Italo-Venezuelans
Encyclopedia
Italian-Venezuelans are the Venezuelan citizens of Italian descent
. The word may refer to someone born in Venezuela
of Italian descent or to someone who has emigrated to Venezuela from Italy. Among European Venezuelans, Italians are one of the largest groups of immigrants to settle in the country.
in Venezuela, during the first half of the 20th century, the emigration of Italians to Venezuela was very limited. Only a few hundreds (like Agostino Codazzi
) moved to Venezuela from Italy during the colonial times and the Simón Bolívar
era.
But in the 1940s and 1950s the Venezuelan President Marcos Pérez Jiménez
promoted the European immigration to his depopulated country, and so more than 300,000 Italians moved in (even if many returned later to Italy).
The Italians in the 1961 Venezuelan census were the biggest European community in Venezuela (ahead of the Spanish
). In 1976 the "Dirección de Estadísticas" of Venezuela registered 210,350 Italians residents and 25,858 Italians "naturalised" (who got Venezuelan citizenship).
Marisa Vannini calculated that in the eighties the Italian-Venezuelans were nearly 400,000, including (and in addition to the Italians emigrated from Italy) more than 120,000 descendants of second generation. Actually, the Italian language in Venezuela
is influencing with some modisms and loanwords the Venezuelan Spanish
and is experiencing a notable revival between the Italian-Venezuelans of second and third generation.
Santander Laya-Garrido estimated that the Venezuelans with at least one grandparent from Italy can be nearly one million at the beginning of the 21st century (like the former president of Venezuela, Raul Leoni
, whose grandfather was an Italian mason
refugee of the 19th century).
Currently the Italians resident in Venezuela are reduced to less than 50,000 due mainly to demographic mortality and to their return to Italy (because of a Venezuelan political and economic crisis in the 2000s).
region.
But most of the Italians concentrated in commercial, building and services activities during the second half of the 20th century. In those sectors the Italians reached the top levels of the Venezuelan economy.
The main Italian newspapers of the community are Il Corriere di Caracas and La Voce d'Italia http://www.voce.com.ve/, both published in the Capital, while the main Italian school is the Agustin Codazzi of Caracas (with courses from elementary to high school). Since 2002, the Italian Government has become the promoter for a provision which makes it mandatory to teach the Italian language
as a second language in a consistent number of public and private schools within Venezuela.
Most of the Italian community in Caracas (but even in all Venezuela) followed the Deportivo Italia football Club, as their own representative team.
Indeed, the Italian-Venezuelans have obtained significant results in the contemporary society of Venezuela. The Italian Embassy calculates that 1/4 of the Venezuelan industries, not related to the oil sector, are directly or indirectly owned and/or managed by Italian-Venezuelans.
In the Italian community, actually one of the most important in Venezuela, there are Presidents of Venezuela (like Jaime Lusinchi
and Raúl Leoni
), entrepreneurs (like ing. Delfino, who with his "Constructora Delpre" made in Caracas the tallest skyscrapers of South America: Parque Central Complex
), managers (like Pompeo D'Ambrosio
), sportmen (like Johnny Cecotto
), artists (like Franco De Vita
), beauty pageants (like Daniela di Giacomo
and Nina Sicilia), and many others personalities.
), but even from the north (Emilia-Romagna
and Veneto
).
The Italian Consulate in Caracas stated that in 1977 - of 210,350 Italians residents in Venezuela - 39,855 were from Sicily
, 35,802 from Campania
, 20,808 from Abruzzi, 18,520 from Puglia, but even 8,953 from Veneto
, 7,650 from Emilia-Romagna
and 6,184 from Friuli – Venezia Giulia.
The Italians are concentrated mainly in the north-central region of Venezuela around Caracas. The Consulate stated that in the same 1977 there were 98,106 Italians in the Distrito Federal
of Caracas, 39,508 in Miranda
State, 14,203 in Maracaibo
, 12.801 in Aragua
State and 8,104 in Carabobo
State, but even 66 in the Amazonas
equatorial region.
Actually, in the 2000s, nearly 90% of the Italo-Venezuelans are concentrated in the northern coastal section of Venezuela facing the Caribbean sea
. Approximately 2/3 of them are residents of the metropolitan areas of the three main Venezuelan cities: Caracas
, Maracaibo
and Valencia.
A fair amount of Italian residents live in the city of San Cristóbal
, where their presence is very noticeable.
Italian diaspora
The term Italian diaspora refers to the large-scale migration of Italians away from Italy in the period roughly beginning with the unification of Italy in 1861 and ending with the Italian economic miracle in the 1960s...
