Piero Caramella

While Michelangelo will forever be recognized for his robust, passionate figures of the Sistine Chapel and sculptures found worldwide, his greatness is only magnified in view of his architectural contributions.

As the fourth largest ethnic group in the United States, Italian culture has made significant contributions to American culture that are now intrinsic throughout the fifty states. Though Italians have played major roles in the development of the New World since its European colonization (Christopher Columbus among others), a major Italian movement to the US did not occur until the 19th century when economic conditions in Southern Italy caused many people to emigrate.

Anyone who has seen images of an Italian vineyard or heard of its wine country probably has had at least some fleeting desire to know a bit more about wine than they do currently. Sitting down at a solid oak table, swirling the wine, scenting the flavors and finally enjoying all of the nuances of a fine-crafted Lambrusco or Chardonnay seems to be the epitome of a vineyard experience.

Before there was New York, there was pizza. Before there was pizza, there was Italy. And before there was Italy, there was the piazza. Italian for “square,” an open area surrounded by buildings, piazze have been the nuclei of Italian culture for thousands of years. An Italian goes to the piazza for company, coffee, shopping, news, debate, food, religion, family: anything and everything.