Finding Staten Italy in Staten Island, NYC

We’re kicking off Season 2 with a trip to the most Italian American Borough in New York City, the often-overlooked and overwhelmingly Italian land of Staten Island, NY!
Join John, Rossella and Pat as they visit their friend Gina Biancardi, the founder of Casa Belvedere: The Italian Cultural Foundation for a day spent exploring an island so Italian that its often called Staten Italy!
From a fresh baked breakfast worthy of a piazza in Rome, to lunch under the grape vines at one of NYC’s oldest and finest Italian Restaurants, we’re sampling home made mozzarella at an Italian American institution, seeking out the Italian roots of the telephone, and unearthing a hand-built shrine that has become one of NYC’s most beloved pilgrimage sites. With our base camp at the incomparable Casa Belvedere, and the guidance of Staten Island’s authority on all things Italian, we’re setting out on an expedition into the heart of America’s most Italian county… STATEN ISLAND, NYC!
Presented as a joint project from The Italian American Podcast and The Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), and in association with Joe Minnella Studios LLC, we present Greetings From Italian America
Join us each month for a fresh look at one of the best parts of this country of ours… the Italian side!
Visit our websites and social media for more information-
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Twitter: / italamerican​
THE ITALIAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA: www.orderisda....
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Twitter: / orderisda​
JOE MINNELLA STUDIOS: www.joecinema.c...
“Why Do They Call It Staten Italy?"
Directed by Joe Minnella
Executive Producer Basil Russo
Written by Joe Minnella and John M. Viola
Producers John M. Viola, Rossella Rago, Pat O'Boyle and Joe Minnella
Narrated by John M. Viola
Hosted by John M. Viola, Rossella Rago and Pat O'Boyle
Director of Photography and Editor Joe Minnella
Special Guests: Gina Biancardi, Joe Settepani, Vincent D’Antuono, Sr., Maurizio Asperti
Featuring Original Music By:
Roy Williams (Epidemic)
Cast of Characters (Soundstripe)
Scott Joplin & Scott Hayden (MusOpen)
Butterfly Chase (Epidemic)
Infinity Ripple (Epidemic)
Dresden, the Flamingo (Soundstripe)
Vendla (Epidemic)
Other music provided Royalty Free from Free Music Archive and via Public Domain from MusOpen
Special Thanks
Gina Binacardi, Casa Belvedere: The Italian Cultural Foundation, ISDA, The Italian American Podcast, Bruno’s Italian Bakery & Restaurant, Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, Basilio Inn, The Settepani Family, Maurizio Asperti, Pastosa Ravioli, The D’Antuono Family, The Giacchi Family, Basil Russo, Stephanie Longo, John Deike, and Joyce Venezia Suss
Filmed in Staten Island, NY

[@chuckiea7011]

I'm from The Bronx NY and I use to visit Staten Island all the time for some of the best and most authentic Italian cuisine. As someone who's African American and Latin American I got a lot of love from Italians out there and even got invited to a few parties out there. I love and miss my hometown of NYC. Such a beautiful melting pot.

[@ItalianAmerican]

NYC has got the best of all cultures! Thanks for watching!

[@CinCee-]

Growing up we were all Italian & all from Brooklyn.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Can't beat that!

[@donna.a8571]

Not all ‼️ My family came from Market st. Lower East Side We’re Sicilian

[@IndianaTones]

Thank you for the video. I'm Italian American living in Staten Island for 39 years. Ciao!

[@LearnItalianconLAmericano]

Ciao ragazzi and thanks for this video!!!🇮🇹🇺🇸

[@ItalianAmerican]

Our pleasure... Glad you enjoyed, and thanks for watching!

[@jeanneamato8278]

I love, appreciate, and need you guys so much. You warm my heart.

[@jond5925]

UR AWESOME ITALIAN WOMAN JEANNIE 😊😊😊

[@debragallagher8658]

Can’t wait to visit Staten Island

[@joevaccaro6655]

Grazie assai, I definitely enjoyed the adventure🤩. As always, it's a great show and John, you are wearing the best shirt :)

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie Joe! Glad you enjoyed it! And all of our shirts are available at ItalianPower.com!

[@albertoalbertoni9529]

As true Italians of good red wine at the table.

[@ItalianAmerican]

Gotta have it!

[@starzpz]

I had the privilege of visiting that beautiful Mt. Carmel grotto there while I was in NY years ago. What an incredible experience!

[@ItalianAmerican]

It's an amazing place, we really enjoyed exploring it. Thanks for watching!

[@thomaslightjr.5393]

Love these videos, inspired to travel,thanx

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie! Nothing better than seeing the country and the world! Let us know how your adventures turn out!

[@arianemariano3807]

I lived in Staten Island for 31 years and never visited that grotto. I had no idea it was there! I surely will be seeing it next trip home. Thanks for this fantastic historical look at my hometown! ❤️🇺🇸🇹🇯

[@ItalianAmerican]

You're really going to find its one of the Island's special places! Thanks for watching, we're so glad you enjoyed our adventures, and that we passed your approval!

[@ramencurry6672]

It’s actually common for many people to not know details of their city.

