiative that uses art, history, and faith to strengthen the enduring ties between Naples and New York.

Rev. Luigi Portarulo also shared that the city of Naples intends to present the Basilica with a first-class relic of San Gennaro—a relic containing an actual bone of the saint. According to him, this would mark the first time Naples has bestowed such a gift. For generations, the faithful in New York have venerated second- and third-class relics associated with the saint, making the prospect of receiving a first-class relic a remarkable spiritual and historical milestone for the Italian American community.

The Italian American Museum provided the perfect setting for the evening. Nestled in the heart of Little Italy, where so much of this history unfolded, the museum continues to serve as an important center for preserving and celebrating the Italian American experience.

The program concluded on a particularly moving note when Dominic Chianese sang Santa Lucia Luntana a cappella. The beloved Neapolitan song, with its themes of departure, longing, and love for one’s homeland, served as a poignant and fitting finale to an evening devoted to the story of Italian emigration and the enduring bond between Naples and New York.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 12th, Feast of Santa Veronica

Celebrating the Great Neapolitan Tenor Enrico Caruso in New York

Simona Frasca, Malina Mannarino, Prof. Giuliana Muscio, and Claudio Pagliara

On June 6, Director Claudio Pagliara welcomed the public to the inauguration of a new exhibition dedicated to the legendary Neapolitan tenor Enrico Caruso and his remarkable journey from Naples to New York and ultimately to the world stage. The evening featured a screening of the documentary Enrico Caruso, the Greatest Singer in the World—curated by Prof. Giuliana Muscio of the University of Padua for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs—followed by the opening of Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York, an exhibition first presented at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in 2022.

The exhibition brings together rare photographs and historic recordings from the collections of the Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori e Audiovisivi. Curated by Prof. Muscio in collaboration with noted author and music historian Prof. Simona Frasca of the University of Naples, it traces Caruso’s rise from humble beginnings in Naples to international acclaim.

Prof. Muscio emphasized Caruso’s pivotal role in bringing opera to audiences throughout the Americas and described him as perhaps the first truly global celebrity. Long before the modern age of mass media, Caruso skillfully embraced emerging technologies such as film and the popular press to cultivate his public image. Muscio also noted that many remain unaware that Caruso appeared in a feature-length silent film and that the celebrated Neapolitan song Core ’Ngrato was composed in the United States by Cordiferro specifically for the tenor, reportedly inspired by the end of one of his romantic relationships.

Prof. Frasca highlighted another dimension of Caruso’s legacy: his pioneering use of recording technology. In addition to performing before audiences across Europe and the Americas, Caruso recorded both operatic arias and popular songs in multiple languages, allowing his voice to reach millions far beyond the concert hall.

Cav. Charles Sant'Elia with Simona Frasca and Prof. Stanislao Pugliese

Among the exhibition’s most notable artifacts are Caruso’s iconic slippers from Pagliacci, one of the sculptures he created for himself and friends, and several of the caricatures for which he was also widely admired.

The exhibition is the fourth of five musical initiatives promoted by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of New York, in partnership with the United in Sound: America at 250 festival at Carnegie Hall. It will remain open to the public through August 31.

In addition to celebrating Caruso, Prof. Frasca discussed her new book, Mixed by Erri (Naples: Ad Est dell’Equatore, 2025), which examines the mixtape culture of 1980s Naples through the story of the Frattasio brothers. Far from being mere pirate music vendors, Frasca argues, the brothers were innovative DJs and cultural mediators who creatively blended Neapolitan and American musical influences for a devoted audience.

~ Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

Francesco II of Bourbon Continues His Journey Toward the Altars

Francesco II di Borbone, ora pro nobis

I am pleased to share a recent update regarding the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of His Majesty Francesco II di Borbone, the last King of the Two Sicilies. As many devotees of the saintly sovereign know, efforts to advance his cause have been underway for several years. This article at Il Quotidiano della Costiera (IQDC) provides an overview of the canonical process currently being followed by the Church to examine his life, the heroic practice of the Christian virtues, his reputation for holiness, and any signs attributed to his intercession.