. The word may refer to someone born in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
of Italian descent or to someone who has emigrated to Venezuela from Italy. Among European Venezuelans, Italians are one of the largest groups of immigrants to settle in the country.
History
Before the discovery of huge deposits of oilPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
in Venezuela, during the first half of the 20th century, the emigration of Italians to Venezuela was very limited. Only a few hundreds (like Agostino Codazzi
Agostino Codazzi
Giovanni Battista Agostino Codazzi was an Italian soldier, scientist, geographer and cartographer...
) moved to Venezuela from Italy during the colonial times and the Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
era.
But in the 1940s and 1950s the Venezuelan President Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
promoted the European immigration to his depopulated country, and so more than 300,000 Italians moved in (even if many returned later to Italy).
The Italians in the 1961 Venezuelan census were the biggest European community in Venezuela (ahead of the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
). In 1976 the "Dirección de Estadísticas" of Venezuela registered 210,350 Italians residents and 25,858 Italians "naturalised" (who got Venezuelan citizenship).
Marisa Vannini calculated that in the eighties the Italian-Venezuelans were nearly 400,000, including (and in addition to the Italians emigrated from Italy) more than 120,000 descendants of second generation. Actually, the Italian language in Venezuela
Italian language in Venezuela
The Italian language in Venezuela has been present since colonial times in the area around Caracas and Maracaibo. The language is found in many modisms and words of the Venezuelan Spanish language.-History:...
is influencing with some modisms and loanwords the Venezuelan Spanish
Venezuelan Spanish
Venezuelan Spanish is a dialect of the Spanish language spoken in Venezuela.Spanish was introduced in Venezuela by the conquistadors. Most of them were from Andalusia, Galicia, Basque Country, and the Canary Islands...
and is experiencing a notable revival between the Italian-Venezuelans of second and third generation.
Santander Laya-Garrido estimated that the Venezuelans with at least one grandparent from Italy can be nearly one million at the beginning of the 21st century (like the former president of Venezuela, Raul Leoni
Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni Otero was President of Venezuela from 1964 until 1969. He fought against the dictators Juan Vicente Gómez and Marcos Pérez Jiménez, and was a charter member of the Acción Democrática party....
, whose grandfather was an Italian mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
refugee of the 19th century).
Currently the Italians resident in Venezuela are reduced to less than 50,000 due mainly to demographic mortality and to their return to Italy (because of a Venezuelan political and economic crisis in the 2000s).
| Italian population in Venezuela | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census Year | Venezuelan population | Italian population | % Italians over foreigners | % Italians over total population |
| 1881 | 2,075,245 | 3,237 | 6.6 | 0.15 |
| 1941 | 3,850,771 | 3,034 | 6.3 | 0.07 |
| 1950 | 5,091,543 | 136,705 | 31.1 | 3.01 |
| 1961 | 7,523,999 | 113,631 | 24.6 | 1.51 |
| 1971 | 10,721,522 | 213,000 | 22.3 | 1.99 |
| 2001 | 23,054,210 | 49,337 | 4.86 | 0.04 |
Professions of the Italian-Venezuelans
Initially the agriculture was one of the main activities of the Italian community in Venezuela. In the fifties entire Italian families were moved from Italy to special agricultural areas, like in the "Colonia Turén" of the PortuguesaPortuguesa (state)
Portuguesa State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.The state capital is Guanare, founded in 1591.Portuguesa State covers a total surface area of 15,200 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 873,400.-Municipalities:...
region.
But most of the Italians concentrated in commercial, building and services activities during the second half of the 20th century. In those sectors the Italians reached the top levels of the Venezuelan economy.
The main Italian newspapers of the community are Il Corriere di Caracas and La Voce d'Italia http://www.voce.com.ve/, both published in the Capital, while the main Italian school is the Agustin Codazzi of Caracas (with courses from elementary to high school). Since 2002, the Italian Government has become the promoter for a provision which makes it mandatory to teach the Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
as a second language in a consistent number of public and private schools within Venezuela.
Most of the Italian community in Caracas (but even in all Venezuela) followed the Deportivo Italia football Club, as their own representative team.
Indeed, the Italian-Venezuelans have obtained significant results in the contemporary society of Venezuela. The Italian Embassy calculates that 1/4 of the Venezuelan industries, not related to the oil sector, are directly or indirectly owned and/or managed by Italian-Venezuelans.
