Cuore Triveneto's Project
When we first thought of this project, we were amazed
to realise how many people from the Triveneto region are scattered throughout
every continent. Millions of people with surnames like Bianchin, Ceccato,
Favretto, Perin...
While many with these surnames are born in Italy,
today most are the descendants of the destitute multitudes, who in the
late Nineteenth century were driven by poverty and hunger to embark on
steamers. They ventured on long arduous journeys of hope, "in search of
fortune", as the title of Ulderico Bernardi's excellent volume reads.
After this first large wave of emigrants, other waves followed during
the first half of the Twentieth century.
Children of those "pioneers" have been born in Australia, in Argentina,
in Brazil, in Canada, and in the United States of America. At great sacrifice
they have become perfectly integrated into ways of life that were different
from their own, often overcoming distrust and hostility. Motivated by
an irrepressible desire to create a new life for themselves, they formed
families. The families have expanded. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren
have been born. Many have enjoyed and continue to enjoy success in their
professional lives, while others have been less fortunate. Nevertheless,
they have all distinguished themselves for their honesty, loyalty and
dedication: those solid values that have been handed down from generation
to generation and which are part of the genetic heritage of the people
of the Triveneto region.
In navigating the Internet and in listening to the
tales of many emigrants and descendants of emigrants, we began to understand
just how strong the nostalgia and the longing, how deep this attachment
to their roots is, and we became aware that a Triveneto heart beats in
the breast of millions of people. We have come to understand how profoundly
they love the land of their forefathers, the traditions, the colours and
flavours, the language... This is the reason that CuoreTreveneto has chosen
the Internet - the most modern and revolutionary means of communication
- to establish a link between those who live far apart but share the same
roots. Our intention is to provide the information necessary to make the
reality of the Triveneto region better known; to promote the reestablishment
of cultural and emotional ties with the land of origin; to rebuild friendships;
to satisfy the intense need for a relationship with those a sharing a
common identity. Our purpose is to offer ideas and stimuli for the rediscovery
of one's roots and traditions.
The intention of Cuore Triveneto is, therefore, to create not only a virtual
"bridge" between the past and the present, but a bridge that is real and
concrete as well. By way of this "bridge" we can supply typical products
and characteristic recipes redolent of antique customs. We also offer
unique tourist itineraries that enable visitors to enjoy a fascinating
"return to their roots"; a special moment long dreamed of and imagined
in detail furnished from memory by many original emigrants. Today, the
successive generations, who, having listened to the stories of their grandparents
and parents, have come to understand what their homeland meant to their
ancestors, can finally translate those dreams into reality.
Special attention has been dedicated to what the
Triveneto region represents for Italy and Europe today. Many of the places
that the emigrants reluctantly left so long ago are today very important
manufacturing centres where thousands of people are employed. Some are
tourist resorts visited by millions of vacationers every year, while others
are fervid cultural realities which offer outstanding concerts, exhibitions
and theatre performances.
All of this is provided to insure that the descendants of the families
of emigrants can feel closer to their community of origin. Thus those
children and grandchildren who were born abroad will be able to retain
a historical memory and also maintain the most authentic traditions of
the Triveneto, for only by looking at the values of the past can a better
future be constructed.
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