Italian American heritage is, at its heart, a story of connection: a connection to a land our ancestors left, to a country they helped build, and to a culture that continues to shape how generations of Americans understand family, community, beauty, creativity, and life itself.
For the descendants of the millions of Italians who came to the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, that connection to Italy has taken many forms. For some, it begins with a family name, a village, an old photograph, or a recipe passed from one generation to the next. For others, it is renewed through a journey to the towns and regions from which their grandparents or great-grandparents departed. Increasingly, Italian Americans are discovering that heritage is not simply something inherited—it is something to be explored, experienced, and carried forward.
At the same time, the Italian American experience continues to evolve through the contributions of more recent Italian immigrants and their families. They bring contemporary Italy to American communities, creating new connections in business, academia, the arts, technology, and civic life. Together with earlier generations, they demonstrate that the relationship between Italy and the United States is not a chapter of history, but an ongoing exchange.
That exchange extends far beyond ancestry. Italian culture continues to cross the Atlantic every day through art and music, cinema and literature, architecture and design, fashion and craftsmanship, food and wine, and the extraordinary appeal of travel throughout Italy. These are not merely exports of Italian culture; they are invitations to engage with the ideas, traditions, and values behind them.
This is what makes Italian American heritage so meaningful today. It is both rooted and dynamic—grounded in memory while continually enriched by new experiences. It reminds us that heritage is not defined solely by where our ancestors came from, but also by what we choose to preserve, celebrate, share, and pass to those who follow.
The National Italian American Foundation is proud to help strengthen these enduring ties between Italy and the United States. Publications such as Live in Italy play an important role in that mission, opening doors to Italy for those who know it intimately, those who are rediscovering it, and those encountering its remarkable culture for the first time.
The Atlantic may separate our two countries, but heritage, friendship, and culture have always found ways to cross it.
Robert Allegrini
President and CEO of The National Italian American Foundation