Among the important developments discussed are the formal appointment of a Postulator in 2019 and the favorable disposition expressed by the Archdiocese of Naples in 2020 to proceed with opening the cause. The Holy See has since requested an additional procedural step through the Campanian Bishops’ Conference before the diocesan phase of the investigation can officially begin. Once opened, this phase will gather and examine evidence both for and against the cause, allowing for a thorough and rigorous evaluation of Francesco II’s life of Christian virtue.

Should the Church ultimately recognize the heroic nature of his virtues, Francesco II would be declared Venerable. The recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession would then be required for beatification, followed by a second miracle for canonization.

The original article is in Italian. I encourage all those devoted to the memory of Francesco II and interested in the progress of his Cause to read it in full:

Francesco II di Borbone, prosegue il cammino verso gli altari: lo stato dell’iter canonico

May God grant that the Church be able to fully examine the life and virtues of this faithful Catholic king, whose dignity in exile, fidelity in suffering, and unwavering devotion to Christ continue to inspire many throughout the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and beyond.

New Directions: Investing in Southern Italy in New York

On June 10, members of the Comitati Due Sicilie attended the inaugural Investing in Southern Italy: Tourism, Special Economic Zone and Investments for Promoting the Economy of Southern Italy, presented by Fondazione Magna Grecia, ENIT SpA, and the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura on Park Avenue.

Following opening remarks by Consul General Giuseppe Pastorelli, Director Claudio Pagliara, Federico Tozzi of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, and Nino Foti of Fondazione Magna Grecia, attendees were treated to a series of presentations and panel discussions aimed at a diverse audience of investors, bankers, attorneys, academics, hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, and technology innovators from both Italy and the United States.

Massimo Dell’Utri, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, spoke proudly of his native Sicily and highlighted the establishment of more than 1,000 new businesses and approximately 20,000 new jobs across Southern Italy. He outlined a vision of the Mezzogiorno not merely as a destination for tourism or a market for outside investment, but as a dynamic economic center driven by local entrepreneurs competing successfully at both the national and international levels.

Luigi Sbarra, Undersecretary at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for Southern Italy, discussed increased coordination between the Italian government and the European Union, including more than €40 billion in funding initiatives directed toward the South. He also emphasized efforts to encourage domestic and foreign investment through favorable financing programs and coordinated lending initiatives.

Antonio Nicaso, a native of Calabria and professor at Queen’s University in Canada, reflected on Southern Italy’s historical legacy, from Magna Graecia through the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, while addressing contemporary issues of legality, governance, and risk management. Nicaso noted that multinational corporations have increasingly chosen regions such as Calabria and Campania for investment and expansion over the past two decades.

Alessandro Scortecci, Chief Investment Officer for Direct Investments at CDP Venture Capital Group, highlighted the rapid growth of technology and artificial intelligence sectors in Southern Italy, as well as the increasing international reach of Southern Italian firms, many of which have successfully expanded into the American market.

During the luncheon that followed, participants exchanged ideas, renewed professional relationships, and toured the institute’s exhibition dedicated to the great Neapolitan tenor Enrico Caruso under the guidance of Director Pagliara.

The conference presented a vision of a South that is increasingly retaining its talent, attracting investment, and generating new opportunities. Across the Mezzogiorno, exports continue to grow, while a new generation of entrepreneurs is choosing to establish and expand businesses in their native regions rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. One technology entrepreneur cited during the discussions has even succeeded in attracting workers from Northern Italy by offering competitive wages and a higher quality of life in his hometown.

As many of the speakers observed, the strongest evidence of Southern Italy’s transformation lies in the growing number of international investors, business partners, and innovators who now view the region not as a peripheral economy, but as a place of opportunity and long-term growth.

~ Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

In Sanguine Foedus: Naples, New York, and the Red Thread of Memory

Photos courtesy of Germana Valentini

On the waterfront of Naples, where generations once stood between homeland and uncertainty, a monumental new mural now serves as both memorial and testament. In Sanguine Foedus. New World, unveiled on May 22nd at the Port of Naples, is more than a work of public art. It is an act of historical remembrance dedicated to the millions of Italians who departed Southern Italy for America, carrying little besides faith, memory, and hope.

