Page 8 - Italian American Herald - April 2022

8 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | APRIL2022 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
ITALY WITH LOVE
‘Fratelli d’Italia’ - the history of the Italian National Anthem
of captivity and liberation are common to both “Fratelli d’Italia” and the “Chorus
of the Hebrew Slaves.” Italians say that they experience pelle d’oca (goose bumps) and brividi (chills) when they hear them. I have seen chorus members shed tears upon singing Verdi’s masterpiece.
The anthem has six verses and a refrain after each. It is full of historical references, of heroes and events that define Italian identity. These include: the Roman general Scipio who conquered Carthage; the Battle of Legnano in 1176whenthecitiesofLombardydefeated the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa; Francesco Ferruccio, who in 1536 died defending Florence against the soldiers of Charles V; Giambattista Perasso (known as Balilla), who in 1746 urged the citizens of GenovatoriseupagainsttheAustrians; and the ringing of church bells in Palermo on Easter week in 1282 to signal revolt against the French. The event is called the Sicilian Vespers, also the title of a Verdi opera. Because Austria occupied northern Italy,
it comes in for some special language. Its mercenary army is weak, the Austrian eagle has lost its feathers, plucked like a chicken.
One stanza is illustrative of the power of music and the appeal to common history: “For centuries we have been stomped
upon, derided, because we are not one people, because we are divided, let us take up the same banner, one dream, to come together, the time has come.”
Obviously, the English translation cannot
do justice to the beauty and emotional tug of the Italian version, which is here:
Noi siamo da secoli
Calpesti, derisi
Perché non siam popolo
Perché siam divisi
Raccolgaci un’unica
Bandiera, una speme
Di fonderci insieme, già l’ora suonò.
AustrianauthoritiesandthelaterItalian governments prohibited playing of the anthem, afraid of its republican sentiments and potential to disturb the peace. Finally, in 2017 the Italian Republic recognized it as the official national anthem, despite having been used for decades. Currently Fratelli d’Italia
is a conservative political movement headed by Giorgia Meloni. This demonstrates how historical symbols can be appropriated for partisan politics, something not unique to Italy. IAH
Born and raised in Italy, Gabriel Marcella
is retired professor and Distinguished Fellow at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Hehaswrittenextensivelyon national security and Latin American affairs for the policy and academic communities. His column appears quarterly in the Italian-American Herald. Reach him at gabrielmarcella1@gmail.com.
By Gabriel Marcella
Italy is an old civilization,butayoung state. Italy was unified in 1870 as the result of military campaigns that culminated in Rome becoming the capital
in 1871. For centuries the territory was fractured into a variety of political entities.
Yet the ideal of one Italia was the dream of countless intellectuals after the collapse of theRomanEmpire. In1848Italywasa patchwork composed of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Papal States, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, and the duchies of Modena, Parma, and Lucca. Very importantly, a large part of northern Italy was occupied by the Austrians. Risorgimento, literally the rebirth of Italy, was the political and intellectual movement for unity. Music played an important role in promoting nationalism, at a time when national unification was a compelling political force in
a number of European countries.
It is in this context that the Italian national
anthemwasborn. “Fratellid’Italia,”also known as “Canto degli Italiani” as well as “Inno di Mameli,” was written by Goffredo Mameli, a 22-year-old student from Genova. The martial tone and words of the hymn confirm that he was deeply influenced by the bloodcurdling Marsellaise of the French Revolution. The words were put to music by Michele Novaro in 1847. Mameli died
of wounds incurred in fighting in Giuseppe Garibaldi’s army against the French in Rome. At the same time a young composer named Giuseppe Verdi was writing operas. Among these was “Nabucco,” which portrays the Jewish captivity in Babylon. Verdi would achieve fame and join the pantheon of Italian national heroes.
The most popular part of the opera,
the “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves,” is
often called Italy’s second national anthem. Audiences at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and throughout the world often ask for an encore. The emotionally powerful themes
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Vol. 9 / No. 1
for the paltry sum of just 1 euro has sparked international interest in recent years. Italy has long been a top tourist destination, ranking in the top five visited countries worldwide and in the top three for those who live in Europe. Each year millions travel to Italy to experience its fascinating culture, its beautiful landscapes and artistic sites and delectable cuisine. Some visitors return numerous times because of their heritage and familial ties
The aging population and the large exodus of younger inhabitants in search of better jobs in larger cities or in other parts
of Europe, led to thousands of uninhabited houses which began to fall into ruin. The mayor of Salemi, a small town in Sicily, was the first to propose the initiative when he introduced the idea of selling homes that
had lain in ruin since a 1968 earthquake to anyone who would agree to renovate them for just 1 euro. Since then, hundreds of towns have set up these initiatives. Some towns
Of course, there are some regulations you must meet to purchase property. First you will need a passport just to look at properties and you will need to establish residency if you do not have Italian citizenship and plan to spend more than 183 days a year in your home. You also need to apply for a Codice Fiscal, which is comparable to a national insurance number and required to make any transactions and pay taxes. If you are buying a permanent residence, you do not have to worry about applying for a Codice Fiscale because the estate agent will get you one that does not also need a residency permit. However, if you are buying a holiday home
be true and in a way it is. The payment of 1 euro is a good faith offer but the caveat
is that whoever purchases one of these houses must submit plans for renovation to the town council and complete the work within a specific period. Some towns, such as Sambuca in Sicily, specify a minimum
and other because they fall in love with the country and its lifestyle.
of 15,000 euros for renovations and others may require insurance deposits of up to 5,000 euros. Each municipality has different requirements so that could make a difference in where a buyer might purchase a house. The cost will also depend on the size of the
Now Italy is giving many of these tourists an opportunity to become an integral part of the country’s charm with the opportunity
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Belcastro in Calabria, close to the Ionian Sea and the mountains of the Little Sila, is one of many ancient towns offering homes for 1 euro.
By Jeanne Outlaw-Cannavo
The sale of thousands of Italian homes
to become homeowners in various locations across the country. The trend began in 2008 as an initiative by the government, mostly in rural towns and villages, to give new life to areas, which were experiencing sharp declines in population.
have lost so much of their population that they offered homes for free and even financial incentives for people to move there.
you will need the permit. Finally, you will need to open an account in an Italian bank. Well, this almost sounds too good to
How to buy an Italian home for 1 euro T Tr r e e n n d d t t o o r r e e v v i i t t a a l l i i z z e e r r u u r r a a l l s s i i t t e e s s p p r r e e s s e e n n t t s s u u n n i i q q u u e e o o p p p p o o r r t t u u n n i i t t y y
JANUARY 2022
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