Sorbello Foundation

Sorbello Foundation The “Romeyne Robert and Uguccione Sorbello Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) educational organization, formed in 2012.

It supports the forging of cultural bridges between the United States and Italy through research in the arts and humanities, thus honoring the legacy of Romeyne Robert (1878-1941) and her son Uguccione di Sorbello (1906-1969). It supports the activities of the “Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello”, a sister organization, in Italy, based in Piazza Piccinino 9, Perugia, Umbria (Italy), which, among its

many cultural activities, manages two important museum sites in Perugia: the Palazzo Sorbello House Museum (Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello) and the Etruscan Well (Pozzo Etrusco). Both of them, in different ways, are of great cultural and artistic importance and have become tourist landmarks in Perugia and more widely in Central Italy.

#𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 | 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐝𝐢 (𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)How were African American opera singers received in Fascist Italy...
08/20/2026

#𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 | 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐝𝐢 (𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)

How were African American opera singers received in Fascist Italy? And to what extent could artistic excellence overcome racial prejudice?

These are the questions at the heart of the research conducted by Dr. Emanuele Nidi (University of Naples Federico II), Sorbello Fellow 2025.

His project, Atlantic Aidas, explores one of the least-known chapters of transatlantic cultural history: the presence and reception of African American opera singers in Italy during the 1930s and 1940s.

This ongoing research brings together music, identity, politics, and history, showing how the operatic stage became a place where art and society intersected in complex and fascinating ways.

Can talent overcome prejudice? Can music also become a vehicle for political ideas?

These questions remain as relevant today as ever.
Follow us to learn more about the progress of this remarkable research project.

For Italians, August 15 means Ferragosto. But what happened on this date in American history?Outside Italian American co...
08/14/2026

For Italians, August 15 means Ferragosto. But what happened on this date in American history?

Outside Italian American communities, Ferragosto is generally not celebrated in the United States. Yet August 15 marks several important moments in American history.

🗓 1914 – The Panama Canal Opens�One of the greatest engineering achievements of the twentieth century, the Panama Canal transformed global trade by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
🗓 1969 – The Woodstock Music Festival Begins�In upstate New York, a music festival opened that would become one of the defining symbols of contemporary music, freedom of expression, and American culture in the twentieth century.
🗓 1945 – V-J Day�Following Japan's announcement of its surrender, Americans celebrated Victory over Japan Day, marking the end of World War II in the Pacific.

History is also made of unexpected connections between countries and cultures.
Did you already know these events? Let us know in the comments.

This October, as part of the Italian Heritage Month celebrations, the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia will h...
08/11/2026

This October, as part of the Italian Heritage Month celebrations, the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia will host two special conferences dedicated to Giovanni da Verrazzano, the Florentine explorer whose historic voyage helped introduce Europe's first detailed knowledge of the Atlantic coast of North America.

The Sorbello Foundation is honored to contribute to this international dialogue through the participation of Dr. Antonella Valoroso , who will join Luigi Giovanni Cappellini of the Fondazione Giovanni da Verrazzano in exploring Verrazzano's legacy and the enduring cultural ties between Italy and the United States.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia, Consul Nico Frandi, and the Fondazione Giovanni da Verrazzano for making these meaningful conversations possible.

Save the dates:
October 5, 2026 – Delaware Technical Community College, Wilmington.
October 6, 2026 – Free Library of Philadelphia .

We look forward to sharing more details soon!

What is the value of historical research in 2026?People often say that history helps us understand the past. We believe ...
08/11/2026

What is the value of historical research in 2026?
People often say that history helps us understand the past. We believe it does much more than that.

Understanding the past allows us to interpret the present more thoughtfully and make better-informed decisions for the future, both in public life and in our personal lives.

Every newly discovered document, every rediscovered letter, every photograph brought back to light adds another piece to a much larger story. Historical research helps us understand how our societies were shaped, how relationships between nations developed, and why so many questions from the past continue to resonate today.

For this reason, the Sorbello Foundation has long supported the Sorbello Fellowship, an international program that enables scholars from universities and research institutions to explore the historical, cultural, political, and social ties between Italy and the United States, bringing forgotten stories back into the conversation.

We believe that research does more than preserve memory.
It gives new life to the past and allows it to speak to the present.

Have you ever spent a summer evening where music, art, and history come together in one unforgettable setting?If not, th...
08/06/2026

Have you ever spent a summer evening where music, art, and history come together in one unforgettable setting?
If not, this August is the perfect opportunity.

If you're visiting Italy, join us at Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello in the heart of Perugia for Music at Palazzo Sorbello, a special two-evening series celebrating culture, live music, and breathtaking views over the city.

