Casa Belvedere
Encyclopedia
Casa Belvedere is a cultural center devoted to Italian studies, located at 79 Howard Avenue, Staten Island
, New York
. The building was constructed in 1908 as a mansion. Over the years it housed a number of different families, including for several years being the official residence of the President of Wagner College
. It was declared a New York City Landmark in 2006 as the Louis A. and Laura Stirn House. In 2008 it was purchased by Gina Biancardi (a former Miss Staten Island) and Luciano Rammaironi, and turned into a cultural center. In this role it hosts Italian language classes for both adults and children, wine tastings, lectures, films, cooking lessons, book signings, displays of Italian-made motor vehicles (e.g. Alfa Romeo
, Lamborghini
, and Vespa
), and art exhibits, all with an Italian orientation.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The building was constructed in 1908 as a mansion. Over the years it housed a number of different families, including for several years being the official residence of the President of Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
. It was declared a New York City Landmark in 2006 as the Louis A. and Laura Stirn House. In 2008 it was purchased by Gina Biancardi (a former Miss Staten Island) and Luciano Rammaironi, and turned into a cultural center. In this role it hosts Italian language classes for both adults and children, wine tastings, lectures, films, cooking lessons, book signings, displays of Italian-made motor vehicles (e.g. Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
, Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
, and Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
), and art exhibits, all with an Italian orientation.