The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

THE ITALIAN LEGACY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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in 1979, and which remained very active throughout the

following decade.

In his role as president of the Instituto Cultural

Domínico Italiano, Inc., he sent a letter to the president

of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, on

December 2, 1987, asking for the donation of a site for

Casa de Italia within the Ciudad Colonial sector of San-

to Domingo. This request was sent to the president by

the Ambassador of Italy to the Dominican Republic, Dr.

Antonio Venturella, on December 21, 1987, with his ap-

proval. Shortly thereafter, on February 9, 1988, by means

of Official Letter No. 5533, Dr. Rafael Bello Andino, the

Dominican secretary of state replied:

The Honorable President Dr. Joaquín Balaguer has acknowledged your letter dated December 21,

1987, which accompanies the communication from the president of the Instituto Cultural Domínico

Italiano, Inc., and has granted his approval for a building to be assigned to the Casa de Italia within the

Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo as part of the celebration of the Quincentennial of the Discovery and

Evangelization of the Americas.

On November 14, 1988, at the site of the Embassy of

Italy, the Casa de la Cultura Italiana was founded with the

approval of Ambassador Antonio Venturella. The found-

ing partners from the association were Rolando Forestieri,

María Catalano Gonzaga de Thayer, Vincenzo Mastrolilli,

Delgis Nardi de Rivera, Giovanni Vicini, Rosa María Vicio-

so de Mayol, and Rafael Villanueva.

On December 16, 1988, Dr. Rafael Bello Andino gave

notice that the house selected for these purposes “is locat-

ed at Calle Hostos 308 at the corner of Calle Luperón in

the Colonial Zone. This house has historical significance,

as it served as the residence of General Pedro Santana, the

former President of the Dominican Republic.”

Afterward, the planned donation of the house was re-

cast as usage rights, for thirty years, on the belief of the

Office of Cultural Heritage, officials, and other technicians

that this residence was too connected with the nation’s his-

tory, given that it had been the residence of the first con-

stitutional president of the Dominican Republic, General

Pedro Santana, and it therefore must not be donated.

In November of 1991, Ambassador Roberto Rossellini

and architect Jorge Amaury Cestari Carbuccia were legal-

ly authorized to sign a usage contract for thirty years, in

which it was specified that the building at Calle Hostos

308 would be conferred as soon as the Office of Cultural

Heritage completed the restoration and it was in perfect

working condition.

Children following

the Italian tradition,

celebrating the Befana

at Casa de Italia. Date

unknown.