[@jeanneamato8278]

Eye opener! Grazie.

[@lenaprima]

I would love to visit!!! Great show again!!

[@user-bj3jv1jn6s]

Gee, I wished I'd known about all these wonderful delights when I lived on the Island - very nice

[@James-oi7mz]

Ottimo video. Mi è piaciuta la storia degli immigrati italiani in America. Ho imparato molto. Il mio nome non è italiano ma mia madre è italiana. Sono cresciuto mangiando cibo siciliano. Grazie mille .

[@albertoalbertoni9529]

Allora sei cresciuto benissimo, mangiando siciliano....

[@ItalianAmerican]

Grazie!! We're glad you are learning from our shows!

[@Ecuacolom]

Very nice interesting history molto grazie

[@donna.a8571]

My grandpa from Sicily came to 10314 1910, I never changed my zip code till I retired to Florida…

[@alessandradagostino6528]

Grazie dalla Bella Italia ❤😊😊

[@arfriedman4577]

Nice film. Pastosa our parents used to buy us for a treat in both Brooklyn and staten island.

[@frastefano90]

Finally caught up with this. Awesome job. Y'all should seriously consider Bridgeport, CT next. The St.Margret's shrine, built by IA immigrants, is worth the trip alone.

[@arfriedman4577]

I've never been to Brunos. I'd love to try home made Nutella.

[@jond5925]

WE HAVE A BRUNO'S BAKERY IN NEW JERSEY ALSO & PHILLY &THE BREAD IS AWESOME, NOTHING LIKE IT ANY WERE ELSE ,,SOUTH JERSEY HAS MANY ITALIAN RESTAURANTS & PIZZA SHOPS THAT MAKE THE GREATEST PHILLY CHEESESTEAK S,,,U DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO PHILLY TO ENJOY A GOOD CHEESTEAK!!! I WAS RAISED THERE SO I SHOULD KNOWS,,THERE'S A DINNER IN RUNNEMEDE, N J THAT'S CALLED THE PHILLY DINNER CHECK IT OUT!!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗😇😇😇🤔🤔🤔🌹🌹🌹🍰🍰🍰

[@amyt2400]

Excellent content! 🏆🏆🏆

[@korsbar1978]

The T shirt that says "Vabbé" 😂

[@donna.a8571]

Cookies for my wedding 1978 came from Bruno’s

[@frankcosta597]

Mi hanno chiamate Papa e Mamma! A Mangia!

[@canhdang4818]

U my

[@debbierizzo664]

Lower the music

[@chingli-xg4ns]

Lol all the Guinea's of Staten Island hang at the 'Kettle black', on Forest Ave, on Staten Island. It's funny cuz I use to live in Staten Island. When I cut my hair short People say I look like Vin Diesel, Especially in Staten Island. I had to leave cause in Staten Island is just to much cursing from the Guineas lol for me. When they're in a good mood there funny, but when they're in a bad mood they're Loud, uptight, Raci$t & Obnoxious. If I could get a dollar 💵 everytime a Italian says Spik, & the 'N word! Especially now with the migrants Mayor Adams is sending To Staten Island, The I'talians & Irish are Pissed! 😆

[@JosephDeAngelis318]

👍👍👍🇺🇸🦅 MAGA for life and Vote for 🇮🇹❤️‍🔥MR DeAngelis for Governor in 🗽🗽🗽 New York state in 2026 and ✝️ God bless WE The Great people Of 🗽 New York City.💯💯💯🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️‍🔥🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹😁💪💪💪🌄🌄🌄🙏✝️

[@nando_bk]

Unfortunately omitted a big contributing factor to the migration of Italians from south bk to SI during the late 60s & 70s was also white flight, the backlash & fear to integration efforts.

[@IndianaTones]

Our family from Brooklyn was poor and lived in a diverse community in downtown Brooklyn. They moved here to own their own home because it was affordable and had a backyard unlike in Brooklyn. Such a generalization and blanket statement. 🙄

[@nando_bk]

@@IndianaTones did you miss the part where I say a contributing factor?

[@IndianaTones]

@@nando_bk anecdotal people moved because the bridge was built and no one moved away from anyone. Actually the properties are unaffordable in Brooklyn for all middle class people that moved to Staten Island so your history is incorrect.

[@andycalimara]

Some people never want to admit their own racism….🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@davidjackson7281]

I believe there is truth to your opinion. This is supported by the migration of whites from high crime urban areas. A change in demographics and cultures is a factor, also. Birds of a feather flock (or flee) together. Plus, moving improved the available amenities for a better lifestyle. Harsh but true. Gotta love America where relocating is a viable option.

[@lucaamoruso2672]

Statunitensi che si credono Italiani. Cultura italiana? Voi non sapete nemmeno cosa sia il concetto di cultura.

[@jamesgeorginis3225]

Please define Italian Culture in your words Luca Amoruso since there are countless different regions in Italy,different foods,different customs & dialects?

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

Sono d'accordo.

[@genxer6928]

Sorry but that Mary statues grottos thing is a Huge 🙅‍♂️ No No,… it’s idolatry !