The Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina received, this Tuesday (9), the launch of the book My Italian Grandparents, by the writer Albino Dalla Vecchia. The work officially concludes the celebrations for 150 years of Italian immigration to the state..
The author compiled accounts, photographs, and documents from his own family to tell the story of the Italian immigrants who helped form the first communities in southern Santa Catarina. The book presents the historical context, the challenges faced by the settlers, and the process of cultural adaptation between 1878 and 1891.
According to Representative Vicente Caropreso (PSDB), who proposed the event, the book marks the end of a cycle of tributes. “It’s a joy to conclude this cycle of events with the launch of this book. Albino is a great researcher, a person who pays attention to detail, and he paints a portrait of colonization in the south of the state,” he stated. “We have 70% Italian DNA in the population of Santa Catarina, so talking about our grandparents is talking about ourselves.”
The research took more than five years and involved gathering records on families such as Dalla Vecchia, Silvestre, Bosello, Baldessar, Trevisol, Vettore, and Nandi. These families, among many others, arrived in Brazil seeking new opportunities and participated in the colonization of cities such as Urussanga, Nova Veneza, Treze de Maio, Turvo, Jacinto Machado, Praia Grande, Meleiro, and Timbé do Sul.
“More than people identifying with my family's story, they can understand the socioeconomic landscape of the immigration era, with details of Italy as it was at that time and also here in Brazil,” explained the author. “There are several very beautiful stories that are worth checking out.”
The narrative blends historical research and emotional memory, with episodes about agricultural work, the formation of communities, and the effort to preserve the culture of origin.
In addition to the book launch, the event included an autograph session and a conversation with the author about the creative process behind the work.
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