The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

contribution to the country’s growth and engage in closer relations with each other, and between Italy and

the Dominican Republic.

I am convinced that the contributions, images, and texts from such different voices, from the Academy to

the institutions, from the religious to the cultural, political, and economic worlds, collectively compose a sym-

phony of Italianism in the Dominican Republic and allow us to understand the essence of the Italian cultural

heritage here in the country. I am similarly convinced that through the lens of Italianism, a picture emerges of

the Dominican Republic as a country with structures forged by centuries of communication with Italian im-

migration and as a country capable of creating opportunities at an international level, owing to its engagement

in international dialogue since its foundation. In this process of creating closer international relations, starting

from Italy, I am certain that the Italian community of early as well as recent immigration to the Dominican

Republic can play a decisive role.

I am grateful to all the authors of the book who accepted my invitation to participate, generously offered

important written contributions, and with great patience have at times been willing to supplement their work

in order to highlight and clarify points that I believe are fundamental for illustrating the iconic stories of the

cultural marriage between Italy and the Dominican Republic. I would also like to express my deepest thanks

to Dr. Frank Moya Pons, Professor Danilo Manera, and architect Virginia Flores Sasso for their initial ideas and

enthusiasm during the conception of this book. Many thanks also to the President of the Academia Dominica-

na de la Historia, José Chez Checo, for the continuous dialogue and work of organizing the texts.

Special recognition for their support goes to the various Dominican government officials and institutions,

starting with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Roberto Álvarez, that accepted my invitation to take part in the pro-

jects to illuminate the Italian cultural heritage in the Dominican Republic: the various cultural events held to

celebrate the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the first resident

bishop in Santo Domingo Alessandro Geraldini, and the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first admiral and

INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR

Greeting of

Ambassador Andrea

Canepari and Vice-

Admiral Joaquin

Augusto Peignand

Ramirez, Vice-Minister

of Defense for Naval

and Coastal Affairs,

upon the arrival of

the former at the

ceremony honoring

the birth bicentenary

of the first admiral

of the Dominican

Navy, Italian Giovanni

Battista Cambiaso.

Santo Domingo, 4

December 2020.