ROME (ITALPRESS) – In celebration of Italian Heritage Month, the Consulate of Italy in Detroit welcomed a distinguished delegation from Vacri (Abruzzo, Italy) for an official visit to Farmington, Michigan, marking a new chapter in the friendship between Italy and the Midwest.
The visit—organized at the invitation of Farmington Mayor Joe LaRussa—brought to life a shared vision of cultural and economic collaboration between the two communities. During the delegation’s stay, Mayor LaRussa and Vacri Mayor Piergiuseppe Mammarella signed a Friendship and Sister City Agreement, formally linking their municipalities in a partnership that celebrates Italian heritage while promoting future exchange in tourism, business, and education.
As part of their Michigan program, the delegation was received at the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, where Consul Allegra Baistrocchi highlighted the Consulate’s ongoing efforts to connect Italian and American communities and to strengthen regional relationships across the five states under its jurisdiction.
To commemorate this historic union, the Consulate invited Abruzzese artist Marco Mazzei to Michigan for “La Giornata del Contemporaneo, Italy’s national day celebrating contemporary art. During his stay, Mazzei created a sculpture of a leaf, donated by the Consulate to the City of Farmington as a lasting symbol of friendship and renewal.
The leaf was chosen in part as a nod to Farmington’s city logo – ,symbolizing growth and community – but also to honor the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Italea” project, which encourages Italian Americans to reconnect with their roots and rediscover the Italy of their ancestors. The gesture celebrates the vibrant Italian American community in Michigan and the enduring cultural bonds that tie Italy and the United States.
The Consulate also involved the Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan, which proudly hosted a dinner in honor of the Vacri delegation. During the evening, Consul Allegra Baistrocchi and Mayor Piergiuseppe Mammarella were each presented with a special tribute from Macomb County, a gesture symbolizing the appreciation and shared heritage between the local Italian American community and their counterparts in Italy.
“Moments like these remind us how strong and meaningful our transatlantic connections remain,” said Consul Allegra Baistrocchi. “Farmington and Vacri now share a friendship that celebrates our shared values—community, creativity, and heritage—while looking toward the future.”
The Consulate extends its gratitude to Mayor Joe LaRussa, Mayor Piergiuseppe Mammarella, the Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan, the City of Farmington, the Comune di Vacri, and all partners who made this exchange possible—an initiative that beautifully reflects the spirit of Italian Heritage Month and the living ties between Italy and Michigan.
– photo Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
