Bacio, Inc.

10/06/2026

🇮🇹 Celebrate Italian Heritage in Bridgeport! 🇮🇹

The 118th Annual Columbus Day Parade is happening this Sunday, October 11, 2026, in Bridgeport, CT! 🎉🇮🇹

This beloved Bridgeport tradition is a wonderful opportunity to come together with family, friends, and fellow members of our Italian-American community to celebrate our heritage, culture, and traditions.

From the parade and festivities to the incredible sense of community that surrounds this annual celebration, it’s a great day to show our Italian pride and enjoy one of Connecticut’s longstanding Columbus Day traditions. ❤️🤍💚

📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
📍 Bridgeport, Connecticut

If you're heading to the parade, share your photos with us! We love seeing our members and friends out in the community supporting events that celebrate our Italian heritage.

Viva l'Italia! 🇮🇹
Happy Columbus Day!

It’s time to celebrate! The 118th Greater Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade is almost here on Sunday, October 11! It’s a full day of family fun.
• 10 AM
Pre-Parade treats at Nick's Diner
• 12 Noon
Parade kicks off at Madison & Jewett Aves. and heads south on Madison Ave., featuring the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band from New Orleans
• 12 Noon – 5 PM
Feast of St. Francis at Micalizzi's Italian Ice

Parking
Free at Central High School & Wakeman Boys & Girls Club

See this flyer for the full schedule or open here:https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/5b674fd7-6321-4638-87a2-a6558a790538/FLYER%20PARADE%202026.pdf

See you there, rain or shine!

09/22/2026

🇮🇹 Edward Hutton’s Italy: Assisi — Church of San Francesco
(Courtesy of Dr. Frank Stefano.)

Edward Hutton began his tour of Assisi, Italy, at the magnificent Church of San Francesco, the grandiose tomb of St. Francis.

Built shortly after the saint’s death in 1226, San Francesco consists of two churches, one above the other, with a crypt beneath. Hutton beautifully contrasts the two: the Lower Church, with its cavernous nave, chapels, paintings, and mysterious twilight, and the radiant Upper Church, filled with color, light, and some of the most precious early frescoes in Italy.

As Hutton writes, the Lower Church seems almost like a fortress as you approach it, while the Upper Church “seems to glow like some perfect jewel.”

Beyond its spiritual significance, San Francesco holds an extraordinary place in the history of Italian art. Hutton believed that the Upper and Lower Churches offered perhaps one of the finest places in Italy to study the beginnings of Italian art.

✨ Step inside Assisi’s remarkable Church of San Francesco and discover Hutton’s reflections on its history, architecture, art, and enduring beauty.

👉 Read Edward Hutton’s full account:
https://edwardhutton.blogspot.com/2026/06/assisi-church-of-san-francesco.html

08/11/2026

🇮🇹☀️ Bring a Little Italian Summer Into Your Day with BACIO! 🍋🍝

Summer in Italy is more than a season — it’s a way of life. It’s about family, food, friendship, tradition, and taking the time to savor life’s simple pleasures.

In the latest BACIO newsletter, La Dolce Estate: Celebrating Italian Summer Traditions, discover some of the traditions that make an Italian summer so unforgettable — including:

🇮🇹 Ferragosto — Italy’s beloved August 15th summer celebration.
🍝 Long summer meals filled with fresh, local ingredients and good company.
🎶 Sagre — festive community celebrations featuring food, music, and dancing.
🍋 Italian lemons — from the Amalfi Coast to Sicily, capturing the flavor of summer.
🍨 Gelato — a cherished evening ritual and the perfect ending to a warm summer night.

Whether you're dreaming of an Italian getaway or simply want to bring a little La Dolce Vita into your summer, BACIO invites you to slow down, gather together, and savor every moment. ❤️

📖 Read the latest BACIO newsletter:
BACIO: La Dolce Estate — Celebrating Italian Summer Traditions
https://conta.cc/45DTeqV

07/21/2026

🎨 Discover the birth of the Italian renaissance in Assisi!
(Courtesy of Dr. Frank Stefano.)

What makes the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi one of Italy's greatest artistic treasures?

In the latest edition of BACIO's Edward Hutton's Italy, explore Edward Hutton's captivating reflections on the breathtaking frescoes of Cimabue and Giotto—masterpieces that helped shape the future of Italian art. From the serene Madonna of Cimabue to the groundbreaking storytelling of Giotto and his workshop, this journey through Assisi offers a fascinating glimpse into the origins of the Renaissance.