Created by Neapolitan artist Vittorio Valiante and conceived by Francesco Andoli and Germana Valentini in collaboration with INWARD–National Observatory on Urban Creativity, the mural faces Molo San Vincenzo, the historic departure point from which countless emigrants began their journey across the Atlantic.

The project seeks to restore dignity and visibility to one of the defining experiences of modern Italian history: the great migration from Italy to the United States between the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. For many emigrants, Naples represented the final threshold between the known world and an uncertain future. Before boarding ships bound for New York, they would cast one last glance toward their loved ones and the statue of San Gennaro overlooking the harbor.

That image remained with them as they crossed the ocean toward another icon waiting on the opposite shore: the Statue of Liberty.

Between those two worlds unfolded one of the great migratory movements of modern history.

The mural transforms that history into living memory. Real faces reconstructed from archival photographs and family histories emerge across the wall: men, women, and children whose lives were forever altered by departure. Each figure tells an authentic story connected to biographies and testimonies accessible through QR codes embedded within the installation.

Running throughout the composition is a vivid red thread—perhaps the project’s most powerful symbol. Inspired by the strands families once held during moments of farewell at the docks, the thread represents separation, continuity, and enduring attachment. It evokes both the pain of departure and the refusal of complete rupture.

The symbolism reaches even deeper in Naples, where the red thread also recalls the blood of San Gennaro, patron saint of the city and protector of her sons and daughters wherever they may land. For generations of emigrants, devotion to San Gennaro accompanied them overseas, becoming one of the spiritual and cultural foundations of Italian-American life.

The project’s title, In Sanguine Foedus — “bound in blood” or “through blood, a covenant”—captures precisely this idea: that migration did not sever identity, memory, or inheritance, but carried them across oceans and generations.

The story will not end in Naples.

A second monumental mural, In Sanguine Foedus. The Saint, is scheduled to appear in New York City’s Little Italy on Mulberry Street. There, San Gennaro will be reimagined within the context of contemporary Italian American identity while preserving the devotional tradition that still surrounds the saint among descendants of immigrants.

Together, the two murals will form a single transatlantic narrative: Naples and New York joined visually and symbolically by the same red thread.

The broader initiative also includes a bronze replica of the historic statue of San Gennaro that once watched over departing emigrants at Molo San Vincenzo. Sculpted by Dante Mortet, the new statue will be installed in Manhattan’s Little Italy as a permanent reminder of the enduring bond between the two cities. In a particularly moving gesture, the sculpture’s hands will be modeled using casts from members of New York’s Italian-American community, linking past and present through living memory.

An accompanying documentary project will chronicle both the creation of the artworks and the personal stories of the families connected to them, transforming In Sanguine Foedus into more than a public art installation: a living archive of migration, identity, and continuity.

At a time when migration is often reduced to abstraction, statistics, or political rhetoric, In Sanguine Foedus restores the human dimension of the immigrant experience. It reminds us that behind every departure stood a family, a homeland, a faith, a language, and a memory carried into unfamiliar worlds.

In Naples, the faces of emigrants once again gaze upon the sea from which they departed.

And across the Atlantic, the thread continues.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, May 29th, Feast day of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi

1° Reggimento Re at the Royal Site of Carditello in Caserta

Photos courtesy of 1° Reggimento Re

On Sunday afternoon, the 1° Reggimento Re (1° Reggimento Re. Associazione culturale e di rievocazione storica) took the field at the Cavalier and Cavalieri event held at the Reggia di Carditello in Caserta. Under clear skies and with excellent conditions, the unit turned out in force, executing a disciplined and visually striking presence. The parade ground was alive with ceremony—crisp formations, immaculate period uniforms, and the thunder of magnificent horses on display. With strong attendance and high esprit de corps throughout, the engagement was a resounding success, marked by both martial precision and regal pageantry.