In 1897 the city of Blue Island, Illinois saw its first Italian immigrants from the region of Lucania now known as Basilicata (immigrants from the towns of Ripacandida, Potenza, Melfi, Avigliano.) In 1905 with only 43 Italian people from Basilicata, the Blue Island Society of San Donato began; San Donato is the patron saint of Ripacandida. In 1907 some of the members traveled to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where several people from Basilicata had immigrated.

Your Passport gives you the privilege and freedom to explore the world. It is the international traveler’s best friend when leaving the country and an important form of identification in foreign nations. A lost or stolen passport can be a…

Kelly Cordes, Esquire On June 23, 2016, the UK voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, with 51.9% of voters in favor of the decision and 48.1% in favor of remaining in the EU.  The European Union, usually…

Basilicata is a small region located in southern Italy. Also known as Lucania, a name that derives from the ancient population of Lucani, now has approximately 575,000 inhabitants. Although it is not one of the smallest regions in the Bel Paese, not everybody knows this marvelous land, a treasure held in the wonderful frame that sea and other regions, with an unquestionable beauty, create around. Basilicata is one of the poorest Italian regions, but despite its economic problems, it has managed to keep a mysterious charm and pristine environment over the years.

I was born in Rome, but spent the majority of life abroad, including Chicago where I met my husband. We recently moved to Rome, and the first few months were quite a learning experience. In this short series of posts…