Whether you're passionate about Italian art, medieval history, religious architecture, Renaissance masterpieces, or planning a trip to Italy, this issue is filled with timeless inspiration.

📖 Read the latest newsletter here:
https://conta.cc/4wMWVGt

📬 Love Italy? Stay connected with stories, history, art, architecture, and hidden cultural gems delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up for the BACIO newsletter today:
https://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=4lehkr5ab&p=oi

Please support and visit Dr. Frank Stefano's blogs:
1) Giorgione et al - https://giorgionetempesta.blogspot.com/
2) Edward Hutton's Italy - https://edwardhutton.blogspot.com/

07/15/2026

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July from Bacio, Inc. 🎆

As we celebrate Independence Day, we want to thank our valued clients, partners, colleagues, and friends for being an important part of the BACIO family.

Today, we honor the freedoms that bring us together and wish you a safe, joyful holiday filled with family, friends, and unforgettable memories.

From all of us at BACIO Inc., Happy Fourth of July! ❤️🤍💙
https://www.bacioinc.com

06/09/2026

🇮🇹 Discover the timeless beauty of Amalfi through the eyes of Edward Hutton 🇮🇹

Have you read the latest BACIO newsletter?

In BACIO: Edward Hutton's Italy – Amalfi, Dr. Frank Stefano takes us on a journey to one of Italy's most breathtaking destinations.

This edition holds special meaning, featuring reflections inspired by family roots in nearby Agerola and cherished memories of Amalfi's bustling piazza, stunning cathedral, and dramatic seaside landscape.

📖 Explore:
✅ The rich history of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi
✅ The stunning Amalfi Cathedral and its famous steps
✅ Edward Hutton's vivid descriptions of the Amalfi Coast
✅ Italian heritage, culture, and travel inspiration
✅ A glimpse into one of Italy's most beloved destinations

Whether you're passionate about Italian history, genealogy, travel, culture, or preserving our Italian-American heritage, this newsletter is a wonderful read.

👉 Read the latest issue here:
https://conta.cc/4eiSLQ0

What is your favorite memory of visiting Italy or the Amalfi Coast? Share it in the comments!

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Memorial Day 2026 🇺🇸

“Freedom is never free.” Today, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country and protecting the freedoms we cherish every day. Their courage, dedication, and legacy will never be forgotten.

From all of us at BACIO, Inc., we extend our deepest gratitude to our fallen heroes and their families this Memorial Day. ❤️🤍💙
https://www.bacioinc.com

03/31/2026

🌷🐇Wishing you a blessed and joyful Easter from BACIO, Inc.

As we reflect during Holy Week, we honor the traditions and meaning behind each sacred day in the Christian faith:

✨ Maundy Thursday
Commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus shared the Eucharist and washed the feet of his disciples—a powerful symbol of humility and service. Many observe this day by visiting multiple churches.

✝️ Good Friday
A solemn day remembering the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Communities often gather for Passion of Christ processions and the Stations of the Cross.

🕊️ Holy Saturday
A time of quiet reflection, prayer, and anticipation of the resurrection.

🌅 Easter Sunday
A celebration of hope, renewal, and salvation as we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the foundation of Christian faith. Many begin the day with Easter Mass followed by meaningful family traditions.

🇮🇹 Curious about how Easter is celebrated in Italy? Discover beautiful traditions here: https://www.tripsavvy.com/easter-in-italy-1547306

Easter in Italy is an important religious holiday. Easter week (Holy Week) across the country is celebrated with processions, festivals, and food.

01/19/2026

🌟 Here's a wonderful read from BACIO'S very own Dr. Francis De Stefano 🌟

We’re proud to share this beautifully written piece by Dr. Francis De Stefano, exploring Mantua and the extraordinary presence of Isabella d’Este through the lens of Edward Hutton.

In this evocative article, Dr. De Stefano brings us into the Palazzo Ducale of Mantua, where Isabella d’Este’s spirit, intellect, and passion for art still linger. Through rich historical reflection, the piece captures how her collections, her studiolo, and her influence shaped Mantua into a center of culture, refinement, and artistic brilliance during the Renaissance.

This is more than history — it’s a vivid journey into a world where art, power, and personality converged, told with insight and elegance.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://edwardhutton.blogspot.com/2026/01/mantua-and-isabella-deste.html

Edward Hutton devoted a chapter to Mantua, "forlorn upon her lakes," but I would just single out his comments on Isabella d'Este, March...