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# 74 •nECEMBER 14 , 2015
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THE INTERVIEW:
ROSALBA MANIACI
Italy in New Mexico: not an easy adventure,
but a lot of Italian pride
What comes to mind when
you hear the words “New
Mexico?”
Perhaps it’s
Mexican food, or chili ristras, or Southwest adobe
style – in short, something
to do with Hispanic heritage. But not for Rosalba
Maniaci who, since 2009,
has served as Corrispondente Consolare for the
Italian Consulate of Los
Angeles. Instead when
Rosalba thinks “New Mexico,” she thinks Italian immigration, the NM Italian
Film & Culture Festival,
strengthening ties between Italy and the Italo-New
Mexican community, and
promoting Italian culture.
sident of several Italian organizations and as prime
mover of many Italian-oriented celebrations and
initiatives. We sat down
with her recently to learn
more about Italy in New
Mexico. Special thanks to
Maria Arancio Berry for
facilitating this interview.
Maria is the Managing Director of the annual NM
Italian Film & Culture Festival and the author of Italy
in New Mexico, a monthly
newsletter about all things
Italian in New Mexico.
Since her arrival in 1973,
Rosalba’s focus has been
on keeping her Italian heritage alive in the Land of
Enchantment. Over the years, she has served as Pre-
Italians, and other Europeans, began settling in the
territory of New Mexico
in the 1700s. They were
part of wagon trains moving westward toward the
40 | WE THE ITALIANS
www.wetheitalians.com
Rosalba, please briefly describe us the Italian emigration to New Mexico
By Umberto Mucci
coast and fertile valleys of
California. Some became
travel-weary or stranded,
while others simply liked
the area and decided to
stay. It was not until the
arrival of the railroad in
the late 1800s, however,
that the Italian immigrant
population burgeoned in
New Mexico.
At that time, Italians came
chiefly from Northern Italy,
many from well-respected
families in Lucca and the
surrounding areas – familiar names here even today: Franchini, Bachechi,
Giannini, Matteucci and
others. They were merchants and entrepreneurs
who saw a blank slate of
opportunity to launch businesses like grocery stores, hotels and theaters.
Family members soon
joined them and, as word