In the Italian community, actually one of the most important in Venezuela, there are Presidents of Venezuela (like Jaime Lusinchi
Jaime Lusinchi
Jaime Ramón Lusinchi is a Venezuelan politician who was the President of Venezuela from 1984 to 1989. His term was characterized by an economic crisis, growth of the External debt, populist policies, currency depreciation, inflation and corruption that exacerbated the crisis of the political...
and Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni Otero was President of Venezuela from 1964 until 1969. He fought against the dictators Juan Vicente Gómez and Marcos Pérez Jiménez, and was a charter member of the Acción Democrática party....
), entrepreneurs (like ing. Delfino, who with his "Constructora Delpre" made in Caracas the tallest skyscrapers of South America: Parque Central Complex
Parque Central Complex
The Parque Central Complex is a housing, commercial and cultural development, implemented by Centro Simón Bolívar and located in the urbanization of the county in the center of the city of Caracas, Venezuela adjacent to Paseo Vargas....
), managers (like Pompeo D'Ambrosio
Pompeo D'Ambrosio
Pompeo D'Ambrosio was born in San Marco Evangelista on January 1, 1917 and died in Caracas on April 15, 1998....
), sportmen (like Johnny Cecotto
Johnny Cecotto
Alberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver...
), artists (like Franco De Vita
Franco De Vita
Franco De Vita is a singer-songwriter of Latin music. His first disc as a solo artist garnered three Spanish-language hits in Venezuela. He signed with the Sony label in 1988, and in 1990, his album Extranjero had a song that reached No. 1 on the U.S. Latin charts and won an MTV Video Music Award...
), beauty pageants (like Daniela di Giacomo
Daniela di Giacomo
Daniela Anette di Giacomo di Giovanni is a Venezuelan TV show host, model and Venezuelan beauty queen. She was elected Miss Venezuela international 2005 and was crowned Miss International 2006 in China...
and Nina Sicilia), and many others personalities.
Notable Italian-venezuelans
- Jaime LusinchiJaime LusinchiJaime Ramón Lusinchi is a Venezuelan politician who was the President of Venezuela from 1984 to 1989. His term was characterized by an economic crisis, growth of the External debt, populist policies, currency depreciation, inflation and corruption that exacerbated the crisis of the political...
. President of Venezuela (1984–1989) - Raul LeoniRaúl LeoniRaúl Leoni Otero was President of Venezuela from 1964 until 1969. He fought against the dictators Juan Vicente Gómez and Marcos Pérez Jiménez, and was a charter member of the Acción Democrática party....
. President of Venezuela (1963–1968) - Agostino CodazziAgostino CodazziGiovanni Battista Agostino Codazzi was an Italian soldier, scientist, geographer and cartographer...
. Geographer, Cartographer, Military Officer, Governor - Renny OttolinaRenny OttolinaRenaldo José "Renny" Ottolina Pinto was a Venezuelan-born producer and entertainer. His mother died when he was two years old. At the age of six his father moved him to Caracas with his paternal grandmother, for he was going to Germany...
. Artist, TV Anchor, Politician - Pompeo D'AmbrosioPompeo D'AmbrosioPompeo D'Ambrosio was born in San Marco Evangelista on January 1, 1917 and died in Caracas on April 15, 1998....
. Financial Manager, Vice-President of Bank - Johnny CecottoJohnny CecottoAlberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver...
. Sportman (moto & race cars) - Daniela Di GiacomoDaniela di GiacomoDaniela Anette di Giacomo di Giovanni is a Venezuelan TV show host, model and Venezuelan beauty queen. She was elected Miss Venezuela international 2005 and was crowned Miss International 2006 in China...
. Miss International 2006 - Ivan PalazzeseIvan PalazzeseIvan Palazzese was an Italian born Venezuelan Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1977, he became the youngest person at the time to stand on a Grand Prix podium, when he finished third behind Angel Nieto and Anton Mang at the 125cc Venezuelan Grand Prix at the age of 15.Palazzese had his best...
. Sportman (moto) - Franco De VitaFranco De VitaFranco De Vita is a singer-songwriter of Latin music. His first disc as a solo artist garnered three Spanish-language hits in Venezuela. He signed with the Sony label in 1988, and in 1990, his album Extranjero had a song that reached No. 1 on the U.S. Latin charts and won an MTV Video Music Award...
. Artist, Singer, Composer, Pianist - Marco ScutaroMarco ScutaroMarcos Hernandez "Marco" Scutaro is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A native of Yaracuy State, Venezuela, Scutaro formerly played with the New York Mets , Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays...
. International Baseball Player - Italo PizzolanteItalo PizzolanteItalo Pizzolante was a Venezuelan poet, composer, musician, professor and engineer of Italian descent. Author of famous songs like Motivos, Mi Puerto Cabello, among others. Pizzolante was married to Nelly Negrón....
