Welsh Italians (Italian: italo-gallesi) are Welsh who are fully or partially of Italian descent, whose ancestors were Italians who emigrated to Wales during the Italian diaspora, or Italian-born people in Wales. Most Italian immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan and Newport.[2]
Italian immigrants to Wales, mainly originating from the Apennine Mountains and in particular the town of Bardi, established a network of cafés, ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops in Wales from the 1890s onwards.[3] In the Rhondda Valley the cafés became known as "Bracchis" after an early café owner.[3] The number of Italian cafés in Wales was more than 300 before World War Two. 11 of these are still run by the same families.[4] The brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who started in business in Merthyr Tydfil, went on to found the Berni Inn chain.[3]Ystrad Mynach has seen many Italian cafes over the years, owned by families such as Lusardi, Massari, Bracchi and Sidoli. The last Italian cafe in the town, John's Cafe, was owned by the Sidoli family and closed in 2017 after over 50 years of trading. [5]
The BBC broadcast a two part documentary about Welsh-Italians. It was presented by Michela Chiappa (Welsh, born in Merthyr Tydfil, but of Welsh-Italian parents) who went to visit Bardi.[8] Café owner Bella Lasagne from Fireman Sam is an Italian citizen living in Wales.[9]
^"Fireman Sam at 30: Prince George's favourite cartoon celebrates". BBC News. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
External linksedit
Amici Val Ceno Galles Welsh Italian friendship society
A South Wales male voice choir visit Bardi
BBC Wales feature on Italian immigration to Wales
Articles and information about Welsh Italians
December 15, 2023
welsh, italians, italian, italo, gallesi, welsh, fully, partially, italian, descent, whose, ancestors, were, italians, emigrated, wales, during, italian, diaspora, italian, born, people, wales, most, italian, immigration, wales, took, place, 19th, early, 20th,. Welsh Italians Italian italo gallesi are Welsh who are fully or partially of Italian descent whose ancestors were Italians who emigrated to Wales during the Italian diaspora or Italian born people in Wales Most Italian immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan and Newport 2 Welsh ItaliansItalo gallesi Italian Tonia AntoniazziTotal populationc 20 000 by birth c 40 000 by ancestry 1 Regions with significant populationsSouth WalesLanguagesWelshBritish EnglishItalian and Italian dialectsReligionChristian Mostly Roman CatholicRelated ethnic groupsItalians Italians in the United Kingdom Italian Scots Welsh Genoese in Gibraltar Italian Americans Italian Australians Italian Canadians Italian New Zealanders Italian South Africans Contents 1 Migration history 2 Notable people 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMigration history editItalian immigrants to Wales mainly originating from the Apennine Mountains and in particular the town of Bardi established a network of cafes ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops in Wales from the 1890s onwards 3 In the Rhondda Valley the cafes became known as Bracchis after an early cafe owner 3 The number of Italian cafes in Wales was more than 300 before World War Two 11 of these are still run by the same families 4 The brothers Frank and Aldo Berni who started in business in Merthyr Tydfil went on to found the Berni Inn chain 3 Ystrad Mynach has seen many Italian cafes over the years owned by families such as Lusardi Massari Bracchi and Sidoli The last Italian cafe in the town John s Cafe was owned by the Sidoli family and closed in 2017 after over 50 years of trading 5 During the Second World War Welsh Italians without British citizenship were declared enemy aliens and a number were interned on the Isle of Man or in Canada 53 Welsh Italians lost their lives in the sinking of the passenger ship Arandora Star in 1940 A memorial was placed in Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral in 2010 to commemorate the tragedy 6 A memorial chapel is in the cemetery in Bardi 7 In 1911 there were 20 389 Italians in Wales As of 2012 update is estimated now that there are 40 000 people of Italian origin living in Wales 1 Notable people editBoxer Joe Calzaghe Member of Parliament for Gower Tonia Antoniazzi Actor Victor Spinetti and his brother Henry Boxer Enzo Maccarinelli Musician Pino Palladino Footballers David D Auria and Donato Nardiello Rugby players Robert and Peter Sidoli Theo Bevacqua Ben Cambriani James Ratti Artist Andrew Vicari Chef Michael BonaciniIn popular culture editThe BBC broadcast a two part documentary about Welsh Italians It was presented by Michela Chiappa Welsh born in Merthyr Tydfil but of Welsh Italian parents who went to visit Bardi 8 Cafe owner Bella Lasagne from Fireman Sam is an Italian citizen living in Wales 9 See also edit nbsp Wales portal nbsp Italy portalItalian migration to Britain Immigration to the United Kingdom Italian diaspora Italians in the United Kingdom Italian Scots Genoese in GibraltarReferences edit a b The Italians in Wales BBC 22 October 2012 Retrieved 16 November 2023 Bardi The Italian Connection a b c The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales Cardiff University of Wales Press 2008 Servini Nick 12 February 2020 Why cafe culture has rich Italian flavour in Wales BBC News Retrieved 5 August 2020 Marcus Hughes 24 July 2017 The evocative images that capture 50 years of business at a Welsh Italian family cafe Service marks 70th anniversary of ship tragedy BBC News 2 July 2010 Retrieved 8 February 2011 Alessandro Cardinali 2 July 2016 Bardi Commemorazione vittime Arandora Star in Italian Welsh Italians on the BBC website Fireman Sam at 30 Prince George s favourite cartoon celebrates BBC News 2017 11 17 Retrieved 2022 04 08 External links editAmici Val Ceno Galles Welsh Italian friendship society A South Wales male voice choir visit Bardi BBC Wales feature on Italian immigration to Wales Articles and information about Welsh Italians Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Welsh Italians amp oldid 1185620046, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
