Italians have been a part of the scene in Philadelphia since colonial times. In 1665 a group of Waldensians (Italian protestants) came to New Sweden (New Castle Delaware) seeking religious asylum. Deleware and Philadelphia were all part of the same New Sweden. When the English took over Philadelphia, it is believed that many from the original group of 150 came to live in Philadelphia. William Penn had visited Italy and as a. Quakers he believed in freedom of religion. Later with the Establishment of Old St. Josephs Church in 1733 many early Italians were able to worship along with French and other Eurpoean Catholics. The first Italian baptized at Old St. Joseph’s was in 1758. Later their basement would serve as the meeting place for Italian Catholics before the formation of the First Italian Catholic Church
In the 1700s Philadelphia was the largest English speaking city outside of London. It grew to become the …show more content…
Vito Viti was Consul of the Two Sicilies. From 1800-1819 over 150 Italians are recorded as coming into the port of Philadelphia. In the 1830s Joseph Bonaparte sought political asylum in Philadelphia and lived off 9th & Spruce. By 1853 there were enough Italians to form the First Italian Catholic Church, Mary Magdelan de Pazzi. During this period many well to do Italians left Italy for political reasons and came to Philadelphia as artisans, bankers, merchants and musicians. They organized the first society, "L'unione di fratellanza" 2 years after the Civil War. They were based at Columbus Hall on 8th Street, Mama Yolanda's today. Most of these immigrants were from the Northern cities of Genoa and Pisa. There was only a small group from port cities of Palermo and Napoli. By 1880 the number of Italian born in Philadelphia had risen to 1600. During this time we see the rise of mass migration and many laborers came to the US looking for work. Their love of
In the 1700s Philadelphia was the largest English speaking city outside of London. It grew to become the …show more content…
Vito Viti was Consul of the Two Sicilies. From 1800-1819 over 150 Italians are recorded as coming into the port of Philadelphia. In the 1830s Joseph Bonaparte sought political asylum in Philadelphia and lived off 9th & Spruce. By 1853 there were enough Italians to form the First Italian Catholic Church, Mary Magdelan de Pazzi. During this period many well to do Italians left Italy for political reasons and came to Philadelphia as artisans, bankers, merchants and musicians. They organized the first society, "L'unione di fratellanza" 2 years after the Civil War. They were based at Columbus Hall on 8th Street, Mama Yolanda's today. Most of these immigrants were from the Northern cities of Genoa and Pisa. There was only a small group from port cities of Palermo and Napoli. By 1880 the number of Italian born in Philadelphia had risen to 1600. During this time we see the rise of mass migration and many laborers came to the US looking for work. Their love of