Friday, August 7 | 7:00 PM�“Of Fire and Song: Forms of the Classical” (“Del fuoco e del canto: forme del classico”)�Performed by the SatorDuo, featuring violinist Paolo Castellani and guitarist Francesco Di Giandomenico.

Before the concert, enjoy a guided visit to the exhibition “At the Table in the 18th Century”, followed by an aperitivo on Palazzo Sorbello's panoramic terrace.

Friday, August 21 | 7:00 PM�“The Geography of the Heart” (“La geografia del cuore”)�An intimate acoustic concert featuring Elisa Tonelli (vocals) and Fausto Perticoni (guitar), once again accompanied by a guided exhibition visit and aperitivo.

Reservations are required.

To reserve your place, contact Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello:
+39 075 5732775 or +39 339 2222833�[email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you for two unforgettable evenings of music, art, and history in one of Perugia's most beautiful historic palaces.

-
Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello

08/04/2026

A video testimony from the event “Raccogliere memorie” held in Montone, at the Church of San Francesco, on 11 July 2026 in Italy.

In particular, the precise and thorough intervention by Ms. Wanda Vigna.

Can protecting cultural heritage also mean protecting nature?At Sorbello Foundation, and in the Sorbello family, we beli...
07/28/2026

Can protecting cultural heritage also mean protecting nature?
At Sorbello Foundation, and in the Sorbello family, we believe the two have always belonged together.

On World Nature Conservation Day, we are reminded that caring for the environment also means caring for the places where history lives.

At Palazzo Sorbello, our vertical garden reflects this vision because it is the first installation of its kind inside an historic museum building open to the public in Italy.

Designed to encourage urban biodiversity, attract pollinating insects, improve air quality and optimize water consumption through an intelligent irrigation system, it shows how innovation and heritage can coexist in meaningful ways.

This sensitivity is also part of our own history.

Decades before environmental protection became a global priority, Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello publicly defended Italy's trees, landscapes and historic environment, speaking out against choices that threatened the country's natural and cultural heritage.

His words remind us that conservation is not only about preserving the past. It is also about taking responsibility for the future.

Because every landscape tells a story, and every generation has the privilege of helping preserve it.

www.sorbellofoundation.org/uguccione-v/

Have you already heard the news? Applications are now open for the new 2026 Sorbello Fellowship.As you may already know,...
07/27/2026

Have you already heard the news?
Applications are now open for the new 2026 Sorbello Fellowship.

As you may already know, the Romeyne Robert and Uguccione Ranieri Fellowship Grant is designed to promote and support high-quality research and scholarly work on the political, historical, economic, and cultural relationship between Italy and the United States, including public and private networks, institutions, and individuals.

The application deadline is October 12, 2026.

We encourage all eligible candidates to apply and take part in this outstanding opportunity.
Don’t miss this chance to grow, learn, and make a difference.

For more information on eligibility and the application process, please visit www.sorbellofoundation.org/fellowship
or contact us at [email protected]

– Dr. Alice Ciulla (2024)Between 1922 and 1941, thousands of Americans lived in Italy. How did they interpret the worl...
07/23/2026

– Dr. Alice Ciulla (2024)

Between 1922 and 1941, thousands of Americans lived in Italy. How did they interpret the world around them?

This is the central question behind one of the most compelling research projects supported through our Fellowship program.

Dr. Alice Ciulla ( Roma Tre University / The American University of Rome), recipient of the 2024 Fellowship, explored the experiences and perspectives of American expatriates, diplomats, and U.S. institutions in Fascist Italy.

Her research asks a particularly thought-provoking question: how did the perceptions of men and women evolve as they found themselves living in a country undergoing profound transformation, one that differed greatly from the United States?

Her work invites us to view history from a fresh perspective by considering multiple viewpoints and narratives.

Because history is never entirely objective. By examining letters, diaries, and long-forgotten diplomatic reports, we can uncover overlooked details that deepen our understanding of the past.

www.sorbellofoundation.org/fellowship/

What does summer look like where you come from?It depends on which side of the Atlantic you're standing.In Italy, summer...
07/20/2026

What does summer look like where you come from?
It depends on which side of the Atlantic you're standing.

In Italy, summer often unfolds slowly.
Typical are the long evenings in historic piazzas, village festivals, family dinners outdoors, seaside holidays in August, and entire cities that seem to pause during Ferragosto.

In the United States, summer tends to revolve around road trips, national parks, backyard barbecues, lakes, baseball games, and Independence Day celebrations.

As you can read we are describing different rhythms, different landscapes, but surprisingly similar priorities: spending time outdoors, travelling, reconnecting with family and friends, and creating memories that return every year.

Perhaps that is what makes summer universal.
Every culture has its own traditions, yet almost everyone looks for the same feeling, in other words a season that slows time just enough to enjoy it.

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