Embassy of Italy in Washington
Encyclopedia
The Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission
of the Italian Republic
to the United States
.
The original Italian diplomatic mission to the United States following Italian unification
was founded by Baron Saverio Fava
. The current chancery is located just off Embassy Row
at 3000 Whitehaven Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. The structure is quite new, being built in 1996.
In 1972, the Italians had bought a lot from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a piece of the campus of the neighboring Center for Hellenic Studies
.
The new building was designed by Piero Sartogo Architetti and construction began in 1996. The old embassy was sold to a developer who intends to turn it into condominiums.
The Neo-Renaissance building was completed in 1925 and designed by architects Whiteny Warren & Charles D. Wetmore (their designs include Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The first Italian ambassador to reside in the home was Giacomo De Martino
. In 1977, Ambassador Roberto Gaja moved the residence to Villa Firenze (Firenze House) in the Forest Hills
neighborhood. The 16th Street building continued to serve as the chancery until 2002, when it was purchased by developers. Their plans to convert the building into condominiums is being challenged by the city's Historic Preservation Office.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of the Italian Republic
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The original Italian diplomatic mission to the United States following Italian unification
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
was founded by Baron Saverio Fava
Saverio Fava
Baron Saverio Fava was known for his founding of the Italian Ministry in Washington, D.C.. He served as the first Italian Ambassador of the then recently unified Italy to the United States from 1881-1893....
. The current chancery is located just off Embassy Row
Embassy Row
Embassy Row is the informal name for a street or area of a city in which embassies or other diplomatic installations are concentrated. Washington, D.C.'s Embassy Row lies along Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., and its cross streets between Thomas Circle and Ward Circle, although the vast majority of...
at 3000 Whitehaven Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. The structure is quite new, being built in 1996.
In 1972, the Italians had bought a lot from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a piece of the campus of the neighboring Center for Hellenic Studies
Center for Hellenic Studies
The Center for Hellenic Studies is a research institute for classics located in Washington, D.C. at 3100 NW Whitehaven Street. It is affiliated with Harvard University....
.
The new building was designed by Piero Sartogo Architetti and construction began in 1996. The old embassy was sold to a developer who intends to turn it into condominiums.
Old Embassy
Previously the embassy had been based at 2700 16th Street and Fuller Street, in an ornate and historic, but small, facility. Several of the embassy's offices had to be based elsewhere in Washington, and it was thus decided to build a new chancery.The Neo-Renaissance building was completed in 1925 and designed by architects Whiteny Warren & Charles D. Wetmore (their designs include Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The first Italian ambassador to reside in the home was Giacomo De Martino
Giacomo De Martino
Baron Giacomo de Martino was the Envoy of Italy to the United States during the regime of Benito Mussolini. On January 23, 1927 he traveled to Chicago, and spent several days touring the city addressing the Italian community and explaining Fascism....
. In 1977, Ambassador Roberto Gaja moved the residence to Villa Firenze (Firenze House) in the Forest Hills
Forest Hills
- Cities or census-designated places :United States* Forest Hills, Kentucky* Forest Hills, Michigan* Forest Hills, North Carolina* Forest Hills, Pennsylvania* Forest Hills, TennesseeSouth Africa* Forest Hills, Kloof, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal...
neighborhood. The 16th Street building continued to serve as the chancery until 2002, when it was purchased by developers. Their plans to convert the building into condominiums is being challenged by the city's Historic Preservation Office.
See also
- Foreign relations of ItalyForeign relations of ItalySince its unification in 1861, Italy has been one of the most important and influential European countries. Its major allies are the United States, the other NATO countries , and the European Union...
- Italian nationality lawItalian nationality lawright|200pxItalian nationality law is the law of Italy governing the acquisition, transmission and loss of Italian citizenship. Like many continental European countries it is largely based on jus sanguinis. It also incorporates many elements that are seen as favourable to the Italian diaspora. The...