Page 23 - Italian-American Herald - December 2022

ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
DECEMBER2022 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 23
Barbara Ann Zippi-Och, Executive Producer Text/Cell/WhatsAp 610 566 4883 CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com
! ! Sharing * Heritage * Culture * Traditions * Foods * Connecting * Family * Friends * People * Firms * Non Profits !
La Famiglia ~ Acciavatti to Zippi with Nobilio in between in Loreto Aprutino ~ Abruzzo
I’m blessed with another trip in 2022 to my grandmother’s medieval village in Loreto Aprutino during Olive harvesting and the bottling of ‘liquid gold’, organic farm fresh olive oil. Staying with relatives, my goal, exploring the ‘virtual’ possibility of doing my job as Associate Publisher of the Delaware Valley Italian American’s November issue while visiting more village elders who had personal connections with my grandmother, Lucia Nobilio Acciavatti, the only one of 10 siblings to leave this village for America. That’s a lot of relatives.
Packing my suitcase with “Visit Delco” Blues Brothers sunglasses courtesy of Marty Miligan with VisitDelcoPA.com, formerly Brandywine Conference & Visitors Bureau in Pennsylvania, I fly round-trip direct from NYC to Rome on ITA, the newly named Italian airline. I’d prefer Philly airport however the selections are few and costly. Actually Italians can fly direct from Rome to Philadelphia on more flights and cheaper. It’s true, check it out.
Within hours of arriving, with no set agenda, I ‘tag along’ wherever my Italian cousins are going, Carla, Rita & Simona Nobilio and Irene & Roaldo Acciavatti. First stop, Supermercato. Italians prefer to buy small & fresh more frequently. Looking over huge pomegranates (melograno) & their reasonable prices, only whispering
to my cousin Simona Nobilio in English,
I meet a new NOBILIO cousin. By the
meat & bread section, I met another, the daughter of my grandmother’s nephew, the town jeweler, Roberto Nobilio, now retired. All my American cousins have 18K - 24K gold jewelry from him.
If your family originated in Abruzzo,
they cultivated the land & raised their
food & walked over mountainous terrain. Imagining the life of my grandmother in the early 1900’s, I witnessed it 1st hand at the family farm of Fiorella’s brother Roberto Pantalone & wife Marianna DiTonno. Dating back hundreds of years. After eating his farm fresh food, wine & olive oil from my host house, I requested a visit. An amazing tour by son Gabrielle, 6, what an honor when Roberto came from the field mid-day during harvest time to welcome me. And days later, invited me to share a meal w/ his family & my patroness, Antonietta Ciantra Nobilio who I lovingly refer to as La Regina, The Queen.
Year round, life in any Abruzzo medieval village centers around La Piazza, The Town Square. Weekly outdoor markets, Mondays are Pescara, Thursdays, Loreto Aprutino, etc & once again meeting 2 more Nobilios. For the American wage owner your dollar goes far in the Abruzzo region. Italian made items range from $5 & up w/sale tables of 1, 2 or 3 Euros. Think February 75% off sales.
Music, street food, porchetta trucks
and nutella crepes surround generational & traditional stores like cousin Irene Acciavatti’s “MiLord ‘’ featuring shoes & handbag fashion for ladies & men and local Ceramiche Artisan, Piatelli, who yearly brought his pieces to Hammonton, New
Jersey festivals, his age & contacts who have passed on, prohibit his travel. But, I can’t resist sharing his ‘whistle creations’ & traditional wedding gifts w/my family.
Tagging along, I attended the grand opening of entrepreneur Nicholas Rasetta’s store front in Loreto Aprutino’s piazza, NR Solutions, to service residents & businesses with information & technology assistance. In his early 20’s & single, he
is the face of the new ITALIAN, staying in their hometown medieval village & bringing it back to life again. This is his second store, 1st in Montesilvano. He & his partners can help with issues & navigate the bureaucracies common in Italy & America. Upon meeting him, I’m introduced by Simona as her ‘American Cousin (cugina) Barbara’ & he immediately says “Zippi”. I’m wowed by his response asking ‘how did you know’, his answer, ‘we’re friends on Facebook’. Of course, then I also learned his mother is a Nobilio relative who knows my grandmother first hand too.
The Blues Brothers, Italian Style w/ Lacerba reporter Sabrina DeLuca at home of Architects Rita Nobilio & husband Roberto
Thanks Fiorella ~ 3 Generations
of The Pantalone Family
My 1st Loreto Aprutino Working Farm Visit
Experiencing local foods fresh from the Adriatic Sea, not quite like fish from Atlantic Ocean, Abruzzo’s regional specialty meat treat, arrosticini, whose cut of meat is rarely available in the USA are plentiful & reasonably priced. I’ve tasted restaurant offerings, the best, farm fresh at Pantalone’s & backyard grilling with Renato.
The medieval village of Rosciano, Province of Pescara, Italy with ancient fresco’s
South Philadelphia Acciavatti newlyweds on their honeymoon, Louis with new
bride Jen, stop for a celebration toast at Antonietta Nobilio’s home for espresso
Nicholas Rasetta ~ Grand Opening in Loreto Aprutino
NR Solutions, Centro Servizi
& Simona Nobilio’s specialty, home-made ‘celebration sugared almonds’,
a wedding tradition!
My 1st visit to the ancient mountaintop village of Rosciano, dating back to the 12th century, is a comune town in the Province of Pescara, to visit the yearly Fall Festival celebrating its Renaissance roots & fresco’s. The entire town, residents & businesses, take pride in
PIATTELLI, Ceramiche Artist of Loreto Aprutino hosted for years at Hammonton New Jersey Festivals
its history. Our expert resident & tour guide, w/only a handful of Americans
in the town, upon hearing I was from Philadelphia, reacted to Philly as home of “Rocky Balboa”. What a great reference of endorsement for Philly’s Sylvestor Stallone.
After visiting Rome, Florence, Naples, etc, if you haven’t been to Abruzzo, go visit. This is the part of Italy where towns don’t have ‘hotels’ & stores still close for the main meal of the day, 1pm lunch, followed by siesta until 4pm. No pre-cut vegetables or boxed meals delivered to your door, a light dinner happens after 8pm.
Until Next Month Ciao Bella! Lady Z
Crepes Italian Style in La Piazza, The Town Square in Loreto Aprutino
MiLord owner today, cousin Irene Acciavatti w/ Papa Orlando whose papa, Sante was proprietor & my great great grandfather
Thursday Market in Loreto Aputino & more Nobilio relatives of my grandmother, Lucia Nobilio Acciavatti
The Honeymooner’s Louis & Jen Acciavatti welcomed by my host Antonietta Ciantra & Nobilio daughters
Arrosticini the specialty of Abruzzo| at the home of cousin Irene Acciavatti & Renato Giovanetti
Tweens to Seniors: “Building Bridges, Connecting People: Tales on Culture, Heritage & Traditions of all Nationalities”and “2022 Adventures In Abruzzo: An Exhibit & Video Presentation” Bookings accepted * Local to International Public Relations, Television, Social Media, Newspapers & Events Contact CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com