Italian Heritage New York

05/25/2026

03/09/2026

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01/28/2026

Inspired Journeys of Immigrants to America

The ship Vulcania left Naples on October 18, 1949 and arrived in New York City on October 29, 1949, an 11 day journey. This was after World War II.

On that ship was my mother, Anna Russo neé Izzo. She traveled to America to join her husband. Earlier that year in a wedding in her hometown of Montoro, Italy in the Province of Avellino where she had lived her entire life she married a post war United States Army combat veteran, my father, William Russo from Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Antonio and Emilia had emigrated to America in 1909 also by ship, Principe di Piemonte.

In the late 1800s, when the Columbus statue was erected in Columbus Circle, the immigrant journey was only by ship, there were no airplanes.

The emigrants to America prior to air travel no doubt likened their journey across the vast Atlantic Ocean, and into the unknown land of America, to the voyage of Columbus. They were mostly unaware of any negatives about Columbus.

The focus was on the hero who they regarded as the Genoese Navigator who in the same way made the journey of discovery that lead the way for their journey to opportunity for a better life.

Columbus represented their spirit of courage, determination and hope. The Statue of Liberty represented their arrival and freedom to achieve.

In that regard I honor all immigrants to America for their courage in their journeys for a better life.

Bill Russo

01/19/2026

Victoria

12/25/2025

⚠️ The Mistletoe Theme Song:
‘KISS ME’

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12/24/2025

📕 Italian Heritage Special Talk & Book Signing: December 4, 2025

🇺🇸🇮🇹 MICHELANGELO AN ITALIAN GENIUS the theme for 2025 of the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of NY, Inc. (IHCC) was higlighted at a marvelous talk, slide show and book signing. The Committee is a nonprofit established in 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States.

The IHCC promotes and enhances public knowledge and appreciation of the contributions to American society derived from the influence of Italian Heritage of Italy and by Americans of Italian Heritage.

IHCC sponsored a presentation and book signing for Prof. Francesco Bonavita’s latest book: THE MAKING OF ST. PETER’S BASILICA AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF ROME.

Learn more about us at: www.italyculturemonth.org
We welcome your support!

The event was hosted at The Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies of Queens College of New York.
www.calandrainstitute.org

We are pleased to share these photos with you.