Welsh Italians
Encyclopedia
Welsh Italians are British citizens residing in Wales
whose ancestry wholly or partly originates in Italy
. Most Italian
immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan
and Newport
.
and in particular the town of Bardi, established a network of cafés, ice cream parlours
and fish and chip shops in Wales from the 1890s onwards. In the Rhondda Valley
they became known as 'Bracchis' after an early café owner. The brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who started in business in Merthyr Tydfil
, went on to found the Berni Inn
chain.
During the Second World War, Welsh-Italians without British citizenship were declared enemy aliens and a number were interned on the Isle of Man
or in Canada
. 53 Welsh Italians lost their lives in the sinking of the Arandora Star
in 1940.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
whose ancestry wholly or partly originates in Italy
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...
. Most Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
and Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
Migration history
Italian immigrants to Wales, mainly originating in the Apennine MountainsApennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
and in particular the town of Bardi, established a network of cafés, ice cream parlours
Ice cream parlor
Ice cream parlors are places that sell ice cream and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in two varieties in these stores: soft-serve ice cream , and hard-packed, which has an assortment of flavors, as well as frozen yogurt, which is a low-fat alternative and tastes slightly...
and fish and chip shops in Wales from the 1890s onwards. In the Rhondda Valley
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
they became known as 'Bracchis' after an early café owner. The brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who started in business in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, went on to found the Berni Inn
Berni Inn
Founded in 1955, Berni Inn was the name of a chain of British restaurants established by brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who were Welsh Italians. The Berni Inn logo consisted of red block lettering, with elongated leading lines on the R and N, throughout the chain's duration...
chain.
During the Second World War, Welsh-Italians without British citizenship were declared enemy aliens and a number were interned on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
or in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 53 Welsh Italians lost their lives in the sinking of the Arandora Star
Arandora Star
SS Arandora Star was a British registered cruise ship operated by the Blue Star Line from the late 1920s through the 1930s. At the onset of World War II she was assigned as a troop transport and moving refugees. At the end of June 1940 she was assigned the task of transporting German and Italian...
in 1940.
Notable people
- Actor Victor SpinettiVictor SpinettiVictor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner...
- Boxers Joe CalzagheJoe CalzagheJoseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
and Enzo MaccarinelliEnzo MaccarinelliEnzo Maccarinelli is a Welsh professional boxer who fights in the light heavyweight division. He is a former World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title holder and also held the European title at that weight limit... - Musician Pino PalladinoPino PalladinoPino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
- Footballers, David D'AuriaDavid D'AuriaDavid D'Auria is a Welsh football midfielder currently coaching for Neath in the Welsh Premier League. He was born in Swansea.-References:*...
, DonatoDonato NardielloDonato Nardiello is a former Welsh international footballer.He began his career as a trainee with Coventry City, and signed a professional contract in 1977. The 1978-79 saw Donato playing in Coventry's most exciting top flight team...
and Daniel NardielloDaniel NardielloDaniel Antony Nardiello is an English-born Welsh footballer. A forward who currently plays for Exeter City, he is the son of former Wales international Donato Nardiello and cousin of Reis Ashraf and Michael Nardiello.... - Rugby players RobertRobert SidoliRobert Sidoli is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Newport Gwent Dragons.He has won 42 caps for Wales as a lock forward...
and Peter SidoliPeter SidoliPeter Sidoli is a Wales rugby union player. A lock forward, he played for Neath RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC before joining Newport Gwent Dragons. In 2008 he joined Italian club Rugby Calvisano... - Painter Andrew VicariAndrew VicariAndrew Vicari is a Welsh painter working in France who has established a career painting portraits of the rich and famous. Despite being largely unknown in his own country, Vicari was Britain's richest living painter....