The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

This is a study sketched by historians, scholars and intellectuals, with incisive details, such as those con-

tained in “Italy’s Contributions to Dominican Constitutional Law,” offered by Dr. Milton Ray Guevara, and

“A Brief History of the Casa de Italia in Santo Domingo” by Renzo Seravalle and Rolando Forestieri. The

chapter on the Bonarelli family, who have been intimately linked to our country and who are responsible for

introducing “the tastes of Italy” in the Dominican Republic through their involvement in various aspects of

production, cuisine, and good taste, is sublime.

As stated by Ambassador Canepari, there are key individuals on the Economic Council of the Italian Em-

bassy who, without bearing Italian names or being of Italian origin, have joined in the mutual initiatives of

those with Italian surnames in our country, such as Miguel Barletta, Giuseppe Bonarelli, Juan Antonio Bisonó,

Celso Marranzini, Manuel Pellerano, Frank Ranieri, Felipe Vicini, María Amalia León, and Pepín Corripio.

I have cited only some of the essential texts in this delightful work that is presented to us through the ef-

forts of historians, intellectuals, communicators, and citizens of both Italian and Dominican origin; however,

I can assure you that what is depicted here in demonstrative brushstrokes reflects individually and collectively

the positive cultural influence and the ties between our country and Italy.

As His Excellency, the Ambassador of Italy in the Dominican Republic, Andrea Canepari, writes, this

book on the Italian cultural heritage in the Dominican Republic “is a work that aims to highlight the unity

and shared culture that have been created over the course of the centuries by Italians and Dominicans.” And

for me, in particular, this work represents a universe of beauty and historical and cultural discoveries, which

reinforce our ties and forge principles and values of solidarity and brotherhood between our nations and their

representatives.

Let us create culture, strengthen our common bonds, and continue to write beautiful pages of history

together.

Thank you very much. Grazie mille

In Italian in the original Spanish text.