. Poet, Composer, Musician - Viviana GibelliViviana GibelliViviana Gibelli is a Venezuelan TV show host and former beauty queen. Her father is Brazilian-Italian and her mother from Cuba...
. TV Host and Actress - Francisco CervelliFrancisco CervelliFrancisco Cervelli is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. He was an international signee by the Yankees in and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Italian team. He is Hispanic of Italian descent...
. International Baseball Player
Geographical distribution and origin
The Italians moved to Venezuela mainly from the regions of South Italy (like SicilySicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
), but even from the north (Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
and Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
).
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 35,802 from Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, 20,808 from Abruzzi, 18,520 from Puglia, but even 8,953 from Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
, 7,650 from Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
and 6,184 from Friuli – Venezia Giulia.
The Italians are concentrated mainly in the north-central region of Venezuela around Caracas. The Consulate stated that in the same 1977 there were 98,106 Italians in the Distrito Federal
Venezuelan Capital District
The Capital District of Venezuela is a federal district corresponding to the capital Caracas. It has an area of 433 km² and there is only one administrative division , Libertador, which contains about half City of Caracas. It is the seat of the federal government and the head of the public...
of Caracas, 39,508 in Miranda
Miranda (state)
Miranda State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. It is ranked second in population among Venezuelan states, after Zulia State. In June 30, 2010, it had approximately 2,987,968 residents. It also has the greatest Human Development Index in Venezuela, according to the...
State, 14,203 in Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, 12.801 in Aragua
Aragua (state)
Aragua State is located in the north-central region of Venezuela. It has plains and jungles and Caribbean beaches. The most popular are Cata and Choroni...
State and 8,104 in Carabobo
Carabobo
Carabobo State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela, located in the north of the country, about two hours by car from Caracas. The capital city of this state is Valencia, which is also the country's main industrial center. The state's area is 4,650 km² and had an estimated population of...
State, but even 66 in the Amazonas
Amazonas (Venezuelan state)
Amazonas State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided.The state capital is Puerto Ayacucho. The capital until the early 1900s was San Fernando de Atabapo. Although named after the Amazon River, most of the state is drained by the Orinoco. Amazonas State covers a total surface...
equatorial region.
Actually, in the 2000s, nearly 90% of the Italo-Venezuelans are concentrated in the northern coastal section of Venezuela facing the Caribbean sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. Approximately 2/3 of them are residents of the metropolitan areas of the three main Venezuelan cities: Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
and Valencia.
A fair amount of Italian residents live in the city of San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal, Táchira
San Cristóbal is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Táchira. It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated 818 m/2,625 ft above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, 56 km/35 mi from the Colombian border. San...
, where their presence is very noticeable.
Main Italo-venezuelan Institutions and Associations
- Asociación Civil "Agustin Codazzi" in Caracas
- Casa de Italia in Caracas, Maracay, Valencia, Ciudad Bolívar
- Centro Italo-Venezolano in Caracas, Barcelona, Maracaibo, Valencia.
- Club Social Italiano in Puerto La Cruz, Acarigua
- Deportivo ItaliaDeportivo ItaliaDeportivo Petare Fútbol Club is a Venezuelan football club based in Caracas. Formed in 1948 as "Deportivo Italia F.C.", the club after fifty years merged with "Deportivo Chacao F.C." in 1998, and was called Deportivo Italchacao for eight years...
Football Club - Instituto Italiano de Cultura in Caracas
- Camera di Commercio, Industria ed Agricoltura Venezuelana-Italiana in Caracas
- Regional Associations of Italians in Venezuela
- Genealogía Italiana en Venezuela http://www.italven.org
See also
- Italians
- Italian diasporaItalian diasporaThe term Italian diaspora refers to the large-scale migration of Italians away from Italy in the period roughly beginning with the unification of Italy in 1861 and ending with the Italian economic miracle in the 1960s...
- Italian language in VenezuelaItalian language in VenezuelaThe Italian language in Venezuela has been present since colonial times in the area around Caracas and Maracaibo. The language is found in many modisms and words of the Venezuelan Spanish language.-History:...
- Corsican immigration to VenezuelaCorsican immigration to VenezuelaCorsicans coming from the regions of Cap Corse and La Castagniccia started arriving in the first third of 19th Century and settled mainly in the coastal towns of Carúpano and Rio Caribe. Known locally as Los Corsos, Corsicans played a central role in the development of the cocoa industry in Venezuela...
- Deportivo Italia (1948-2010)