Emigration Stories
Faces, voices and memories of those who left
Faces, voices and memories of those who left
Every emigrant carries a cardboard suitcase and a heart full of memories. In this section we collect the stories of families who left Pignataro Interamna to seek a better future in distant lands.
Australia was the destination of many pignataresi, especially after World War II. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth welcomed entire families who contributed to building strong Italian communities proud of their origins.
The photos from our exhibition tell of fathers with children on tricycles, of families gathered for baptisms, of walks in Australian parks with hearts always turned toward home.
Brazil represented the land of opportunity for many. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the southern regions saw generations of pignataresi arrive, bringing with them traditions, dialect and the desire to build.
Formal family photos, portraits in elegant clothes, groups of workers: every image tells of sacrifices and successes achieved through hard work.
Closer to home but always far from the heart. France, Switzerland and Germany welcomed thousands of Italian workers, many from Pignataro Interamna.
Factories, construction sites, tailor shops: wherever hands were needed, our emigrants answered the call. Women working in factories, men on construction sites, families reunited for holidays: images of a life built with effort and dignity.
A selection of images from our photo exhibition on emigration.
Australia - Emigrant families
France - Switzerland
Brazil - Family portraits
Lazio Reunion - 1935
A new life abroad
Photo exhibition
"My grandfather left in 1920 with a cardboard suitcase and twenty lire in his pocket. He didn't speak a word of English but his heart was full of hope. Today, thanks to this project, I was able to reconstruct his story and visit the town where he was born. It was the most emotional experience of my life."
"Growing up I always heard about Pignataro Interamna, but it seemed like an almost mythological place. When I finally managed to come here, I understood why my grandparents never forgot it."
Do you have photographs, documents or memories of your emigrant family? Share them with us to enrich the collective memory archive.